It’s been entirely too long since we’ve taken the time to stop and say hi to the amazing people who bring the StorageMart promise of easy, clean, service to life. This month’s spotlight shines on Keith Santos, a retired Army veteran with more than 25 years of service. Now he spends his days managing our facility on Bandera Road in Helotes, Texas. Keith is always the first to step up when help is needed, whether it’s covering for another facility because the manager had surgery, helping with moving carts, or just about anything else that comes up. When not assisting customers, he can often be found up on the roof fixing insulation on a unit or painting the yellow lines in the parking lots. It’s clear to anyone who visits that Keith takes great pride in his store, and we are lucky to have him as part of the StorageMart family!
Keith Takes Pride in StorageMart
StorageMart: How long have you been at StorageMart?
Keith Santos: Just over 3 years.
SM:Have you always worked at this location?
KS: No, I started with StorageMart at store 602 on West Olmos Drive.
SM:Tell us about a typical day for you.
KS: I always start out having coffee in the morning first thing. Go to work and prepare to open doing the daily routine, open all programs, petty cash, check emails and gate log from the day prior to see what the activity was like. Do my morning checks of all buildings, grounds, fence line and chain link gates for security. If rain is in the forecast, I will check the building gutters to make sure the are clean of any obstruction that would clog the down spots. Check a/c unit for any issues, clean up any mess that has been left, pull weeds trim trees as needed, vacuum climate control buildings and make carpet repair if needed. Always try to make at least one improvement of the property from painting parking lot, installing light fixtures to rebuilding apartment toilet. If I see customers on the grounds, I will say hi and talk to see how they are doing and if the need anything.
SM:What is the consistent highlight of your day?
KS: Interaction with customers and making one improvement to the property per day. Off work highlight would be relaxing in the back yard and grilling and watching the squirrels and hummingbirds.
SM: What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced in you life? How did you deal/How are you dealing with it?
KS: Leaving the army after over 25 years was very tough because I have been around the military my entire life. My father did 28 years in the Air Force, so dealing with civilians was a real shock and a totally different mindset. My first boss, Jeff, helped me out and had to realize civilians did not see work as I did and that was strange to me. It took a while, but I learned to handle it and deal with employees in a different manner.
SM: What’s something you couldn’t live without?
KS: I love my grilled steak!
SM: If someone gave you an award because you’re awesome at something what would the award be for?
KS: I am very helpful to people when they need assistance, and I don’t expect anything in return for what I do. Just help someone else out when they need it.
SM: If you could give the special people in your life a gift what would it be?
KS: To be healthy and happy.
SM: You work hard, what does a relax day off look like for you?
KS: Grilling in the back yard / Competitive shooting IDPA.
SM: Cake or Pie?
KS: Pie
SM: What’s the last thing that made you smile really big and made you feel grateful for the special people in your life?
KS: When one of my Platoon soldiers told me after I retired that if it wasn’t for me, he would not be were he is today. He has a master’s in social services and living in Utah and very happy.
SM: Name an important thing that you are, or would like to be, involved in that makes the world a better place.
KS: I have done Habitat for Humanity and I enjoyed helping build houses for those in need. And giving to a good charity to help disabled vets.
SM: What’s the funny thing you remember that happened to you as a kid?
KS: Climbing up a tree with roller skates on and then falling out of the tree.
SM: What’s something you’d like to learn or take on as a hobby?
KS: Scuba diving.
SM: If you could move somewhere for a year just to see what it’s like to live there, where would you go?
KS: Montana, I was born there and moved to Spain when I was only a few months old.
SM: Do you like sports? Which are you favorites? Do you play?
KS: Not too much now days, I do enjoy watching track and field. In the past I did do marathons, ultra-marathons and triathlons. I can’t swim right now so kind on the back burner for doing anymore for now but would if I could.
SM: If you had a farm and could raise any animal, you wanted what would you raise?
KS: I did live on a farm for a while and bread Egyptian Arabian horses and sold one to a client in Egypt. So would say horses, it was fun, but also like the idea of having cattle.
SM: Are you happiest on country roads or living the big city life?
KS: Country roads
Thank you, Keith, for taking time out of your busy day to chat with us – and for all you do to keep the StorageMart on Bandera Road in Helotes in tip-top shape!