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Josh Volen is the Co-Founder and Managing Principal at CIRE Equity, a values-driven, vertically integrated real estate private equity firm. With a contagious passion for the commercial real estate industry, Joshua currently steers the strategic vision and growth of the company, taking the lead in acquisitions and investor relations.

Josh’s journey in real estate began with his tenure at a national commercial brokerage firm, where he achieved Rookie of the Year in his first year and quickly climbed to the position of Vice President and National Director, specializing in office and industrial properties. His outstanding performance ranked him among the top 30 agents nationwide, completing over 137 transactions with a total volume exceeding $1 billion.

Since co-founding CIRE Equity in 2010, the company has completed more than $1.5+ billion in 200+ transactions and accumulated a current portfolio AUM exceeding $800+ million. Initially, assets were acquired deal by deal until May of 2019 when a significant portion of these assets were contributed to a private, non-traded REIT, known as OpCo/CREIT. The company has consistently delivered remarkable returns, with historical realized returns boasting a 35% IRR and 2.4x realized equity. The open-ended REIT investment vehicle, CREIT, has maintained an impressive average net IRR of over 16% and average dividend yield of 6% for investors, including strong performance during the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and continued market volatility seen today.

Josh has been instrumental in CIRE’s stellar performance and scale which is evidenced by a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) exceeding 50% year over year, underscoring the ability to build a resilient enterprise platform through cycles. With clear intention and aligned vision, CIRE’s success includes a diverse investor base, primarily composed of high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals, family offices, institutional wealth management partnerships, and wholesale distributorship.

Josh also recognizes the critical role of building and supporting a thriving company culture, guided by an explicit set of differentiating core values, to fortify the foundation of CIRE’s sustained success. His commitment to building authentic relationships through open vulnerability is evident in his ability to form deep, meaningful, and aligned connections with employees, investors, tenants, partners, and vendors. Today, the growth mindset Josh shares as a leader has become firmly ingrained in the company’s culture and values, fostering a continuous commitment to persistent improvement. He, together with the rest of the team, models psychological safety, creating an environment that encourages individuals both within and outside the organization to freely express their ideas, enabling everyone to overcome self-limiting beliefs and thrive together.

Josh’s academic background includes a BA in Political Economy of Industrialized Societies from the University of California, Berkeley. He remains an active member of The Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO) and Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO) and has held various board roles locally and regionally. His contributions have been recognized through numerous interviews and prestigious accolades, including the Globe St. Best Bosses Award and the San Diego Business Journal’s Best Places to Work Award for three consecutive years.

Beyond his professional pursuits, Josh is a devoted family man residing in San Diego with his wife, two daughters, and dog Maverick. He cherishes spending time with family and friends actively exploring outdoor activities, once-in-a-lifetime experiences, global travel, and diverse culinary adventures. His commitment to giving back shines through his involvement with organizations that provide food, shelter, education, and mental health services, with a particular focus on supporting women, children, and veterans through initiatives such as Corazon de Vida and Brothers for Life.

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