Upcoming Education & Professional Development

CSSA Focuses on Professional Development

Changing the name from Education & Training to Education & Professional Development is more than just a committee name change, it is a mind shift. At the recent CSSA Board Strategic Planning Session, there was discussion on the value of education. Collectively the Board reaffirmed the association’s commitment to help educate those in our association.

“It’s one of CSSA’s core values and part of our mission,” stated Nathan McElmurry, incoming (2026) Chair of the Board. He continued, “We should not be focused on this being a profit center – it’s part of our membership value proposition.”

This past year, CSSA held training on: Lien Law, Wage & Hour Aduit, Non-Monetary Default Remedy, Managing Stress and Burnout, Labor Laws, Difficult Conversations and De-Escalation.

CSSA Education  & Professional Development Chair, Natolie Ochi said, “This year, CSSA is going to roll out new courses aimed at three levels of an organization: frontline, mid-management, and C-Suite/CEO. All these courses will be online, at a low cost, easy for members to access. We record all our education events and will be launching a video library where members can access these at their leisure for a low cost. We are also considering offering a subscription to make it even easier to access.”

Also new in 2026 we will be launching “Smart Storage Exchange.” The Storage Solutions Exchange is a free, interactive virtual forum where CSSA members hear directly from industry suppliers about tools, services, and trends shaping self storage. Held every other Friday, each session features two Business Partners and allows members to tune in to the topics most relevant to their business.

Returning in 2026, CSSA’s popular FREE Peer Power Hour discussions are back and better than ever. These fast-paced, owner-focused sessions dive into timely industry topics and are led by experienced discussion leaders who spark meaningful conversation, idea-sharing, and real-world takeaways.

In addition, CSSA will host quarterly Young Leaders Group (YLG) Power Hours, designed specifically for the next generation of industry professionals. These sessions feature respected industry voices who share insights, experiences, and guidance to help young leaders expand their networks, sharpen their skills, and accelerate their career growth.

All this is to help provide that professional development you should expect from CSSA!