Self-Storage Firm Investment Real Estate Hires Executive Assistants

Update 10/12/21 – IRE promoted Tiffany O’Neill from administrative assistant to transactions coordinator. In her new role, she’ll be responsible for compiling, managing and analyzing due diligence in preparation for real estate closings as well as facilitating communication between the title company and attorneys. She’ll interact with vendors to ensure delivery of third-party reports, prepare summaries of results, and draft and file forms associated with borrowing and doing business with various entities, according to a press release.

“I’m truly excited to bring Tiffany into the acquisitions team,” said Rick Hansberry, director of acquisitions. “She exemplifies and consistently demonstrates all of the fundamentals needed for the role. Above all, her tremendous energy and positive attitude, combined with her unmatched work ethic, make her such a huge asset to our growth. Tiffany has risen to every new challenge during her time at IRE and Moove In, and we’re very fortunate to have her here.”

O’Neill was originally hired as a temporary assistant in December 2019 but was offered a full-time position within a few weeks in that role, the release stated.

5/20/20 – IRE hired Tiffany O’Neill as an additional executive assistant, responsible for home-office duties that support the IRE Group of Companies. These include guest greeting and phone answering, office-supply orders, special projects related to property utilities and cost savings, regular reporting, and general support for the operations team. She’ll also fill in for the property-management team as needed. O’Neill was originally hired as a temporary assistant but was offered a full-time position within weeks, according to a press release.

Most recently, O’Neill held a dual role at Primrose Yarn Co., working as a studio assistant and also handling yarn preparation and dying. She was previously a unit secretary and nursing assistant for WellSpan York Hospital.

“Tiffany is a talented rising star on our team and has already shown impressive results. We look forward to seeing the impact she will make across the company in months and years to come,” said Brian Foran, director of operations for IRE.

Born and raised in Lancaster, Pa., O’Neill resides in Red Lion, Pa., with her children, Marlee and Rylan. In her spare time, she enjoys fitness and hiking, and has competed in several Savage Races, which involve extreme mud obstacles. “I am very grateful to be working for such an outstanding company and to have the opportunity to contribute to an amazing team,” she said.

4/24/20 – The Investment Real Estate (IRE) Group of Companies, which specializes in self-storage brokerage, construction and management, hired Michelle Apostolov as executive assistant to CEO and president John Gilliland. She’ll be responsible for general office support including correspondence with vendors and customers; event, meeting and travel planning; and other operational tasks and support for the executive team. She’ll also oversee special projects and coordinate charitable activities, according to a press release.

Apostolov graduated with honors from Lincoln Technical Institute in 2002. She began her career as an information-technology student assistant at the school, then advanced to admissions-student advisor, and later to admissions representative. In 2005, she became the executive assistant to the vice president at Hill Management, where she worked on a portfolio that included apartment communities, commercial complexes and self-storage. She advanced to asset manager/senior-property manager in 2011, responsible for operating 1.1 million square feet of commercial property, and became a Certified Commercial Investment Member Candidate in 2015.

“We are so excited to have Michelle join our team. The breadth and depth of her real estate knowledge and her customer-focused attitude will enhance the performance of the entire office,” Gilliland said.

“I’m thrilled to be working at Investment Real Estate LLC,” Apostolov said. “They are focused on expanding in all economic cycles and have a culture of great fundamentals to help their employees grow and work with each individual to ensure they are successful.”

Founded in 1998, 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.