SAM Team Member Spotlight: Mark Looney
District Manager at Storage Asset Management
Mark Looney
Meet this month’s corporate team spotlight, Mark Looney, District Manager! Mark was nominated for the spotlight by his peer, Jessica, who said, “Mark is a true team player! He helps anyone he can, and if he doesn’t know the answer, he will find it. He is always there when we need him.” Get to know Mark in the Q&A below!
Q: Can you introduce yourself and provide some background on your role within SAM? What are your primary responsibilities and areas of expertise?
A: My name is Mark Looney, and I am a District Manager with SAM. I will celebrate five years with the company this coming February. In my role, I oversee field operations while serving as a key conduit and resource for both our clients and our field teams. My expertise lies in the operational “nuts and bolts” of the self-storage industry, ensuring systems, processes, and people work together efficiently. Operations have always been my passion and I want to continue to grow in that area.
Q: What attracted you to this role and our company?
A: Prior to joining SAM, I worked as a District Manager with NSA. A mentor encouraged me to explore an opportunity with a smaller company known as SAM, citing its strong culture and growth potential. He recognized that I enjoy challenges and believed this environment would allow me to expand my knowledge and experience. Transitioning into third-party management was new for me, but it provided valuable exposure to a wide range of ownership groups and deepened my appreciation for companies outside of the REIT space.
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: What I enjoy most about working for SAM is the culture and the people. While there are certainly days that are fast-paced and demanding, I know I can pick up the phone and call just about anyone in the company and say, “Do you have five minutes?” That sense of support and genuine care for one another is something I truly value.
Q: Has a memorable life lesson or advice shaped your outlook or approach to life and work?
A: One of the most impactful lessons I’ve learned is that there are always eyes on what you do and how you lead, how you communicate, and how you handle challenges. A piece of advice that has stayed with me for nearly 20 years is, “Don’t sell from your own pocket.” I learned this while working part-time at Best Buy, where a manager reminded me never to assume what a customer will or won’t choose based on price. Something maybe expensive to me, but to that customer, that might be less than they wanted to spend. That lesson has shaped how I approach sales, service, and leadership to this day.
Q: Outside of work, what hobbies or interests do you enjoy pursuing in your free time?
A: I live on the Eastern Shore, nestled between the bay and the ocean. While I’ve lived near the water for much of my life, I enjoy exploring local communities and discovering small, hole-in-the-wall restaurants with friends. One of my hobbies is building scale models of ships, airplanes, and boats which I often give to friends and family.
Q: Can you share a fun fact about yourself?
A: A fun fact about me is that I can float upside down in the water for up to five minutes, surfacing only to raise my head for air. It’s a skill I learned the hard way during Navy boot camp. (I did struggle with this.)
Q: Is there anything else you’d like to share about yourself?
A: At my core, I have a strong passion for taking care of the people in my life, family, friends, and coworkers alike. Over the past few years, losing close family members has reinforced how short life can be and how important it is to make the most of our time. As a result, I’ve reconnected with old friends and grown even closer with my brother, something I’m incredibly grateful for. I live with my spouse in a house bigger than we need, with our two (very spoiled) kitties, Rory and Amy.