279: Unlocking Value In Industrial Outdoor Storage with Blake Rodgers

In this episode of Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing, Jonathan welcomes Blake Rodgers, co-founder and principal at Steel Peak. Blake specializes in industrial outdoor storage (IOS). This niche asset class includes contractor yards, equipment rental facilities, and bulk material sites across the Western U.S. He shares how his early experiences in real estate shaped his career, why IOS presents such a compelling opportunity, and how his firm is building a portfolio designed for long-term value. Blake’s journey from college football player to commercial broker and eventually principal investor highlights the power of mentorship, networking, and staying focused on a specific buy box. He explains how Steel Peak sources deals, why mom-and-pop owners often present the best opportunities, and how value is created through repositioning and leasing to long-term, sticky tenants. Jonathan and Blake also discuss the importance of partnerships, capital strategies, and building credibility with brokers in a specialized market. If you’ve ever wondered about the potential of IOS properties or how niching down can accelerate growth, this conversation will give you a look at a less familiar but highly scalable investment path. In this episode, you will hear: Blake’s journey from college athlete to co-founding Steel Peak The influence of real estate clubs and internships on his career path Distinctions between industrial outdoor storage and traditional industrial assets Opportunities created by mom-and-pop ownership in this niche space Building teams and partnerships to support long-term growth Repositioning underutilized properties for national tenants Tenant demand driven by construction, transportation, and utility sectors Shifts from syndications to institutional capital as Steel Peak scales The credibility that comes with niching down in a specialized market Long-term value creation as the guiding principle for Steel Peak’s portfolio Follow and Review: We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: Steel Peak Properties website - steelpeakproperties.com Blake Rodgers on Instagram - www.instagram.com/blakerodgers Connect with Blake on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/blakerodgers Website - www.streamlined.properties YouTube - www.youtube.com/c/JonathanGreeneRE/videos Instagram - www.instagram.com/trustgreene Instagram - www.instagram.com/streamlinedproperties TikTok - www.tiktok.com/@trustgreene Zillow - www.zillow.com/profile/StreamlinedReal Bigger Pockets - www.biggerpockets.com/users/TrustGreene Facebook - www.facebook.com/streamlinedproperties Email - info@streamlined.properties Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.