Westport Properties Inc. (WPI), which operates 122 self-storage facilities under the US Storage Centers brand, has hired Ben Hall as vice president of acquisitions. Hall will focus on helping the company grow its portfolio on the East Coast, according to a press release.

“We are very excited to have Ben join our real estate group here at Westport Properties,” said Charles Byerly, CEO and president. “Ben brings significant experience in the self-storage real estate side of the business, and has extensive relationships throughout the industry that will help him succeed in bringing new opportunities to Westport.”

Hall was previously part of the acquisition group at Heitman Capital Management LLC, a Chicago-based real estate investment-management firm. In this role, he assisted in forming joint ventures in the self-storage and student-housing sectors, with a total of nearly $1 billion in transaction volume. Hall received a degree in finance from the University of Iowa and holds a Chartered Financial Analyst designation.

Founded in 1985 and based in Irvine, Calif., WPI is a real estate investment company that acquires, develops and operates self-storage facilities as well as provides third-party management services. Its portfolio comprises 8 million rentable square feet in 15 states.