Chad Meisinger
About Chad L. Meisinger
Chad L. Meisinger (age 57) is an independent trustee of National Storage Affiliates Trust (NSA) since 2015, with core credentials in digital marketing, technology, cybersecurity, franchising, and entrepreneurial company-building. He founded and leads Over The Top (OTT) Marketing (since 2006), previously held senior roles tied to Google Radio and dMarc Broadcasting, and built multi-location healthcare/franchise operations; his board tenure at NSA is 10 years as of March 28, 2025 .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Over The Top (OTT) Marketing | Founder & CEO | 2006 – Present | Scaled inbound digital customer acquisition via proprietary software |
| IP Dynamx | Founder, President & CEO | 2015 – 2017 | Built tech platform business |
| Google Radio | Head of affiliate sales & marketing | 2006 – 2009 | Joined after dMarc acquisition; focused on monetization partnerships |
| dMarc Broadcasting | Key investor & Chief Marketing Officer | Pre-2006 (sold in 2006) | Contributed to sale to Google Radio for $1.2B cash + incentives |
| First MediaWorks | Co-founder, Chairman & CEO | 1999 – 2005 | Built radio industry software; sold to Mediaspan |
| The Joint Corp (regional dev.) | Developed >40 clinics (Los Angeles County) | 2011 – 2014 | Multi-location healthcare/franchising execution |
| Thinique Medical Weight Loss | Co-founder | 2013 (built to >200 franchised units, then sold) | Rapid franchise scaling |
| First Internet Franchise Corporation | Co-founder, CEO & board trustee | Since 1995 | ISP franchising with hundreds of territories |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| NSA | Independent trustee | 2015 – Present | CNCG Committee member |
| Other public company boards | — | — | None disclosed beyond NSA |
Board Governance
- Committee memberships: Compensation, Nominating and Corporate Governance (CNCG) Committee member; not a chair. CNCG held 6 meetings in 2024; membership is fully independent per NYSE/SEC/NSA standards .
- Audit Committee: Meisinger is not a member; Audit Committee members and chair disclosed separately; 8 meetings in 2024 .
- Finance Committee: Meisinger is not a member; Finance held 4 meetings in 2024 .
- Independence: Board affirmatively determined Meisinger is independent in 2024 and 2025 per NYSE standards, SEC rules, and NSA’s Guidelines and Independence Standards .
- Attendance: Board held 6 meetings in 2024; all trustees attended at least 75% of Board and committee meetings on which they served .
- Lead Independent Director: Paul W. Hylbert, Jr., reappointed in 2024/2025; presides at executive sessions and coordinates agendas with leadership .
Fixed Compensation
| Component (2024) | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Annual base cash retainer | $60,000 | Standard for independent trustees |
| CNCG Committee membership fee | $10,000 | Member (not chair) |
| Fees Paid or Earned in Cash (reported) | $70,000 | Reflects base + committee role (election into equity discussed below) |
| Director equity compensation (annual) | $100,000 | Standard for independent trustees |
| Total reported 2024 compensation | $170,000 | Sum of reported cash and stock awards |
- Program update for 2025: Base cash increases to $70,000; equity compensation increases to $120,000; Audit Committee member cash increases to $12,500 (CNCG fees unchanged in this disclosure) .
Performance Compensation
| Equity Instrument | Grant Date | Quantity | Grant-Date Basis | Vesting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LTIP units (taken in lieu of 2024 annual cash compensation) | May 16, 2024 | 4,493 units | Grants based on closing price $37.84 on 5/16/24; ASC 718 fair value recognized | Vests on the earlier of May 16, 2025 or the calendar day immediately preceding the 2025 Annual Meeting, subject to service |
| Director annual equity grant | 2024 | $100,000 | As per program | Time-based vesting as applicable; no performance metrics disclosed for independent trustee equity |
- Performance metrics: None disclosed for independent trustee compensation; NSA’s pay-for-performance features and metrics apply to NEO incentives, not directors .
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Company | Public? | Role | Committee/Chair | Interlock/Conflicts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| National Storage Affiliates Trust | Yes | Independent trustee | CNCG Committee member | No director interlocks; CNCG members are not current/former NSA officers; interlocks explicitly denied |
| Other public company boards | — | — | — | None disclosed |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Extensive digital marketing, technology, cybersecurity, and franchising experience; strong entrepreneurial character .
- Public company board experience (NSA) .
- Skills matrix: Meisinger is marked for Public Company/Board Experience, Real Estate Investment/Management, Business Strategy/Operations, Compliance & Regulatory, and Technology & Cybersecurity; no explicit finance/audit committee designation .
Equity Ownership
| Category (as of March 14, 2025) | Amount | % of Shares Outstanding | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total beneficial ownership (Common Shares basis incl. OP & vested LTIP) | 165,256 | <1% | Includes rights to acquire within 60 days where applicable |
| Common Shares (direct) | 114,155 | — | Breakdown detail |
| OP units | 38,596 | — | Operating partnership units |
| Vested LTIP units | 8,012 | — | Vested as of date |
| Unvested LTIP units | 4,493 | — | Scheduled to vest by May 16, 2025 or day before the 2025 Annual Meeting, subject to service |
| Pledged shares | None disclosed for Meisinger | — | Footnotes identify pledging for others; no pledge noted for Meisinger |
| Ownership guidelines compliance | Compliant | — | Independent trustees must hold equity equal to 5x annual cash compensation; all independent trustees complied as of March 14, 2025 |
Governance Assessment
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Committee effectiveness: Meisinger serves on the CNCG Committee overseeing executive compensation, board composition, governance policies, and succession planning; the committee is fully independent and uses an independent consultant (FPC) with annual independence assessment (no conflicts), indicating robust pay governance .
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Independence and attendance: Affirmatively independent (2024 and 2025); Board met six times in 2024, with all trustees meeting at least the 75% attendance threshold; no family relationships or related-party transactions disclosed involving Meisinger .
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Alignment: Meisinger elected to take 100% of his 2024 annual cash compensation in LTIP units (4,493 units) with near-term time-based vesting, plus standard $100,000 director equity, reinforcing ownership alignment; minimum ownership guidelines (5x cash compensation) are in place and complied with .
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Risk controls: NSA prohibits option repricing without shareholder approval, maintains clawback for erroneously awarded incentive compensation (for executives), limits pledging/hedging, and discloses no compensation committee interlocks—supportive of investor confidence .
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RED FLAGS: None disclosed for Meisinger. No pledging, related-party transactions, or attendance shortfalls noted; director equity is time-based (not performance-conditioned), typical for REIT independent trustees, but investors should monitor 2025 increases in director pay levels for cost discipline .