Wayne Johnson serves as President and Chief Investment Officer of SmartStop Self Storage REIT, Inc., where he spearheads the company's investment strategy, acquisitions, dispositions, and capital markets activities. With over 25 years of experience in real estate investment and management, Johnson has established himself as a leading figure in the self-storage sector. Prior to joining SmartStop, he co-founded Strategic Asset Management, LLC, in 2008, where he played a pivotal role in launching and managing Strategic Storage Trust, Inc. (SST) and Strategic Storage Growth REIT, Inc. (SSG), both non-traded REITs focused on self-storage properties. Under Johnson's leadership, SmartStop has grown into one of the largest publicly traded self-storage REITs, completing the merger of SST and SSG in 2021 and executing over $2 billion in acquisitions and joint ventures. His strategic vision has driven portfolio expansion to more than 160 properties across key U.S. markets, enhancing shareholder value through disciplined capital allocation and operational excellence. Notable achievements include navigating market cycles to deliver strong returns and positioning SmartStop for public listing on the Nasdaq in 2024. Johnson's expertise extends to asset management, underwriting, and portfolio optimization, complemented by his service on various industry boards and his MBA from the University of Southern California. As CIO, he continues to guide SmartStop's growth amid evolving real estate dynamics, emphasizing technology integration and sustainable development in self-storage.