At Extra Space Storage, our employees are our most valuable asset. Whether they’re working at our National Solutions Center or managing our storage facilities nationwide, it’s the dedication and passion of our team that drives our success every day.
Each quarter, we celebrate the hard work and commitment of our team through the Extraordinary Employees of the Quarter award. This recognition goes beyond simply doing the job—it honors those who truly exemplify our core values. Nominations for these awards come directly from fellow employees, leaders, and departments, making this recognition especially meaningful.
Below, we’re excited to share the winners from Q2 2024, along with the heartfelt nominations from their peers!
Justin Melendez — District Manager
Justin has been a leader and expert in the Storage Express operating model. He has provided critical feedback to improve the onboarding and operation of these stores and has served as a valuable resource for District Managers across the country during the onboarding of Storage Express locations. Whenever I’ve sought his input on the transition process or content for the knowledge base, he has responded promptly with thoughtful and effective feedback. Justin consistently goes above and beyond to enhance the onboarding experience for Storage Express stores in the field.
Kesan Pillai — District Manager
Since Kesan joined Extra Space, he has consistently exemplified the value of excellence. He made an immediate impact on his district by fully staffing his team, partnering with managers to make smart business decisions, and developing talent. His efforts recently led to one of his District Team Leads being promoted to District Manager in Training. During the July realignment, Kesan learned that he would be losing all 18 of his current stores and taking on 17 new ones. When discussing the challenges of his new market, his response was, “No problem, we got this.” I’m confident he does, because he takes the time to get to know his managers, understands what motivates them, and learns how to partner with them to maximize results. He creates systems that support his team while holding them respectfully and equally accountable. Kesan’s pursuit of excellence extends beyond his own district—he actively shares best practices with the division team, is always willing to help find solutions for his teammates, and consistently seeks wins for the entire division. We are incredibly fortunate to have a teammate like Kesan, who inspires all of us to raise the bar for excellence.
Lakeitha Williams — District Manager
Lakeitha Williams embodies everything we value in a leader. Her infectious positivity brightens even the toughest days, and her journey from the ground up allows her to connect meaningfully with both store-level and corporate teams. Since relocating here, she has brought a fresh perspective on teamwork and collaboration. Lakeitha leads by example, never hesitating to roll up her sleeves and lend a hand.
Carolyn Potter — Third-Party Relationships Regional Manager
Carolyn dedicates a great deal of time to helping our team with various learning opportunities and questions related to accounting, drawing from her extensive expertise. She has been coaching new team members, sharing additional knowledge, and addressing countless ad hoc questions. Her wealth of knowledge and her willingness to share it are truly exceptional.
Selaina Broderick — Employee Experience Manager
Since joining Extra Space one year ago, Selaina has been a rockstar! She is a true partner, offering sound guidance and helping to ensure our employee experiences are positive, transparent, and fair. Her dedication to her team is truly impressive, as she is always readily available and quick to respond, demonstrating her commitment to supporting her team whenever assistance is needed. Selaina is genuinely interested in learning different aspects of the business and easily connects with other departments to understand “the why” behind things. Her attitude of 100% ownership not only challenges the team to consider the impact of their decisions but also ensures we stay focused on enhancing the employee experience within our brand. The speed and thoroughness with which she executes are unmatched, and we are truly grateful for all her support. Selaina creates a safer and better workplace for everyone she supports. Congrats, Selaina!
William Tufo — Facility Service Manager
Will Tufo has been an extraordinary leader for our company. In his two years with Extra Space, he has consistently shown a high level of personal ownership, ensuring that the operators he supports as a Facility Service Manager receive top-tier facility services. Throughout his time with us, Will has often been tasked with supporting significantly more District Managers and stores than is typically expected due to vacancies, acquisitions, and leaves of absence. It has been common for Will to manage 25%-50% more stores than the average manager, all while helping to recruit, train, and develop new team members. Most recently, Will’s performance during a hurricane that hit Houston was exceptional. He worked virtually around the clock to ensure his stores received the necessary support to reopen as quickly as possible after the storm and efficiently managed repairs to damaged facilities, minimizing downtime for units. Will consistently exemplifies what it means to be an excellent teammate and leader here at Extra Space, and we’re fortunate to have him on our team.
Claudia Fasci — National Sales Center Team Lead
When you join Claudia’s team, her drive and passion for her work become evident very quickly. She consistently goes above and beyond, taking the time to connect personally with each team member to ensure everyone feels valued and understood. After every interaction, Claudia expresses genuine appreciation and provides thoughtful feedback, fostering a positive and productive team environment. Her dedication to understanding each team member’s professional needs demonstrates her commitment to our growth and development. Claudia’s leadership and collaboration inspire us to achieve our best while strengthening our collective ability to excel. Thank you, Claudia!
Interested in joining an award-winning team? Visit our careers page to learn more about company culture and job opportunities.
