SAM Team Member Spotlight: Ashley Clark
District Trainer
Freedom Self Storage
Ashley Clark
Meet this month’s store team spotlight, Ashley Clark with Freedom Self Storage! Ashley was nominated for the spotlight by district manager, Mark. Mark said, “Ashley is a valuable manager and employee for SAM, going above and beyond is an understatement.” Get to know Ashley in the Q&A below!
Q: How long have you been working for SAM?
A: My career with SAM started in October of 2022 as the Assistant Store Manager and during training I was offered the Store Manager position, and I accepted. I am now a District Trainer and have been in this current role for one year and two months.
Q: How did you come to be part of the team at SAM? What attracted you to this role and our company?
A: When I made the decision to join SAM, I had been working in the medical field as a nurse for about 12 years. As most of you know, when COVID happened, it changed a lot in multiple industries, and the medical industry was included. I was becoming burnt out from working 12-15 hour shifts sometimes six days a week which was keeping me away from my family and I was missing out on so many memories. I then made the difficult decision that it was time for a career shift. While I was in school chasing my medical career, I worked for Ash Properties, Inc. out of Jacksonville, FL and their focus was self storage. Having the knowledge I gained from that management company; I decided to give the storage industry another try. My attraction to SAM started with my interview process. It was flawless. The right questions were asked, and the right responses were given without hesitation. From there, I started training and started communications with some wonderful, supportive people. That is a rarity you find in just the hiring process with most companies and because of this, I felt comfort in choosing SAM and it was one of my best decisions!
Q: What do you enjoy most about working at SAM? Is there a specific aspect of your job or the company culture that you find particularly rewarding?
A: I love how every member of SAM, from store to corporate level is all hands-on deck! The teamwork and growth opportunities that comes with this company is admirable. SAM offers me a wonderful work life balance, they give me an environment where team collaboration is never in question, and SAM cares about its employees and not just their customers. Every aspect of my role with SAM is rewarding!
Q: Outside of work, what hobbies or interests do you enjoy pursuing in your free time?
A: When I am not at work, I am usually skating, kayaking, fishing, camping, spending time with family at music festivals, or enjoying the life of a foodie!
Q: Is there a memorable life lesson or piece of advice that has shaped your outlook or approach to life and work?
A: A memorable piece of advice that has shaped my approach is, “Focus on progress, not perfection.” This idea resonates with me because it encourages a mindset of continual growth and learning, rather than striving for an ideal that might not be attainable or might hold you back from moving forward. In both life and work, it’s easy to get caught up in the idea that things need to be flawless before you take action. But it’s the small steps and the willingness to improve over time that led to the greatest successes.
Q: Can you share a fun fact about yourself?
A: A fun fact about me is I train off the clock and on! I am a Jammer for the Jacksonville Roller Derby League in Jacksonville, FL and I am also a league trainer for our new derby skaters. My name is Bluebird Bomber.
Q: Is there anything else you’d like to share about yourself?
A: My life is simple. I have four daughters, three grandchildren, and a big white dog we call Ellie. I love to travel to see new places and to try EVERY new food I come across. My passions in life are endless!
Q: What is your go-to Sunday cleaning/organizing song?
A: Haha! I would not be able to give just one song. My Sunday playlist goes from Bill Withers to Slipknot, Misfits, and Bad Omens to Patsy Cline, then back to Wu-Tang, ICP, and Loretta Lynn. The most current mix I have been listening to is Death Metal x Violin Symphonic- A Dark and Majestic Fusion.
Check out our SAM Team Member Favorites playlist on Spotify!