Dean Jernigan, chairman and chief executive officer of Storage USA, Inc., and Treasurer of NAREIT, recently took some time out from his day to give our readers some insight into the self-administered, self-managed real estate investment trust company’s current outlook. We also took the opportunity to ask him about a few of the factors that have made him a strong leader for his company and the REIT industry.

Portfolio: Where do you expect the most intriguing opportunities for self-storage sector REITs to appear in the next few years?

Jernigan: Over the next several years, the self-storage sector is going to become a part of the worldwide logistical chain. I can see us becoming a part of the delivery system for products sold on the Internet, right down to the last mile of delivery. In fact, with strategic alliances, we could become a part of that last one hundred feet of delivery, right through the front door—setting up a computer, assembling a new toy for a child, or putting together a new piece of office furniture. It starts at the manufacturer’s doorstep and ends in the consumer’s home, and we plan to find our place in that logistical chain.

Portfolio: Storage USA finalized a strategic alliance with the Budget Group last September, how has this cooperative effort helped your business?

Jernigan: There are 50,000 Budget/Ryder trucks that will soon advertise the Storage USA logo. We know that 29 percent of our customers come to our facilities on a daily basis in rented trucks, and our plan is to rent storage to customers at the time they rent a truck. This alliance is also going to continue to drive our franchise program by helping us convert non-affiliated self-storage facility owners to the Storage USA brand. We will identify those concentrated markets where Budget trucks are going, so that we can be sure a Storage USA facility is nearby. In those areas where we don’t have a presence, we’ll identify appropriate candidates to fly our flag, supply them with statistics on the number of truck renters in their area looking for storage, show them how we can direct those renters to their facility, and convert their facility to a Storage USA franchise.

Portfolio: You were in the military before going into the real estate business, how has that experience enhanced your business career?

Jernigan: I credit what leadership skills I now possess to my experience in the US Army. As a 24 year-old captain on assignment in Korea, I was responsible for over 350 people, 25 fixed-wing airplanes and another 50 helicopters. That was an incredible amount of responsibility, but the military expected me to perform, gave me the tools to succeed, and let me develop vital leadership skills. Far fewer young people today have the benefit of military experience, but at Storage USA we provide them with what the military provided me—the expectation to perform, the tools to succeed and the opportunity to develop their leadership abilities.

Portfolio: When you have time for some pleasure reading, what type of book are you most likely to pick up?

Jernigan: I enjoy reading, but my idea of pleasure reading is probably not going to meet your definition. I almost always read business-related material such as biographies on successful business people and successful business practices.

Portfolio: What about movies? What would be your favorite ?

Jernigan: I go to movies when my wife and children insist and when the movie is entertaining. In fact, I guess I can attribute my taste in movies to my nine and ten-year-old girls—we like Disney movies. Tarzan was terrific.

Portfolio: How do you like to unwind on vacation?