# EDGAR Filing Document

**Accession Number:** 0001585389
**File Stem:** 0001193125-26-061645
**Filing Date:** 2026-2
**Character Count:** 10620
**Document Hash:** 00eb1711f6c21758239213b3b0612fad
**Contains OCR:** False
**Source Format:** 

## Filing Content

## Filing Summary
**0001193125-26-061645.hdr.sgml**: 20260220

**ACCESSION NUMBER**: 0001193125-26-061645

**CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE**: 8-K

**PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT**: 12

**CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT**: 20260219

**ITEM INFORMATION**: Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers: Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers

**ITEM INFORMATION**: Financial Statements and Exhibits

**FILED AS OF DATE**: 20260220

**DATE AS OF CHANGE**: 20260220

**FILER**: 

**COMPANY DATA:**
- **COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:** SmartStop Self Storage REIT, Inc.
- **CENTRAL INDEX KEY:** 0001585389
- **STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:** REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS [6798]
- **ORGANIZATION NAME:** 05 Real Estate & Construction
- **EIN:** 461722812
- **STATE OF INCORPORATION:** MD
- **FISCAL YEAR END:** 1231

**FILING VALUES:**
- **FORM TYPE:** 8-K
- **SEC ACT:** 1934 Act
- **SEC FILE NUMBER:** 001-42584
- **FILM NUMBER:** 26661223

**BUSINESS ADDRESS:**
- **STREET 1:** 10 TERRACE ROAD
- **CITY:** LADERA RANCH
- **STATE:** CA
- **ZIP:** 92694
- **BUSINESS PHONE:** 949 429 6600

**MAIL ADDRESS:**
- **STREET 1:** 10 TERRACE ROAD
- **CITY:** LADERA RANCH
- **STATE:** CA
- **ZIP:** 92694

**FORMER COMPANY:**
- **FORMER CONFORMED NAME:** Strategic Storage Trust II, Inc.
- **DATE OF NAME CHANGE:** 20130828

?xml version='1.0' encoding='ASCII'? 8-K

**UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549**

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## FORM 8-K

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**CURRENT REPORT**

**Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934**

**Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):** February 19, 2026<br>

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SmartStop Self Storage REIT, Inc.

**(Exact name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)**

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| Maryland | 001-42584 | 46-1722812 |
| **(State or Other Jurisdiction<br>of Incorporation)** | **(Commission File Number)** | **(IRS Employer<br>Identification No.)** |
| 10 Terrace Road |  |  |
| Ladera Ranch**,** California |  | 92694 |
| **(Address of Principal Executive Offices)** |  | **(Zip Code)** |

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**Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code:** (866) 418-5144<br>

**(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)**

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Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

☐Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

☐Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

☐Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

☐Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

**Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:**

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| **<br>Title of each class** | **Trading<br>Symbol(s)** | **<br>Name of each exchange on which registered** |
| Common Stock, $0.001 par value | SMA | New York Stock Exchange |

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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§ 230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§ 240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

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## Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
*Expansion of Board and Appointment of Director*

On February 19, 2026, the Board of Directors (the "Board") of SmartStop Self Storage REIT, Inc. (the "Company") approved the expansion of the size of the Board from five members to six members (the "Board Expansion").

In connection with the Board Expansion, on February 19, 2026, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee (the "NCG Committee") of the Board recommended and the Board approved the appointment of Wayne Johnson, the Company's Chief Investment Officer, as an employee director of the Company, effective immediately. Mr. Johnson will serve as a director until the Company's next annual meeting of stockholders or until his successor is duly elected and qualified.

Mr. Johnson also serves as the Chief Investment Officer of the Company's Managed REITs, as well as President and Chief Investment Officer of the sponsor, advisor and property management entities for the Managed REITs. Mr. Johnson's industry experience involves all aspects of commercial development and leasing, including office, office warehouse, retail and self storage facilities. Mr. Johnson currently serves on the board of directors of the Self Storage Association's Large Operator Council and was a past President and board member of the Texas Self Storage Association.

There are no arrangements or understandings between Mr. Johnson and any other person pursuant to which he was selected as a director. Mr. Johnson has no family relationships with any director or executive officer of the Company, and there are no transactions involving Mr. Johnson that would require disclosure under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K. Mr. Johnson will not receive any compensation for his role as a director and will not serve on any committees of the Board.

*Change in President*

Concurrent with his appointment as a director of the Company, Mr. Johnson resigned as the President of the Company, a position he also has been serving since June 2019. Immediately upon Mr. Johnson's resignation as President, the Board appointed H. Michael Schwartz, Chairman of the Board and the Company's Chief Executive Officer, to the additional office of President effective as of February 19, 2026. Mr. Schwartz received no additional compensation in connection with the expansion of his executive role.

## Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(d) Exhibits.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;99.1 [<u>Press Release dated February 20, 2026</u>](ck0001585389-ex99_1.htm)

104 Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)

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**SIGNATURES**

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

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| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  |  |  | **SMARTSTOP SELF STORAGE REIT, INC.** |
| Date: | February 20, 2026 | By:  | /s/ James R. Barry |
|  |  |  | James R. Barry<br>Chief Financial Officer |

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## Exhibit 99.1

Exhibit 99.1

![img141272986_0.gif](img141272986_0.gif)

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<br> **SmartStop Self Storage REIT Announces Appointment of New Management Board Member**

LADERA RANCH, Calif. — (Feb. 20, 2026) SmartStop Self Storage REIT, Inc. ("SmartStop") (NYSE: SMA), an internally managed real estate investment trust and a premier owner and operator of self-storage facilities in the United States and Canada, today announced the appointment of Wayne Johnson to its Board of Directors. Mr. Johnson currently serves as SmartStop's Chief Investment Officer.

"Wayne's deep industry expertise and decades of leadership in the self-storage and commercial real estate sectors make him an exceptional addition to our Board of Directors," said H. Michael Schwartz, Chairman and CEO of SmartStop. "His strategic vision has played a pivotal role in our growth, and we are fortunate to continue benefiting from his insight at the board level. We look forward to his guidance as we advance our long-term strategy and pursue new opportunities for the company."

Mr. Johnson has served as Chief Investment Officer since 2015. He also served as President from 2019 until his appointment to the Board. He has been a key leader in the company's growth since its formation in 2013, previously serving as Senior Vice President of Acquisitions with a focus on self-storage investments. His career includes senior leadership roles across multiple affiliated real estate platforms, including Chief Investment Officer roles for all of SmartStop's Managed REITs, as well as real estate programs previously sponsored by SmartStop's former sponsor.

Prior to his career with SmartStop and its affiliates, Mr. Johnson worked extensively in commercial real estate development and leasing, managing projects spanning office, warehouse, retail, and self-storage facilities. He has developed, managed, and operated more than one million square feet of self-storage properties.

A recognized industry leader, Mr. Johnson currently serves on the board of directors of the Self Storage Association's Large Operator Council and was a past President and board member of the Texas Self Storage Association. He began his real estate career in 1979 after earning a B.B.A. in finance and real estate from Southern Methodist University.<br>

**About SmartStop Self Storage REIT, Inc. (SmartStop):**

SmartStop Self Storage REIT, Inc. ("SmartStop") (NYSE: SMA) is a self-managed REIT with a fully integrated operations team of more than 1,000 self-storage professionals focused on growing the SmartStop® Self Storage brand. SmartStop, through its indirect subsidiary, SmartStop REIT Advisors, LLC, also sponsors other self-storage programs and, through its Managed Platform, offers third-party management services in the U.S. and Canada. As of February 20, 2026, SmartStop has an owned or managed portfolio of over 460 operating properties in 35 states, the

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District of Columbia, and Canada, comprising over 270,000 units and more than 35 million rentable square feet. SmartStop and its affiliates own or manage 49 operating self-storage properties across four provinces in Canada, which total approximately 42,200 units and 4.3 million rentable square feet. Additional information regarding SmartStop is available at www.smartstopselfstorage.com.

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**Investor Relations Contact:**

David Corak

Senior VP of Corporate Finance and Strategy

SmartStop Self Storage REIT, Inc.

IR@smartstop.com

**Media Relations Contact:**<br>Spotlight Marketing Communications

949-427-5172

info@spotlightmc.com

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