or more than three decades, MSM has been recognizing managerial excellence through its annual Manager of the Year contest. Although the objective of the contest itself has remained the same—honoring the best property managers in the self-storage industry—the expectations for managers have shifted and grown in countless ways over the course of 36 years. At the same time, our winners have continuously raised the bar for the prestigious distinction each year, stiffening the competition and making the selection process more challenging as well.

This year’s winner and runners-up are no exception! While each is remarkable in her own way, they all possess outstanding customer service skills and expertise in all areas of operations. Our 2025 Manager of the Year, Marie Laffoon, manager of Porterville Storage in Porterville, Calif., not only turned the facility she manages around in a few short months with no previous self-storage experience, but she also orchestrated the relocation of 600-plus units to a new building with the poise of a long-time professional. The feature story about her fantastic feats starts on page 44.

Formerly employed in the medical field, Courtney Cox of Denny’s Storage in Bismarck, N.D., our first runner-up, has quickly made her mark as a standout self-storage professional. From dialysis technician to general manager, now she even co-owns a facility with her employer. Her story can be found on page 50.

Last but certainly not least is our second runner-up, Daisy González, manager at All-American Self-Storage in Methuen, Mass., which is managed by StoragePRO Management. Her compassionate care for the facility’s tenants transcends expectancy. To read about the admirable story that she calls her “biggest career accomplishment,” see page 54.

Congratulations to these three astonishing self-storage managers! The MSM team wishes you continued success in all your future endeavors!