Our Team

Terrence R. and Barbara Caster (Barbara unfortunately is no longer with us), along with their family, have been active in the development of residential, commercial office buildings, industrial parks, build-to-suits, and A-1 Self Storage facilities. A corporate history highlighting past endeavors reveals growth, variety, and depth in the projects that Mr. and Mrs. Caster have developed. Learning from Terrence Caster’s parents, they began developing mobile home parks in Arizona and California in the 1960’s. They then purchased prime property in the heart of San Diego, Mission Valley, where they developed Stadium Park; a three phase industrial property that was completed in the very early 1980’s and has been home to numerous successful San Diego businesses for more than three decades. In 1983 the Casters began developing A-1 Self Storage locations throughout California. Today that enterprise has grown to include 53 A-1 Self Storage locations in California. Through this development, the Caster Group serves more than 40,000 self storage customers. 

Brian R. Caster
Chief Executive Officer

Brian Caster is the President and CEO of the Caster Group.  He is second generation in the Caster family business. Working for the Caster Group for 44 years, as CEO for the past 35, Brian Caster has grown A-1 Self Storage to become one of the Top 10 family-owned and operated self storage companies in the country. Brian is considered an early innovator in the industry. He worked hard to build a solid management team committed to ensuring the A-1 Self Storage brand is synonymous with quality, state-of- the-art self storage operations. Over the years, they have prioritized picking the best locations for their stores along with providing excellent customer service and being a front runner in developing & implementing tools that make the customer experience more enjoyable.  The Caster Family has always felt the importance of giving back to the local community.  Brian currently sits on an advisory board for the Burham-Moores Center for Real Estate,  and the San Diego Police Officer’s Association Widows & Orphans Fund. Brian also sits on a few large charitable originations which he and his wife, Denise support. He has previously served as chairman of the Self Storage Association’s Large Owners Council, made up of the top 100 storage operators in the country. He is active in professional groups such as ULI, BIA, CIC, SSA, and CSSA. His dedication to his industry is rivaled only by his commitment to his family and charities. 

Tom Kearney
Vice President/Construction Manager

Tom Kearney is the Vice President and Construction Manager of the Caster Group. Tom has worked for Caster for over 39 years.  As Construction Manager, Tom is responsible for all phases of project development including due-diligence, entitlements, land assemblage, and construction management of the project. Tom works directly with architects, engineers and city agencies, overseeing project design and site development. Acting also as in-house General Contractor, Tom has successfully constructed 5 plus million square feet of self storage industrial and commercial projects during his 39 year tenure with the Caster Group. 

John La Raia
President

John La Raia is the President of the Caster Group.  He has 20+ years of experience in the real estate industry including financial underwriting, acquisitions, entitlements, residential and commercial property management, project management, partnership management, commercial leasing, contract management, and government relations.  His experience includes for-sale homebuilding, apartment development, mixed-use retail & restaurants, and currently Self-Storage.  John has been active in numerous business and real estate associations including BIA, ULI, Rental Housing Association, Chamber, and Taxpayers at the Local and State level.  He has been involved in numerous Local and State political organizations focused on supporting responsible community growth, prosperity, and strong employment opportunities.  John graduated from Denison University and received a Real Estate Finance, Investments, and Development Certificate from University of San Diego.  Most importantly, John is married and has three children who all strive to put God first in their lives.  His family jointly supports several nonprofit charities. 

Kristina Marchesano
Director of Human Resources

As Director of Human Resources, Kristina Marchesano is responsible for managing all aspects of the Human Resources Department, including but not limited to: Associate Recruiting, Benefits Administration, Compensation, Labor Law Compliance, Associate Relations, Conflict Resolution, Policy and Procedure Establishment, and HR investigations. In addition to her duties related to Human Resources, Kristina is also responsible for oversight of the Caster Group’s store residences, cell sites, and billboards. Her duties also include management of the Administration Department and corporate office. Prior to joining Caster Properties in 2020, Kristina was the Director of Human Resources and Training for Garden Fresh Restaurants for 20 years. Kristina has her bachelor’s in Psychology from San Diego State University, has earned her PHR from the Human Resource Certification Institute and her SHRM-SCP from the Society of Human Resources Management. 

Brian Darmas
Director of Storage Operations

As the Director of Storage Operations, Brian Darmas is responsible for overseeing the operational functions of the self storage properties, call center, revenue management and the marketing department. This includes P & L responsibility, as well as the planning and implementation of new policies and products. With over 18 years of Self Storage experience, Brian has worked for Caster Properties for over 12 years as an Area Manager for the LA market and now as the Director of Storage Operations. Brian has a bachelors in Law & American Society as well as in History of Architecture from UC Santa Barbara. He also has an MBA in Accounting & Marketing from Syracuse University.