The Barefoot Land Co. Founders' Story

Brady McDonald, CEO of Barefoot Land Co., wasn't always a real estate success story. Growing up in small-town Ontario, Canada, his teenage self defined success as earning $50,000 a year. With that goal in mind, at age 18, he trained as an arborist and landed what he thought was his dream job with the provincial power company, Hydro One. At 22, he excelled, becoming a Utility Arborist Instructor and managing the company's Forestry Training Centre, where he oversaw the training of over 1,000 employees for the next 8 years.

But something was missing. He and his wife, Kristy, yearned for more than a steady paycheck. They craved freedom – the freedom to choose their own path, income, and the example they set for their children. After investigating different options such as franchises and network marketing, they met a full-time real estate investor and immediately saw their potential future!

While working full time and pregnant with their first child, they took a leap of faith. They remortgaged their home to fund their first investment property. Brady and Kristy were all in, immersing themselves in the world of real estate. They devoured YouTube videos and books, becoming DIY experts as they renovated their property themselves. Their hard work paid off. They successfully converted the single-family home into a duplex, refinanced the property to recuperate their investment, and rented it out, quickly proving their strategy. BK Real Estate Investing (named after Brady and Kristy) was born.

Balancing full-time jobs and raising a family, Brady and Kristy poured every spare moment into their burgeoning business. They tackled everything from demolition and tile laying to tenant placement and property management. As their portfolio grew, so did their team, allowing them to finally leave their corporate jobs in 2017 and dedicate themselves fully to real estate investing. They went on to acquire and develop hundreds of multi-family properties, achieving remarkable success.

Then, COVID-19 hit, and Canada's lockdowns impacted their young family and freedom. Brady and Kristy took their family to Costa Rica for the winter to work and attend school remotely while still being able to live freely. Upon returning four months later to more lockdowns, they sought greater and more permanent freedom and opportunity. They relocated to Florida and shifted their focus from residential development to self-storage land development. Leveraging their expertise in multi-family development, they began developing Class A self-storage facilities.

Today, Barefoot Land Company employs a team of 18 across the country. Brady and Kristy recognize the impact they have on others and strive to live a life of leadership, particularly for their children. Their weekends are spent at swim meets, participating in triathlons with their daughters, and enjoying the Florida lifestyle. Brady is involved in masterminds that meet across the United States and in international destinations and is very well connected in the business world.

Their focus is squarely on their four pillars: family, fitness, relationships, and business. If something doesn't add value to one of these areas, it simply doesn't happen. This commitment to a balanced and fulfilling life is at the core of their personal and professional philosophy.

As a family, the McDonalds are passionate about endurance sports. Brady has conquered multiple 100-mile ultramarathons, pushing his limits through 26 hours and 40 minutes of non-stop effort, and even completed the infamous Ultraman Arizona triathlon, a grueling three-day test of human endurance. Kristy has also embraced this mindset, conquering 20-mile events and demonstrating what's possible when you step outside your comfort zone and believe in yourself.

Beyond their business success, they are dedicated philanthropists, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for children's charities and operating a Zero to 100 Day Challenge to help people get healthy!

WE LIVE AND BREATHE OUR CORE VALUES

We Do The Work

We Don't Make Excuses

We Go Above & Beyond

We Do What We Said We Would

We Work to Get Better Every Day

Meet The Team

Brady McDonald

Brady McDonald, CEO of Barefoot Land Co., is leading a new wave in self-storage development from Cape Coral, Florida. With a background in Canadian real estate, he now secures off-market land for Class A facilities. Brady’s drive extends beyond business—his core values of “doing the work,” “making no excuses,” and “going above and beyond” guide both his company and his

Zero to 100 Day Challenge

, a program inspiring healthy habits. A committed husband and father, he teaches his family to “do hard things on purpose” and supports charities like Easter Seals and Bras for Girls.

Chief Executive Officer

(239) 233 2387

[email protected]

Kent Clothier

Kent is a nationally recognized entrepreneur, performance coach, and speaker who launched his career at 17 by helping to create a grocery arbitrage company that achieved $1.8 billion in annual sales by age 30. He later transitioned to real estate investing, leading his family’s company to flip over 8,000 homes and manage more than 7,500 across 11 markets. As the CEO and Founder of Real Estate Worldwide and The Boardroom Mastermind in La Jolla, California, Kent empowers over 53,000 clients to turn their hustle into successful businesses through effective systems and scaling strategies.

Vice President, Partner

Brandon McDonald

In his role as Chief Development Officer and partner, Brandon is responsible for training and managing the acquisition team, qualifying opportunities, and overseeing preliminary due diligence while coordinating with third-party contractors. His past experience includes project management and implementing procedures at BK Real Estate Investing, as well as serving as a project coordinator and analyst for self-storage at Brightwork Developments. He is committed to hard work and accountability, emphasizing going above and beyond in all endeavors. Outside of work, Brandon enjoys traveling, spending quality time with his wife and kids, and maintaining a healthy work-life balance.

Chief Development Officer

(239) 233 2387

[email protected]

Kristy McDonald

As a partner and advisor, Kristy brings a wealth of experience from her background as the owner and founder of BK Real Estate Appraisals and her roles as Co-CEO of BK Real Estate Investing and partner at Brightwork REI. She embodies the values of hard work and prioritizing effort over perfection, believing in tackling challenges with a smart approach. Passionate about finding balance in work, fitness, and motherhood, she loves the beach and motivates others to achieve their goals while overcoming personal challenges, including living with one arm.

Partner

Jerry Statham

Jerry is a partner and a member of the Board of Directors at Barefoot Land Co. With over 18 years of experience, he has held top leadership roles, including President, CTO, CIO, and COO, after spending five years at IBM and over 13 years at Oracle. His diverse industry experience spans real estate, software, financial services, and more. Jerry is committed to doing the right thing, selfless service, and going above and beyond for customers and partners. He is passionate about family, health, animals, soccer, and anything with two wheels.

Partner/Board of Directors

Greg Herlean

Greg Herlean is a partner at Barefoot Land Co., bringing extensive experience managing over $1.4 billion in real estate transactions and flipping more than 450 homes. He is also the founder of Horizon Trust, which specializes in self-directed IRA custodianship. With a passion for educating investors on leveraging retirement funds, he emphasizes the importance of faith and community, shaped by his early volunteer work in Ecuador. Outside of his professional life, Greg values family time with his wife and children.

Partner

Justin Lizzadro

Justin oversees outbound prospecting and manages the sales funnel, with a focus on training and exceeding land acquisition goals. His background in logistics, including roles in brokerage and full-cycle sales, has honed his skills in problem-solving, relationship building, and market analysis. He values hard work and continuous improvement, striving to get better each day. Outside of work, he’s passionate about sailing, scuba diving, skiing, and exploring new food spots in Chicago with his wife.

Acquisitions Manager

Jimmy Butts

Jimmy focuses on building strong relationships with developers and industry leaders, helping them see the value of partnering with Barefoot Land Co. for land acquisition. He brings experience from a self-storage private equity firm in investor relations and previously worked as an investment strategist, publishing equity research. Guided by a commitment to accountability and doing the work, he takes pride in always delivering results. In his free time, he enjoys outdoor adventures like snowboarding, mountain biking, and spending time with his family.

Self Storage Senior Analyst

Jessica Korthals

Jessica is responsible for optimizing systems and procedures to drive productivity and operational efficiency at Barefoot Land Co. With experience in both residential and commercial real estate, as well as heavy equipment industries, she brings a well-rounded approach to her role. Her core values emphasize accountability, taking ownership, and delivering results. Outside of work, she’s passionate about travel, enjoying time on the water, and exploring food, wine, and DIY home decor projects.

Director of Operations

Bryan Johnson

With nearly 25 years of experience in sales, communication, and negotiation, Bryan excels at finding win-win solutions for land acquisitions by building strong relationships with owners and brokers. His diverse background has sharpened his skills in empathy, strategy execution, and creative problem-solving. Committed to getting better each day, he values integrity and continuous improvement. Outside of work, he’s passionate about family, art, teaching, and personal growth.

VP of Acquisitions and Dispositions

(971) 285-7318

[email protected]

Jon Stanton


Jon Stanton, Director of Sales at Barefoot Land Co., leverages 25+ years of sales experience to connect self-storage developers with ideal, off-market, entitled land. His background spans consumer electronics distribution and high-tech equipment, focusing on building mutually beneficial, long-term relationships. Jon is committed to exceeding expectations and achieving win-win solutions. Outside of work, he enjoys family, travel, the outdoors, and hockey.

Director of Sales

(917)715-0070

[email protected]

Kristin Eagle


Kristin Eagle, Transaction and Ops Coordinator, oversees the execution and timelines of all acquisition and disposition transactions, while also enhancing process and operational efficiencies. She has closed 25,000+ transactions, managing reconciliations, curing title defects, and ensuring compliance. She has also led cross-functional teams to identify and implement process improvements. Honesty and accountability are her core values. Her family and pets are her greatest joy, whether boating, kayaking, hiking, baking, or playing fetch.

Transaction Coordinator

Mason Newberry

Mason Newberry serves as the Entitlement Project Coordinator, overseeing the zoning and entitlement process while coordinating with vendors and city officials to ensure project success. With a background in construction management, he has experience on both the general contractor side for large-scale commercial projects and the owner’s side in healthcare. He values focusing on positive outcomes, continuous growth, and keeping commitments. Passionate about ultra running, he enjoys spending time with his family and striving for self-improvement.

Entitlement Project Coordinator

Nellie Beckner

As the Urban Planning Specialist at Barefoot Land Co., I focus on project zoning reviews, ensuring compliance with municipal policies and procedures. With nearly 20 years of experience in municipal planning and city administration and as a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP), I bring a wealth of expertise to the team. I’m passionate about collaboration and thorough research to create meaningful impact. Outside of work, I enjoy learning new skills, staying active through team sports, and expressing creativity through arts and baking.

Urban Planning Specialist

Sarah Jewson

Sarah ensures Barefoot Land Co.’s operations run efficiently, managing budgets, streamlining workflows, and coordinating with department heads. With past experience in accounts payable at a real estate investing firm, she brings a detail-oriented approach to financial processes. Driven by the values of integrity and accountability, she believes in doing what she says, without excuses. Outside of work, she’s passionate about family adventures, whether paddle-boarding or completing her first triathlon with her husband and daughter.

Administrative Director

Testimonials

"Our experience with Barefoot was nothing short of exceptional. We had a unique situation, selling a 6-acre parcel from our larger 10-acre property. Barefoot's team handled this complexity with ease, expertly parceling off the land and adhering strictly to the contract. Their responsiveness and commitment to the due diligence timelines were impressive. The transaction was completed seamlessly in July, and we couldn't be more satisfied with the outcome. If you're considering a land sale, Barefoot's professionalism and efficiency are unparalleled."

Jack, Punta Gorda, FL

"Working with Barefoot/Brightwork was a remarkable journey. Their team exemplified professionalism at every turn, making the sale of our church's land not just a transaction, but a pleasant and fulfilling experience. Thanks to their expertise, our church has successfully funded a much-needed expansion of our reunion hall. The entire process, from our initial contact to the final sale, was smooth and delightful. I wholeheartedly recommend Barefoot/Brightwork to anyone in need of land sale services. Their dedication and skill are truly commendable, and they have positively impacted our community."

Pastor David, Houston, Texas

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