Warren Allan is the President of Optivest Properties, founded in 2007, which currently operates 90 self-storage facilities as RightSpace Storage throughout the United States.

Prior to Optivest Properties, Warren began his self-storage career as the Operations Director of another large regional storage operator. He is also one of the founding affiliate operators of one of the five publicly traded self-storage REITs – National Storage Affiliates (NYSE: NSA) which had its IPO in April of 2015.

Warren and his wife, Kristy, have been married for 38 years and enjoy splitting their time between Dana Point, California and Park City, Utah. They have three grown children along with one grandson.

Warren and Kristy are both Directors in the Optivest Foundation that was formed in 2007 together with, Warren’s business partner Mark Van Mourick. Their objective has been to contribute 10% of the gross revenue generated by the business enterprise to primarily benefit, faith-based humanitarian initiatives. To date, they have been blessed with being able to give away $1.4 Million Dollars towards projects in both the US and other countries around the world.

Neil Punt is the Chief Financial Officer for RightSpace Storage. 

Neil holds a BA in Business Administration with an Emphasis in Accounting from Biola University. He is a certified CPA and has more than a decade’s worth of experience from working with a large accounting firm to leading his team at RightSpace. Utilizing his education and experience, Neil is the portrayal of confident leadership, expert skill in financial analysis & forecasting and creating an intentional connection with the staff to our clientele. 

Afterhours, Neil enjoys time outdoors and being with his wife and two sons. From completing triathlons to spending quality time traveling with family, Neil knows how to make the most of his time outside of the office.

If you ever meet Neil, ask him about his collection of IPAs.

Lindsay Jennings is our Vice President of Operations here at RightSpace Storage.

Lindsay holds a BA in Sports Sponsorship and Sales from Baylor University – Hankamer School of Business. Prior to joining RightSpace, after spending nearly a decade working in sales, operations, and marketing for a diverse portfolio of brands, Lindsay knows how to expertly add value to a brand, develop a “better way of doing things” while simultaneously developing meaningful and purposeful connections with her team and associates.

Outside of the office, you can find Lindsay spending every daylight hour left outdoors with her husband, son and French bulldog. Through all of Lindsay’s adventures, you’ll find her sharing them in the company of her family and a great meal.

If you ever meet Lindsay, ask her about hiking in the Himalayas.

Eric Haug is Vice President of Asset Management for RightSpace Storage.

He has been in this role since 2015.  Eric originally joined Optivest Properties in 2008 in the Operations department.  In 2009, he became a Regional Manager, overseeing properties primarily located in Northern California, Southern California, and Las Vegas.

In his current position, he focuses on three primary areas:  1) Revenue Management & Optimization; 2) Acquisitions; and 3) Business Development.  The revenue management aspect involves oversight of the company’s top line through optimizing rental rates, occupancy levels, and concessionary activity.  In acquisitions, he works to source, underwrite, and evaluate marketed and off-market opportunities for new potential transactions.  Within business development, he seeks to create mutually beneficial relationships in the self storage industry and manages prospective third-party management contracts.  Also, with respect to industry knowledge and education, he remains up-to-date on the strategies and financial results of the self storage REIT sector members and is an occasional speaker at industry events.

Eric received his B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Southern California with an emphasis in International Business and a Minor in Cinematic Arts.  He is the process of obtaining an M.A. in Theology at Biola University.   Born in Orange County, Eric currently resides with his wife in the South Bay region of Los Angeles.     

 

If you ever meet Eric, ask him - what is a “revenue management approved” car?

Emily Ahrens is our Director of Human Resources for RightSpace Storage.

Emily drives an integrated and systems-oriented approach to Human Resources that aligns and supports business strategy.  Utilizing strategic talent management, operations and employee relations, Emily specializes in building and implementing expert HR policies and programs, together with creating and cultivating an engaging and dynamic culture within our organization.

In addition to a Master of Science in Human Resource Management from Brandman University, Emily holds certifications in executive coaching, Disc Analysis and OSHA safety programs.

Outside of the office, you can find Emily on a hike, learning something new, or experimenting in the kitchen.  She has a deep appreciation for travelling the world, enjoying good food and experiencing it all with her husband, family, and friends.

If you ever meet Emily, ask her about her rigorous Pilates training. 

Brian George is a Regional Operations Director for RightSpace Storage. Brian oversees the management and oversight of our Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Tennessee, and Texas properties.

With more than 10 years in the self-storage industry, Brian brings a wealth of expertise and experience to RightSpace. Throughout his career, he has had a hand in managing more than 50 self-storage properties across six states with three different self-storage operators. 

Drawing on his experience, Brian collaborated with his RightSpace colleagues to bring new processes and innovative ideas to RightSpace Storage. He has been an integral part of improving operational efficiencies, on-site due diligence practices, third-party relationships, and facility expansion and enhancement at existing properties.

Brian likes to spend his free time with friends and family and is an aspiring residential real estate entrepreneur. He attended the University of Central Florida and has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Marketing.

Chase is a Regional Manager for RightSpace Storage, he is responsible for the management and oversight of all self-storage facilities in the South Texas region.

Prior to joining RightSpace in August 2016 as an Area Manager, Chase spent 6 years as a Staff Analyst. His position supported the CFO on treasury management activities, finance projects and international expansion initiatives.

Seeking a more dynamic and challenging career, Chase found his way into the self-storage industry. Since joining, Chase has helped grow the RightSpace Storage South Texas Region from 3,300 unit to over 6,000 units and 900,000 rentable square feet.

Chase also holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Houston. Attributing much of his successful leadership to his mentors and colleagues, he plays an integral part in the growth of his Region.

Chase enjoys spending his free time in Texas Hill Country and sharpening his skills as a TexMex connoisseur. 

Jessica is our Regional Manager for California and New Mexico.

Jessica comes to us with almost a decade’s worth of managerial and operations experience. Prior to joining our team, she was a store manager and a district manager for years, where she excelled in building her teams and leading them to successfully exceed their goals.

Her tenacity for running a goal-oriented team is evident, as her team seems to excel with every new quarter. She has done a phenomenal job of leading by example, by investing and cultivating growth into each of her properties. Jessica’s attributes don’t stop there, as she has been a vital role in developing innovative and high-tech integrations into our operations company wide.

Jessica likes to spend time outside of being a RightSpace team member, by spending time and travelling with her husband, family and dogs. Her family is her biggest support and always fun to be around.

If you ever meet Jessica, ask her about her bucket list to visit every NFL stadium and the 10 she has already seen.

Jeremy Salazar is one of our California Regional Managers.

Jeremy Salazar joined the RightSpace Team as an Assistant Manager in Pasadena in 2013, thinking he would only be working in storage while he earned his degree. Being the overachiever that he is, Jeremy began taking on more responsibilities, becoming a key person in the LA area. Jeremy worked his way up to Site Manager, then Area Training Manager, and finally to Regional Manager in 2018. Jeremy also earned his Bachelor of Science in Finance from California State University Los Angeles in 2017.

In his Regional Manager role, Jeremy oversees Northern California and the High Desert self-storage locations. Since Jeremy is the poster child for promotion from within, he is leading by example to his team, that if you work hard and smart, you can achieve your goals. In addition to Jeremy being passionate about seeing his team members succeed, he has also brought major operational efficiency changes, as well as streamlining the basic functions of storage.

In his free time, you can find Jeremy spending time with wife and dogs, hitting home runs in his adult baseball league, running half marathons or barbequing steaks.  
 

If you ever meet Jeremy, ask him about walking on top of the CN Tower in Toronto and conquering his fear of heights.

Lance Hall is the Regional Manager for Tucson, AZ and select areas throughout Northern & Southern California.

He holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from University of Southern California. Lance has accumulated years of experience in Accounting and Real Estate. He brings an opulence of knowledge from his experience as an accountant, in both the public and private sectors, and as a commercial real estate appraiser. Since joining RightSpace Storage in 2008, he has played an essential part in the performance of his region and is now carrying over that success to additional regions in CA.

When Lance is away from the office, he enjoys traveling, meeting new people and experiencing what different cultures have to offer. He hopes to one day travel from coast to coast in his pick up truck and 5th wheel.  
 

If you ever meet Lance, ask him about aqua gardening & ornamental shrimp keeping.

Justin Carter is the Regional Manager of North Texas.

Justin spent many years honing in his management and storage knowledge as Senior Manager for ExtraSpace Storage, landing himself as ExtraSpace’s recipient of the CEO Award of Excellence in 2015. In looking to branch out, Justin took on the position as Business Manager for CancerCare Services. It was here he learned how to motivate and grow a team.

Wanting to get back to his storage roots, Justin joined RightSpace Storage in 2018 as the Regional Manager of North Texas. Justin’s natural leadership ability and keen eye for deficiencies makes him a vital part of the RightSpace Team.

In his free time you can find Justin volunteering at his church, and spending time with his wife and son.

If you ever meet Justin, ask him about swimming in the tropical waters of the Cayman Islands.

Michael is the Regional Manager that oversees all locations in Las Vegas, NV and Fort Mohave/Bullhead City, AZ.

With more that 13 years of multi-unit management experience and 3 years of property management, Michael hopes to turn his region into the most profitable one. Specializing in process improvement and drawing upon his past experiences, he aims to streamline storefront processes and efficiencies in his area. He is also driven and enjoys working with his team to so that everyone achieves their goals.

Coming all the way from Wisconsin, Michael joined RightSpace Storage in Oct 2019. Whenever he is not working, you can find him enjoying the weather and playing golf. 
 

Michael is a sports fanatic and his favorite teams are the Packers, Bucks, Cubs, and Michigan State Spartan basketball.   

Tom is our Project Manager for all RightSpace Storage properties.

Tom joined the team in 2021 and brings a decade's worth of experience in real estate and project management. Originally from Surrey in the United Kingdom, he moved to Southern California in January 2019. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Estate Management from the University of Reading, England. In the last two years, he has worked specifically in project management for a Montessori school company.

In his spare time, you can find Tom enjoying golf, soccer, skiing, and spending quality time with his wife Allie, baby-boy Archie, and Cockapoo Winnie!

If you ever meet Tom, ask him about Chelsea Football Club or anything golf-related.

Sonya is our Area Manager for New Mexico.

Sonya comes to us with over a decade’s worth of leadership and business development experience. Prior to joining our team, Sonya was an integral part of helping launch a pioneer industry-leading business into success and growth through blending innovative process development and positive healthy culture for the staff. She excels in team building and staff retention while delivering award-winning results as a Servant Leader.

Sonya is always looking for new ways to develop high-tech resolutions to support the staff and best serve our customers.  It’s her goal and purpose to help others achieve the best quality of life through team development and healthy culture integration while delivering exceptional customer service.

Sonya likes to spend time outside of being a RightSpace team member, by developing and exploring her artistic skills in painting, crafting, fire spinning, and spending time with her family.