Milestones of Success - The Johnson Group

The Spotlight

A little more than halfway through the year, the companies of The Johnson Group have cause for celebration, having achieved significant growth worthy of recognition.

ACA Surpasses $3B in Assets

In May 2019, ACA achieved a major milestone, reaching $3 billion in assets, growing from $2 billion just two years prior. When asked what $3 billion in asset growth means for ACA, Chief Financial Officer Tim MacPhail says, “Having $3 billion in assets doesn’t mean that there is a bank account with $3 billion sitting in it. This milestone represents ACA’s investment in our customers. That dollar amount signifies the amount of loans we have originated. Those vehicles are now driving around the streets and highways of America, helping our emerging credit consumers get to where they need to go.”

During an event celebrating the hard work and collaboration that made it all possible, Curt Sidden, CEO of ACA, spoke to associates about the recent milestone. “If someone were to ask me who is the one person who made this milestone possible or who had the biggest impact, I couldn’t name just one person,” he says. “We achieved this milestone because each of our associates worked better together and was dedicated to doing their job really well.”

Curt goes on to say, “While this milestone is important, it isn’t just about the result. It’s easy to only focus on hitting a goal or getting to the next milestone, but that can mean that we forget to enjoy the journey along the way. The joy is often not found in reaching the goal itself, it’s found in the day-to-day work that it took to get us here. I have enjoyed being on this journey with our associates and want to thank them for their hard work. I’m looking forward to seeing where the next 12 years takes us.”

$3B

In total assets

630,000

Accounts serviced to date

300+

Team members promoted in past 5 year

ACA: Serving the Emerging Credit Consumer

ACA currently serves more than 200,000 customers, enacting their vision of enabling the emerging credit consumer to purchase reliable and affordable transportation. The emerging credit tier of customers is often underserved and “emerging” from a challenging credit situation.

JDA Opens 50th Self-Storage Property

In the four years since it launched, JDA’s Self-Storage Division has experienced incredible growth. This spring, the company opened its 50th self-storage property with a facility on Saw Mill Run Boulevard in Pittsburgh, and the team has already delivered two additional facilities since then.

While the Self-Storage Division is relatively young, JDA’s experience in the self-storage business dates back 30 years and includes a combination of development and acquisitions under the American Storage brand name. In 2009, the owners of American Storage realized that the business had fallen behind the rest of the storage industry, having failed to innovate and evolve. Recognizing that they needed additional expertise, the owners showed humility by seeking outside perspective to recommend a better path forward. Engaging a third-party management partner to operate the facilities, they were able to dramatically improve the performance of the portfolio and ultimately sell the facilities at a profit.

In 2015, JDA applied those learnings in its launch of a Self-Storage Division that focused on a new strategy, targeting markets with high barriers to entry such as Washington, D.C., and the New York metropolitan area. Today, the team has grown to 30+ members, located in four offices on the East and West Coasts of the United States. William Spry, President of the Self-Storage Division, says, “This team has achieved what no other development team in the country has in a very short amount of time.”

Based on past experience, the team has also carefully chosen proven operating partners like CubeSmart, Life Storage and Extra Space to run the day-to-day operations of each facility.

William says, “I’m looking forward to what is ahead for our team. We continue to break into new markets and produce assets that are best-in-class in the industry, and that’s a testament to the expertise, humility, and drive of our team to continue to push the envelope.”

52

Opened self-storage facilities in 12 states in 4 years

9.8M

Square feet in development pipeline

81%+

Increase in team members in 4 years

JDA: Expanding into New Markets

JDA’s Self-Storage team currently has seven facilities under construction, including its first two projects in the state of California.

OTO Celebrates 15 Years

OTO Development celebrated a significant milestone this spring: The Johnson Group’s hotel development/hospitality management company has been building excellence since May 2004.

“What a privilege to reach our 15-year anniversary with the same enthusiasm, ambition and humility – maybe more – that we felt on day one,” says Corry Oakes, CEO of OTO Development. “This company is thriving, thanks to the commitment of our employees, our brand partners and our investors. As we continue growing our portfolio of excellent hotels and exceptional people, we’re eager for every opportunity the next 15 years will bring.”

Much of the OTO team had previously worked together to create, grow and then ultimately sell Extended Stay America, a company that opened 475 hotels in 42 states before being purchased by Blackstone Group in what was the largest public-to-private transaction in South Carolina history.

OTO opened the very day the Extended Stay America deal closed and was in business for just one year before earning its first development award. The company has continued to enjoy steady industry recognition ever since. OTO has been honored as Developer of the Year by all major brand partners – some more than once – in addition to a variety of accolades for environmental stewardship, community service, guest service/satisfaction and revenue success. Prominent recognition for operations includes twice winning Marriott’s Partnership Circle Award, the brand’s top honor accorded to less than 1% of franchisees.

“We are humbled by these accolades,” Oakes says, “and, rather than rest on our laurels, every affirmation encourages us to strive that much more in our efforts to become THE best company in lodging.”

15

Years in business

$2.6B

In total investment

40%

Management positions promoted from within

OTO: Building Excellence in Hotel Development & Operations

By strategically developing in high barrier-to-entry markets, OTO’s portfolio includes the No. 1 RevPAR (revenue per available room) performer in four brands nationwide: Courtyard, AC Hotels, Hilton Garden Inn, and Hampton by Hilton.

ACA Surpasses $3B in Assets

$3B

630,000

300+

ACA: Serving the Emerging Credit Consumer

JDA Opens 50th Self-Storage Property

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9.8M

81%+

JDA: Expanding into New Markets

OTO Celebrates 15 Years

15

$2.6B

40%

OTO: Building Excellence in Hotel Development & Operations

Additional articles in Issue 3, Summer 2019

OTO Adds New Avenue to Drive Growth

The Strength of Humility

Creating Connection through Engagement

Sharing an Office and Local Tips in El Segundo, California