John H. Gilliland, founder and president of Investment Real Estate Group Cos. (IREGC), was inducted into the Pennsylvania Self Storage Association (PASSA) Hall of Fame on Oct. 3. Gilliland was an integral member of the association’s formation in 1998 and served as president from 2002 to 2006, according to a press release.

“I could not have imagined 20 years ago that there would even be a PASSA Hall of Fame, let alone being inducted in its inaugural class. This is quite the honor, and I am humbled that the board and membership saw fit to include me,” Gilliland said. “I am so very grateful to all of our customers, clients, vendors, lenders, partners and employees for their unending support for me and all of the companies. I would also like to thank my wife, Denise, as well as my first partners, my father and mother, John G. and Karen Gilliland. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

Gilliland is a member of the Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia Self Storage Associations as well as the national SSA. He was elected to the SSA National Board of Directors in 2003 and served as its chairman in 2007. He also served as chairman of the SSA Foundation Board in 2017.

“John’s been a leader and advocate for the self-storage industry both in Pennsylvania and at the national level over the past 20 years,” said Kevin Bledsoe, vice president of brokerage for IREGC. “He’s played a key role in the development of PASSA, and played a vital role increasing membership growth and the growth of the self-storage industry in Pennsylvania.”

IREGC includes Investment Real Estate LLC (IRE), Investment Real Estate Management LLC, Investment Real Estate Construction LLC and Moove In Self Storage. Gilliland founded brokerage firm IRE in 1998. Serving the Northeast and mid-Atlantic states, the company has executed more than $950 million in self-storage sales in 450-plus transactions. The team has more than 75 years of combined experience in brokerage, construction and development, management, and marketing.

Since its inception, IRE has provided brokerage, construction, development and management services to self-storage owners and investors.

PASSA is a group of self-storage owners and operators who establish and promote the highest standards of professional service and ethical business conduct for self-storage in the state of Pennsylvania, according to the release.