Cleat was born into a ranching family near Marfa, Texas. The ranching life and environment developed his work ethic at a young age and taught him the values of honesty, discipline and dependability that he has successfully used throughout his business and personal life.
He earned a BBA degree in 1989 with a major in finance and a minor in marketing. After a brief career in banking, Cleat became a licensed real estate salesman in 1993 and joined the brokerage started by his mother in law, Carolyn Renfroe, in 1969. He became a licensed broker in 2000 and eventually assumed ownership of the company. He has brokered countless transactions involving residential, commercial and ranch real estate representing sellers as well as buyers.
Cleat has over twenty years of experience in business and an extensive background in all phases of real estate and real property title including surface and mineral estates. He is a family man with a wife of 27 years and two daughters and has a true affection for the land, ranching and its heritage.