With self-storage development on the upswing after nearly five years of slow activity, new owners and investors interested in the industry may be eager to participate in an in-depth Developers Workshop on March 30 at the Inside Self-Storage World Expo in Las Vegas. Led by RK Kliebenstein, vice president of acquisitions for Chicago-based operator Metro Storage LLC, the four-hour seminar will offer lessons learned during the Great Recession and identify new pathways to industry success.

Offered from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., the session also features a panel of self-storage builders and real estate investors who will share insight to ground-up construction, conversion projects and facility renovations, including case studies that illustrate specific development strategies. The panel includes James Bratton, president of MST Constructors/Akamai Real Estate Investments; Charles Plunkett, CEO of Capco Steel Inc.; and Caesar Wright, president and CEO of Mako Steel Inc.

Kliebenstein has more than 25 years of industry experience and was formerly president of Coast-To-Coast Storage, a consulting firm offering feasibility studies, site selection, financing, management and marketing services. He has been a frequent speaker at the ISS Expo, and his books on “How to Make Money in Self-Storage” are sold through the ISS Store, an e-commerce website providing research and education products for self-storage professionals.

The expo’s concurrent education program, March 31 and April 1, includes nine tracks covering issues related to self-storage ownership, management, marketing, investment, finance, building, development, liability and more. Additional workshops focus on day-to-day management, facility ownership, legal issues and social media.

The conference and tradeshow will take place at the Paris Hotel & Resort. Discount registration rates are available through March 28.

Created for self-storage owners, managers, developers, investors and suppliers, the ISS Expo is the industry’s largest conference and tradeshow, comprising four days of education, exhibits and networking opportunities. The event focuses on strategies for generating revenue, best practices, current trends, and new products and services. Details and online registration are available at www.insideselfstorageworldexpo.com.