WOODS CROSS—Andrei Popa believes the American dream still exists because he’s living it. Popa grew up in Romania and came to the U.S. in 2017. Only two years later he founded his own company, USA Containers. What started as a small business with a handful of employees has grown into a nationwide company. 

“I came with my wife, my dog and two suitcases,” said Popa. “I worked for a shipping and container company but it went bankrupt so I lost my job. I had to tell the other employees that they had just lost their jobs.”

Popa decided he didn’t want it to end there. “I wondered, ‘what if I try to do the business myself?’” he said. “I gave the other employees two options, go find a new job or join my company. I told them it might not work and they might not get paid. Some of them found other jobs and some joined me.”

A month after everybody got paid, said Popa. “Some are still with me. I started in my kitchen and now I’m in 40 states.”

Popa inside a container. Customers use them in a variety of different ways. Photo by Becky Ginos

 The shipping container company provides containers for people who need extra storage, he said. “They can rent or own it. People use it for different things. Maybe to store a tractor or a restored nice car. Some people make offices out of them or tiny homes.”

Popa said he knew a little bit about the industry because of his first job. “We literally jumped into the ocean, trying to survive. I bought and sold, bought and sold until it worked out.”

It was hands on, he said. “Everybody was advertising and doing everything. There were seven of us. It was a bit of luck with hard work.”

People love these because it’s easy storage, said Popa. “If you move you can take the container with you. It’s almost impossible to move a building with you.”

Utahns like to collect stuff – a lot of junk, he said. “They can put a big container in their backyard and throw stuff in it and sometimes never open it again and keep it forever.”

Popa was recently elected to the Board of Directors of the National Portable Storage Association (NPSA). “I started my three year term on June 1,” he said. “I’m still learning but my main focus is connecting local businesses with each other.”

Sometimes people give up hope and say it’s too hard, said Popa. “Nothing is handed to us. People need to understand that sometimes you have to make sacrifices of time but my wife is behind me. You need the tools to say ‘let’s go to work.’”

At 32, Popa has accomplished a lot in the business world. “In a short time I’ve surpassed other businesses that have been running for 30-40 years. I’m a workaholic. I like to be involved.”

Popa’s wife was born in Sandy. “We met in England as missionaries for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,” he said. “We were both serving in London. About six months later we started talking and got married. We lived in Romania for two years then came to the U.S. then back to Romania, then back to Utah and stayed forever.”

It’s been a huge blessing, said Popa. “I’m extremely grateful that God guided me. I wouldn’t be anywhere without him. I’m a lucky immigrant who works hard. The American dream is still alive.”