Meet David Steinberg

David Steinberg

Co-Founder & Principal | IronForge-CRE, Powered by eXp Commercial

Strategic Growth Advisor | Retail Development Executive | Commercial Real Estate Consultant

David Steinberg is the Co-Founder and a Principal of IronForge-CRE, his commercial real estate advisory group operating through eXp Commercial. With more than 34 years of executive-level experience in commercial real estate, David specializes in helping retailers, developers, investors, landlords, and tenants identify, evaluate, negotiate, and execute strategic growth opportunities throughout the United States.

Having managed projects in nearly every state, including multiple military installations, David brings a rare combination of corporate real estate leadership, operational expertise, and brokerage execution to every assignment. His career has been defined by successfully guiding clients through complex acquisitions, dispositions, site selection, leasing, redevelopment, entitlement, and portfolio optimization initiatives while consistently aligning real estate strategy with long-term business objectives.

Unlike many commercial real estate professionals whose careers have been built exclusively in brokerage, David's expertise was forged within the corporate real estate departments of some of America's most recognized retail brands. This perspective allows him to advise clients from both the owner's and the operator's point of view, providing practical solutions that extend far beyond simply identifying available properties.

Throughout his distinguished career, David has held senior real estate and development leadership positions with Rite Aid, Carl's Jr. (CKE Restaurants), Wendy's, Burger King, Tony Roma's, Pennant Food Corp., and Cimm's Inc. He has successfully directed every phase of the development process, including market planning, demographic analysis, site selection, financial underwriting, lease negotiations, acquisitions, dispositions, entitlements, construction management, redevelopment, strategic portfolio planning, and crisis management.

During his 17-year tenure with Rite Aid, David directed development activities across more than twenty states, consistently averaging twelve completed transactions annually while reaching a high of seventeen transactions in a single year. He also led company-wide initiatives involving portfolio optimization, software implementation, crisis management, and distribution facility planning. Earlier in his career, he secured eighteen new Carl's Jr. locations during his first year with the company and consistently exceeded development objectives while leading expansion efforts for Wendy's, Burger King, and Tony Roma's.

David's understanding of commercial real estate extends well beyond development and brokerage. Before entering the corporate real estate arena, he owned and operated a successful restaurant, providing firsthand experience with construction, operations, staffing, budgeting, and profitability. That entrepreneurial foundation continues to shape his approach today, allowing him to evaluate opportunities not only from a real estate perspective but also through the eyes of the business owner responsible for the success of each location.

Today, through IronForge-CRE, David advises retailers, developers, franchise organizations, investors, landlords, and tenants on strategic market expansion, investment sales, leasing, site selection, corporate real estate strategy, and complex commercial transactions nationwide. By combining decades of corporate development leadership with the national platform and collaborative resources of eXp Commercial, he delivers thoughtful, results-driven solutions that create long-term value for his clients.

David is also deeply committed to advancing the commercial real estate profession. He proudly serves as a Mentor for the ICSC Mentor Program, a Mentor for eXp Commercial, a Judge for the ICSC Scholarship Program, and a Member of the California State University, Northridge Business Advisory Committee, where he actively mentors and supports the next generation of industry professionals.

Widely respected for his integrity, strategic vision, collaborative leadership, and ability to navigate complex transactions, David has built a reputation as a trusted advisor who helps clients transform ambitious growth strategies into measurable, long-term success.ulti-state expansion.