The Investment Real Estate (IRE) Group of Companies, which specializes in self-storage brokerage, construction and management, has hired Rick Hansberry as director of acquisitions, responsible for leading the company’s legal and due-diligence efforts. He’ll communicate with buyers, sellers and attorneys for real estate closings; work with investors and lenders; and maintain proper documentation and licensing for the legal aspects of the brokerage business. Hansberry will also handle special projects for the properties overseen by IRE Management LLC, according to a press release.

Hansberry worked as a transactional and intellectual-property paralegal with CGA (Countess, Gilbert and Andrews) Law Firm from 2004 to 2019. He also worked as a paralegal at legal firm Barley Snyder.

“I am very excited to have someone with Rick’s breadth and experience to join our team of real estate professionals,” said Chris Riley, chief operations and financial officer. “His extensive background in real estate transactions and developing key relationships will serve us well as we continue to grow the self-storage portfolio and expand our brokerage platform.”

Hansberry earned a bachelor’s degree from La Salle University. He also earned a paralegal certificate in 1987 from the now-defunct Institute for Paralegal Training in Philadelphia.

“I’m excited to bring my extensive corporate and commercial real estate experience to an industry that’s exploding with opportunities,” Hansberry said. “John Gilliland leads a top-level organization, and I’m thrilled to be a part of it.”

Founded in 1998 by president and CEO John Gilliland, the IRE Group also includes IRE LLC, the company’s brokerage division, and IRE Construction LLC, which handles self-storage facility design, permitting and construction. Gilliland also operates Moove In Self Storage, with facilities in Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania.