Summary Richie Webster is president and owner of Rapid Building Solutions, LLC, an all-inclusive Design Build company specializing in self-storage facilities; as well as specialty buildings like indoor sports facilities, airplane hangars and roofing.

The New Zealand native left Auckland for the United States in 1993, in search of new opportunities. Since arriving, he has garnered success by combining hard work, determination, entrepreneurship, and a willingness to take a few chances.

What started as a company of five in 2016, Richie has built Rapid Building Solutions, LLC into a robust corporation featuring 326 employees while building 5-6 million square feet of self-storage per year. Today, RBS builds storage facilities for major brands and accounts across the United States such as Bee Safe, Extra Space, Cube Smart, Life Storage, Monster Storage, etc.

Storage Units, LLC was formed in late 2014 and has more than 26 sites under different phases of construction nationwide, and plans on opening 2 million more square feet from now and the end of 2021.

Initially landing in Los Angeles, CA, Richie started his construction career as a labor steel erector with Farrell Construction, spending six years building self-storage facilities across the United States. He rose quickly through the ranks, becoming a senior project manager within two years while also managing projects nationwide.

In 2001, Richie was tasked with building a four-story project in Orlando, FL for Sure-Guard. During that time, he had his first child and ultimately settled permanently in central Florida. He also set off to start the first of his own companies, leaving Farrell Construction to create Pro-Tek Construction, LLC. Pro-Tek began by subcontracting Installation Services for major self-storage suppliers. Over the next seven years, Richie built the company to a peak of more than 250 employees with sales of $6-8 million annually. One client, Rabco Corp, dedicated all of its projects to Pro-Tek. That enabled Pro-Tek to stay strong during a drastic national economic downturn. During those trying times, Richie also effectively restructured the company and fine-tuned the costs, enabling Pro-Tek to earn even higher profits. Pro-Tek Construction installed more than 58 million square feet of self-storage before the sale of the company in 2018.

In 2012, Richie met Danielle Gavagni, his future wife. Together they purchased their first storage property in Apopka, FL in 2014. Using his years of hands-on experience, industry knowledge and business acumen, they built a profitable self- storage facility and set the stage for continued growth in the storage industry. Together, Richie and Danielle designed, created, and developed a unique Storage Units brand.

The Storage Units brand has since transformed into multiple companies carrying the name. The ongoing vision for the Storage Units brand is to build 10-20 new self-storage facilities nationwide per year. In one year, they have sold four operating facilities for $25 million, netting $8 million. As of 2020, Storage Units has four facilities open, seven under construction, six in for permit, three at the engineering phase, and five under contract in the due diligence stage.

By 2016, Richie became a founding member of Rapid Building Solutions (RBS). In 2018 he sold his labor company, Pro-Tek, to RBS for $5 million and under his leadership, RBS immediately turned sales of $30 million in its first year. With the addition of Pro-Tek labor, RBS was able to utilize its own assets and manpower to build and sell projects quickly, providing an ability to capitalize new projects.

Rapid Building Solutions now turns sales between $70 million and $80 million annually, and has built around 16 million square feet of self-storage and counting.

In 2020, Richie became a founding member of Rapid Construction Solutions; a company that was created to take on the role of General Contractor (GC) for all Storage Units branded storage facilities. RCS is immediately set to turn sales of $70 million in its first year with contracts from its sister company, Storage Units. RCS holds multiple GC licenses in multiple states across the east coast of the United States.

Richie has built excellent relationships with financial institutions such as Chase, Citizen’s, Truist, Mid Florida, First National Bank of Mount Dora, Morris Bank, and many others. The storage industry continues to be an essential part of the Rapid Building Solutions success.

Richie lives in central Florida with his wife, Danielle, son and two Doberman Pinschers. When he’s not working, he enjoys boating, watching the New Zealand national rugby team – the All Blacks, and traveling to his vacation home in The Bahamas.