Krauthamer & Associates Recruits CFO for Zippy Shell
November 13, 2025 – Krauthamer & Associates has helped to recruit Michael Duffy as chief financial officer of Zippy Shell, Inc. He will succeed Mark Linville, who is retiring. “As we enter the next chapter of growth and prepare the company for REIT election, Mike brings a unique perspective, strong operational and REIT financial expertise, M&A, and a strategic mindset that align perfectly with our goals for Zippy Shell’s next chapter,” said Mark Kuhns, CEO of Zippy Shell. “His leadership will be essential as we strengthen our foundation, drive growth, and unlock the full potential of our brand for customers and shareholders.”
Mr. Duffy has more than 25 years of global financial and operational leadership experience. He joins Zippy Shell from Arcland Industries / Self Storage Plus where he served as CFO, overseeing finance, accounting, tax, treasury, and investor relations. Before joining Self Storage Plus, Mr. Duffy served over fifteen years at Hilton Worldwide Holdings, most recently serving as senior vice president, chief accounting and risk officer. During his Hilton tenure, Mr. Duffy supported the business in managing or leading all aspects of global accounting, reporting and risk management, including spin-off transactions of its owned real estate into a publicly traded REIT, Park Hotels & Resorts and its timeshare operations, Hilton Grand Vacations; supporting its $2 billion IPO; and its multi-billion debt refinancing initiatives.
Mr. Duffy started his career in the audit practice at KPMG where he spent eight years in various roles supporting the real estate, hospitality, homebuilding, and construction industries across fortune 500, mid-market, privately held clients with a particular focus on real estate investment trusts.
“Zippy Shell is an incredible company with strong organic growth opportunities along with attractive transformational strategic opportunities, a passionate team, and an unwavering focus on delivering performance and innovation to its customers and shareholders,” said Mr. Duffy. “With the receipt of its recent IRS Private Letter Ruling supporting a near-term REIT conversion, Zippy Shell is poised to unlock unprecedented shareholder value, and I am honored to be joining at such a significant time in its growth cycle.”
Zippy Shell is one of the fastest growing moving and storage companies in the U.S. With many locations nationwide, it provides a complete suite of services from self-pack and storage to cross-country moving. In 2018, Zippy Shell merged with 1-800-PACK-RAT, a leader in moving and storage solutions headquartered in Wake Forest, NC.
Krauthamer & Associates specializes in identifying, attracting, and recruiting talent for C-suite, board, and senior roles across industries, such as real estate, transportation, aerospace, healthcare, private equity, the public sector, technology, and more.
Related: Krauthamer & Associates Recruits CEO for Santa Cruz Metro
Gary Krauthamer, who founded the firm in 1971, has completed more than 1,000 search assignments throughout North America, Europe, and Asia. Over the last 30 years, Mr. Krauthamer has worked extensively within and across the public and private sectors. His clients can be found in the aerospace industry, federal government, entrepreneurial organizations, middle-market entities, and large multinational Fortune 100 corporations.
AC Transit Search
Krauthamer & Associates also recently assisted in the recruitment of Salvador Llamas as the new general manager and CEO of the Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District (AC Transit) in Oakland, CA. He succeeded interim general manager Kathleen Kelly. Gregg A. Moser led the assignment.
“Each finalist for the GM-CEO position demonstrated strong strategic leadership and vision,” said board president Diane Shaw. “However, what set Mr. Llamas apart was his well-established relationship with our diverse workforce of approximately 2,300 employees, as well as, his deep familiarity with the Bay Area and its unique transit demands.”
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“As AC Transit’s COO, he has shown a comprehensive understanding of our operating and capital budgets – an asset critical to ensuring the district’s immediate and long-term stability,” she continued. “With the new fiscal year ushering in a period of undeniable transition, the board recognized the need for a solutions-oriented executive who can guide us through ongoing fiscal challenges with agility and foresight. We are confident that Mr. Llamas brings all these qualities, and more, to his new role as GM-CEO.”
Mr. Llamas joined AC Transit in 2012 as director of maintenance, before rising to chief operating officer in 2017. Over the past 13 years, he has delivered measurable results, including a nearly 10 percent improvement in on-time performance and a 43 percent reduction in accident rates. Mr. Llamas has also led major strategic initiatives, including the development of the Transit Asset Management Plan (TAM); the Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan (PTASP); and the nationally recognized 5X5 Study, now considered a definitive roadmap for transit agencies transitioning to zero-emission fleets.
Related: Krauthamer & Associates Recruits CEO for Santa Cruz Metro
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
