COLUMN HEADING GIVING BACK


Mural in garage at Shadyside property in Pittsburgh “We would not be who we are today without our customers, so


we wanted to create something inspiring as a thank you to all,” says Cohen. “We were intentional about having the mural truly represent community in every sense of the word—and celebrate the vibrance of Pittsburgh.” And it’s safe to say that the one-of-a-kind mural has been well


received by the community. Cohen mentions that it has been serving as a lovely backdrop for photos of passersby and those who frequent the nearby establishments.


Mural in garage at Shadyside property in Pittsburgh


ways to improve the company’s existing, first-generation locations. One such effort was completed in 2021, when a 1,600-square-foot mural was used to enhance the original Shadyside facility. Before the mural was painted, Cohen asked himself, “How


do we function in the community?” He knew that he wanted it to be something special and “bigger” than an advertisement for the company. He also wanted to “celebrate the East End,” which he says is going through a “huge metamorphosis.” After brainstorming about the limitless possibilities, Cohen


hired an artist with a technique that “would speak to the urban location.” She utilized a “great canvas” within the site’s parking garage to touch on all the important aspects of the East End area of Pittsburgh. The colorful, lively mural fea- tures historical buildings and catchwords such as change, grow, and evolve. It also incorporates the evolution of the community and the diversity of the area’s population, which Cohen notes is changing as well. Today, it’s experiencing all kinds of development, including residential, multifamily, retail, technology, and the like. “It’s an urban melting pot,” he says, adding that it had


an older population before technology began outweighing manufacturing on the job front. Indeed, more so than ever before, Pittsburgh is home to many different races, religions, and age groups. Finally,


the mural displays Guardian’s role in the com-


munity and its connection to the residents through its core values.


24 Self-Storage NOW!


Awards And Rewards Over the years, the core values and mission that Cohen established for


Guardian Storage have proven to be a winning formula—not only for the communities graced with its presence but for the company too. For starters, Guardian Storage has been named a “top workplace” by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette numerous times. Cohen, who is dedicated to excellence, has even reviewed the metrics used by the newspaper to compile the annual list and the corresponding survey results to deter- mine areas of improvement within the company. In addition, Guardian Storage has landed on the “Fast 50” list produced by the Pittsburgh Business Times four


times. Guardian Storage has received several


Stevie Awards for customer service since the award’s inception two decades ago. On top of


the accolades, the company’s consistency and com-


mitment to quality has been rewarded with brand recognition on a regional level, which is a considerable accomplishment for operators as the self-storage industry has only a handful of recognizable nation- wide brands. It was Guardian Storage’s positive brand recognition, along with a family connection in Colorado, that spurred Cohen to replicate that success within the Denver MSA. “We’ve achieved some brand recognition there,” he says about the 11 Guardian Storage facili- ties in that market. Another rewarding endeavor that Cohen spearheaded is a “best


practices group” for self-storage operators. He started the group approximately 14 years ago as a way to share storage-related experi- ences and grow. Founding members of the group included profession- als from self-storage companies in various markets, with two compa- nies that grew through acquisitions, two that grew through property management, and two that grew through development. “It is a good mix of people,” says Cohen, adding that he has learned and grown


FIRST QUARTER 2022


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