Early Life
Edward Joseph “Joe” Shoen was born on March 28, 1949, in Phoenix, Arizona. He is the third son of U-Haul founders Leonard Shoen and Anna Mary Carty Shoen. Growing up in a large family of 13 children, Shoen was immersed in the family business from a young age. He attended the College of the Holy Cross, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree, and later obtained an MBA from Harvard Business School. At Harvard, Shoen wrote a thesis on the self-storage industry, which foreshadowed his future career interests.
Rise to Success
Shoen began his career at U-Haul after graduating from Harvard Business School in 1973. In 1986, at the age of 37, he orchestrated a shareholder coup, taking control of AMERCO, the parent company of U-Haul, and becoming chairman and president. This move was prompted by concerns over the company's direction under his father’s leadership. Since then, Shoen has been credited with the expansion of U-Haul into the dominant force in the self-moving and storage industries.
Key Business Strategies
Under Joe Shoen's leadership, U-Haul focused on its core business: providing do-it-yourself moving and storage solutions. This strategy involved expanding the truck and trailer fleet and strengthening the company's network of rental centers and storage facilities. Shoen is known for his focus on operational efficiency and customer service, including personally publishing his phone number in U-Haul directories to address customer complaints. U-Haul's move to Midtown Phoenix is a reflection of the team that Shoen built over the past eight decades.
Philanthropy
Information regarding Joe Shoen’s specific philanthropic activities is not readily available in the search results. However, U-Haul, under his leadership, has supported various community initiatives.
