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Magen Smith, Co-Founder and CEO of Atomic Storage Group, joins Matt Engfer to share how disciplined execution, strong fundamentals, and a people-first mindset have fueled one of the fastest-growing third-party management companies in self storage.
Magen walks through her unconventional path into the industry—from accounting and consulting to development and ultimately building Atomic Storage Group into a national platform. She explains why marketing is often the first indicator of operational health, which metrics truly matter in a property audit, and how consistent execution across marketing, operations, and customer experience creates long-term success.
Rather than chasing shortcuts or shiny tools, this episode reinforces a simple truth: doing the basics well, every day, at scale is what separates average operators from great ones.
Key Takeaways:
(0:00) Intro
(3:13) Magen's story
(7:14) The metrics that matter in a property audit
(9:23) How do you compete in today's market
(10:18) Managing all aspects of the facility
(12:37) Doing it well everyday - it's all about execution
(15:34) Building an effective team
(18:07) A diverse group of managed properties
(19:16) The secret is, there is no secret - hard work and a great team make the difference
(20:56) The growth and future of Atomic Storage Group and self storage
(25:46) What's ahead for Cubby in 2026
Resources Mentioned:
Magen Smith | LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/magensmithcpa
Atomic Storage Group | Website
https://atomicstoragegroup.com
Cubby | Website
https://www.cubbystorage.com
Thank you for listening to “Students of Storage.” Be sure to leave us a 5-star review and subscribe so you don’t miss an episode.
#SelfStorageManagement #StorageMarketing #StudentsOfStorage
By CubbyMagen Smith, Co-Founder and CEO of Atomic Storage Group, joins Matt Engfer to share how disciplined execution, strong fundamentals, and a people-first mindset have fueled one of the fastest-growing third-party management companies in self storage.
Magen walks through her unconventional path into the industry—from accounting and consulting to development and ultimately building Atomic Storage Group into a national platform. She explains why marketing is often the first indicator of operational health, which metrics truly matter in a property audit, and how consistent execution across marketing, operations, and customer experience creates long-term success.
Rather than chasing shortcuts or shiny tools, this episode reinforces a simple truth: doing the basics well, every day, at scale is what separates average operators from great ones.
Key Takeaways:
(0:00) Intro
(3:13) Magen's story
(7:14) The metrics that matter in a property audit
(9:23) How do you compete in today's market
(10:18) Managing all aspects of the facility
(12:37) Doing it well everyday - it's all about execution
(15:34) Building an effective team
(18:07) A diverse group of managed properties
(19:16) The secret is, there is no secret - hard work and a great team make the difference
(20:56) The growth and future of Atomic Storage Group and self storage
(25:46) What's ahead for Cubby in 2026
Resources Mentioned:
Magen Smith | LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/magensmithcpa
Atomic Storage Group | Website
https://atomicstoragegroup.com
Cubby | Website
https://www.cubbystorage.com
Thank you for listening to “Students of Storage.” Be sure to leave us a 5-star review and subscribe so you don’t miss an episode.
#SelfStorageManagement #StorageMarketing #StudentsOfStorage