OUR STORY
Nearly Five Decades of
Industry Leadership
From a single facility in Bradenton to managing over 30 locations, our journey is built on expertise, integrity, and a passion for the self-storage industry.
Steve Wilson:
A Pioneer's Journey
Driving to his in-laws' home upon returning from Japan in the mid-1970s, Steve Wilson noticed rows of nondescript buildings near an Indiana highway. As a foreign correspondent for the Associated Press who had relocated 15 times in 15 years, Wilson had come to know the moving industry very well.
"We understood the dynamics of moving, storage, and the needs associated with that kind of household turmoil," said Wilson. "So when we first saw a self storage facility, we immediately understood its importance to so many Americans, and it seemed like something we could do."
He did indeed do it, opening the first Hide-Away Storage property in 1977 in Bradenton, Florida. A graduate of Butler University in Indianapolis with an M.A. from Indiana University, Wilson had set off on a career following his economics studies - but the opportunity in self storage sent him in an entirely new direction.
Growth Through Industry Involvement
"I knew absolutely nothing about self storage when we first got into the business, so I immediately sought all the help I could get. And that meant being part of the storage trade association."
1978
First SSA Conference
1984
SSA President
48+
Years SSA Involvement
2010
SSA Hall of Fame Inductee
The Value of Association
"The Association was a wonderful place to learn how to run my business better, not to mention the contacts I've made, which were also invaluable to our continued growth and success."
After leading the Self Storage Association through part of its adolescence as President in 1984, Wilson spent three decades participating at events, filling committee positions, and consistently supporting the organization as it matured.
"The legal assistance and sponsorship of legislation to enable the self storage industry to function as it does today is largely a product of the Self Storage Association, and it has been a benefit of incalculable value to every owner."
"The lesson is to participate in your Association and do your homework."
- Steve Wilson
Beyond Storage: Community Leadership
Steve Wilson's generosity extends beyond the world of self storage. In addition to serving as an elder and leader of his church, he has led efforts to protect the homeless in his Southwestern Florida community.
He served as president of the Manatee Homeless Coalition, a community organization dedicated to helping the homeless and those vulnerable to becoming homeless. Steve and his wife Maureen have been married for over 63 years. They have two daughters and four grandchildren.
Hide-Away Storage Services
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