Welcome to Spring 2025 in New England! The snow and ice are finally melting, and we are thrilled to kick off another exciting year at NeSSA. Thank you for renewing and joining us for another year of camaraderie, education, networking, and improving our businesses! 2025 is going to be another incredible year with the continued growth of both the EXPO and our Fall Retreat, legislative work in collaboration with the SSA, ongoing relationships with our neighboring states and industry leaders, and new projects on the horizon.

I am honored to be stepping into the big shoes of the former Presidents, the late and great Charlie Fritts and the retired Steve Tranni. Their wisdom, advice, and support of NeSSA are unmatched and we will truly miss them both.

Believe it or not, word of mouth is the main way our membership continues to grow. Whether you are a vendor recommending us to your clients or the owner of a facility letting other owners know about the resources we offer - this results in an increase in membership which in turn means a stronger, more competitive market and more representation when lobbying for legislative change. So, if you haven't yet, be sure to let your industry friends know about NeSSA!

One of the benefits we offer is an annual academic scholarship, which is due March 31st. If you, any of your staff, or their family members are getting a higher education, be sure to log in and fill out this year's application. The scholarship will be awarded at the 2025 Northeast Storage EXPO.

Speaking of the EXPO, we are gearing up for another record-breaking year at Foxwoods Resort and Casino on May 14th and 15th! Last year's event was an astounding success with our co-hosts, the New Hampshire and Maine Self Storage Associations. Because of the 2024 show’s success, we have expanded our tradeshow hall yet again and are almost sold out of booth space. Our Program Committee has put together a great lineup of education and speakers, which can be viewed here, where you can also register to attend. The EXPO is my favorite place to network with facility owners, managers, and vendors. I take great pride in seeing the EXPO grow year after year as one of the most well respected and valued conferences in the industry.

In addition to our annual scholarship raffle, we are also conducting a fundraiser with Kure It Cancer Research, with a goal of raising $75,000 for a research grant in Charlie Fritts's name to be used in the northeast. Many don't know that Charlie beat cancer many years ago and was passionate about Kure It's goals and mission. The NeSSA Board of Directors kicked off fundraising with a donation of 10% of our goal - $7,500. If you or your company is interested in making a donation towards this cause, please contact Courtney. I personally plan to make a large donation.

Be sure to also save the date for our annual Fall Retreat, scheduled for September 24th at the Publick House Historic Inn in Sturbridge, MA. This event also continues to grow every year to the point where we are now limited on space. Updates on the Fall Retreat will be posted to the website, so keep an eye out online. The cozy, New England vibe and charming venue brings our members together for a meeting that feels like a family reunion.

*NEW Update* The boards of NeSSA and NHSSA have been working together and discussing the future of their associations for a couple of years now. They joined us as EXPO co-hosts in 2024 and now in 2025, and we have been conducting joint webinars together. Both boards have voted to pursue a merger, where NHSSA would merge into NeSSA. While this is similar to the original founding of NeSSA nearly eight years ago, a new entity would not be created. NeSSA would remain the same in all aspects, with the exception of now covering four states instead of three. We are still very early in this process and welcome your thoughts, concerns, and feedback! Please feel free to reach out to myself, Courtney, or any board member directly. We are excited about this opportunity to grow.

A warm welcome our new Board members and thank you to our existing Board family. You can view our full Board of Directors here. I encourage you to reach out and network with them; they are a wealth of knowledge, donate their time tirelessly to NeSSA, and would love to connect with you!

Finally, I would like to extend heartfelt congratulations to Courtney and Scott on the arrival of their newborn son, Lochlan. On behalf of the Board, we deeply appreciate Courtney’s dedication in preparing for and supporting NeSSA during her maternity leave. We are also grateful for Mary Ann Turner’s invaluable support during this period.

I am excited to see you all at the EXPO. Remember, our association's strength lies in its members, and we are here to support each and every one of you!

Sincerely,
Jessica Lamoureux