President and Chief Executive Officer

Francis P. Kavanaugh transforms struggling enterprises into billion-dollar success stories, bringing 30+ years of restructuring expertise to elite real estate operators at Medalist REIT. Frank has guided the restructuring of over 20 businesses across public and private sectors. Kavanaugh is perhaps best known for his turnaround of Force Protection Inc., where he stepped in after 9/11 to pivot a failing speedboat company into a life-saving defense contractor, scaling it from under $1 million to over $1 billion in just six years by supplying mine-resistant vehicles that protected American forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. His background includes executive positions at Microsoft and Hewlett Packard, Fort Ashford Funds, plus founding multiple Inc 500 companies. With degrees from UC Irvine (B.S. Information and Computer Science) and Pepperdine University (MBA), Kavanaugh applies the same transformational vision to help real estate operators escape the capital-chasing cycle and build permanent wealth platforms.

Chief Financial Officer

Brent Winn built the financial foundation that enables Medalist REIT to transform real estate operators into institutional wealth magnets. Since joining as CFO in 2018, he has architected the accounting systems, controls, and financial operations that give institutional investors the transparency and confidence they demand from permanent wealth platforms. His extensive real estate finance experience—from CSX Realty through leadership at MGT Realty Advisors and Marz Industries—provides the depth needed to structure sophisticated capital vehicles that satisfy both regulatory requirements and investor expectations. With degrees from the University of Virginia (B.A. History), College of William and Mary (MBA), and Virginia Commonwealth University (Accounting), Winn ensures every financial structure supports operators' transition from capital supplicants to institutional investment targets.

Chief of Staff

Erin Burke ensures that Medalist REIT's sophisticated capital structuring operates with institutional precision and efficiency. As Chief of Staff, she develops the operational frameworks that allow elite real estate operators to focus on what they do best—finding and managing exceptional properties—while seamless systems handle investor relations, reporting, and wealth platform management. Burke's talent for cross-team coordination and proactive issue resolution ensures that every client interaction reflects the institutional-grade professionalism that sophisticated capital sources expect. A former NCAA volleyball player at Humboldt State University with a Political Science degree, she brings the same strategic thinking and team coordination skills that made her successful on the court to building operational excellence.

Chief Information Officer

Kevin Egan transforms proven real estate operators into institutional investment targets at Medalist REIT. His Wall Street foundation—covering real estate at Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley—combined with private equity and hedge fund consulting experience, enables him to structure REIT platforms that institutional capital actively seeks. Egan's comprehensive credentials (CFA, CAIA, CPA) and advanced accounting education from Brigham Young University ensure every financial structure meets the highest institutional standards while preserving operator control. Through his strategic finance leadership, sophisticated investors compete for participation instead of operators competing for capital.

Chief Technology Officer

Jimi Smoot builds the technology infrastructure that makes institutional capital flow seamlessly to elite operators at Medalist REIT. As founder of MailMentor, he scaled an AI-powered platform to over 4,000 users including Meta and Slack, proving his ability to create systems that sophisticated users depend on. His VP of Engineering experience at Outer, combined with founding Vesper.ai (an AI executive assistant), demonstrates his expertise in building enterprise-grade solutions that handle complex workflows. Smoot's technical architecture ensures that capital sourcing, investor relations, and wealth structuring operate with the efficiency and sophistication that institutional investors expect from permanent wealth platforms.

Chief Marketing Officer

Ron Nielsen transforms how elite real estate operators access and structure capital at Medalist REIT. With a unique background spanning entrepreneurship, institutional real estate, and philanthropic advisory, he specializes in converting fragmented investment portfolios into permanent wealth platforms. Nielsen's strategic approach helps proven operators shift from deal-chasing to capital attraction, building institutional-grade investment vehicles that compound wealth across generations. A former UCLA football player who brings the same team-first mentality to client relationships, he focuses on creating legacy-building strategies that align immediate investment goals with long-term wealth preservation.

Counsel

Deron Colby brings over 26 years of legal experience as Counsel at Medalist REIT. Specializing in securities law, M&A, and real estate transactions, he's represented clients from landowners to corporate investors. His career spans leadership roles in securities firms, with expertise in SEC disclosures and managing investments. Colby's knowledge of land use and entitlements has been key in real estate deals. He's known for handling complex legal negotiations with a smile—because who doesn't love untangling legal jargon?