About the Hosts, A-M

Learn more about all your favorite HGTV hosts

By FrontDoor.com | Published: 12/14/2009

Always searching for the next challenge, Steve is a thrill-seeker in all areas of his life. Some of his more notable experiences were competing in the world-famous American Gladiators series as "Maverick", jumping the Batmobile over a 22-foot concrete embankment when working as a Hollywood stuntman and winning a light heavyweight title as a boxer when he attended the University of Florida. Steve's latest hobby has him racing at speeds of up to 130 mph in one of NASCAR's elite divisions.

Never shying away from an opportunity and his quest for knowledge, Steve has many talents. He is an accomplished actor and has appeared in numerous movies, television shows and national commercials. You may even find this Midwestern hunk pulling out a salsa move, playing a tune on a piano, cruising down the highway on his motorcycle, hitting a home run on his local softball team, at the neighborhood tennis courts or throwing the touchdown pass in his weekend football league.

Mike Holmes- Mike Holmes, host of HGTV's Holmes on Homes and Holmes Inspection, advises homeowners around the world on how to manage renovations, home repairs and maintenance. A contractor who knows the importance of resourcefulness and craftsmanship, his experience in new-home construction and sustainable building have garnered him a growing fan base. In 2006, Mike was recognized in Canada's House of Commons for his support for improved building standards and skilled trades. That same year, he also launched a charitable foundation in Canada to support the training of youth in the skilled trades through apprenticeships and scholarships. In addition, Mike and his crew built a remarkable sustainable and hurricane-resistant house in New Orleans as part of Brad Pitt's "Make It Right NOLA" project.

Today, Mike is developing a unique community of eco-friendly and sustainable homes in Alberta, Canada, that will set a new standard for residential construction and design.

Mike also is the author of two successful books and writes a weekly newspaper column.

Barr Huefner- Barr Huefner grew up in the beautiful valley of Bear Lake, Utah, where he enjoyed skiing, snowmobiling, rock climbing and fishing. The son of a former logger and contractor, who was also the town mayor, Barr learned the importance of community, environment and resourceful construction and landscape planning while helping build the family business, Bear Lake Landscape, Inc.

While attending Utah State University in Logan, Utah, Barr co-founded Three Men & A Shovel Landscaping, LLC, specializing in high-end residential and commercial landscaping.

After receiving a degree in political science from Utah State, Barr relocated to the Washington, D.C. area, where he worked as a clerk on the Senate Judiciary Committee for five years. He quickly discovered that his real passion lies in building, remodeling, design and landscaping.

In 2007 Barr founded Rehab Your Home, LLC, the Northern Virginia and D.C. Metro area-based remodeling and landscaping company that assists homeowners with reinvesting in their greatest asset and investment. Watch Barr on Designed to Sell for some easy and inexpensive ways to improve your home.

Michael Johnson- Michael Johnson is a novelist, journalist, comedian and actor who most recently co-hosted a Fox talk show with Gabrielle Carteris as well as two home-entertainment shows on DIY Network. He also hosted and produced a teen talk show for Black Entertainment Television and wrote and produced primetime television for the Fox Network, NBC, Showtime, Comedy Central, Black Entertainment Television and Disney plus late night/daytime television for 20th Century Fox, Columbia Tri-Star, King World/CBS/Paramount, among others.

Lynn Kegan- Lynn Kegan grew up in a small suburb of Austin, Texas. From an early age, he was introduced to the challenges and excitement of home renovation and design while working for his family's construction firm. This hands-on experience, coupled with an extensive design education and an eye for innovation, cemented his passion for all things building and design.

Lynn began his formal design education at Texas A&M University, where he studied technical theater and set and lighting design. He then transferred to the prestigious Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), where he explored a variety of education pursuits including color theory, furniture design, lighting design and three-dimensional design.

After receiving a bachelor of fine arts from SCAD, he relocated to Atlanta, Ga., where he founded Entrance Design Works, an Atlanta-based interior design and remodeling company specializing in dramatic home renovations with an emphasis on structural and lighting design. Since its inception in 2005, Entrance Design Works has helped homeowners transform their living spaces through renovations in all areas of the home, including basements, bathrooms, kitchens and smaller more intimate single-room designs. He has also worked on a variety of television and entertainment development projects for Cobblestone Entertainment, which he co-founded in 2006.

In 2007 Lynn joined the HGTV family and the cast of the hit series Designed to Sell as the resident carpenter. A designer by trade, Lynn is able to use his creativity, skill and home improvement knowledge to help homeowners maximize the values of their homes, through practical, yet inspiring and dramatic renovations. Lynn continues to be an expert in his field.

Maggie Kent- Maggie Kent is a real estate agent who specializes in new developments, rentals, residential co-ops, lofts and townhouses for CORE.

Maggie believes that her background in the arts and experience in events promotion gives her an extraordinary marketing edge when it comes to working with high-profile clientele. She thrives on being highly knowledgeable and understands the emotional demands of a real estate transaction.

Maggie resides in New York, N.Y.

Ian Kleier- For many years, Ian Kleier had an illustrious career in the advertising world. He began as a copy writer for the agency BBDO, and then later served as vice president of advertising for the Loews Corporation. Before moving into real estate sales, he was president of Cavaleri & Kleier, a dynamic advertising agency specializing in entertainment and travel.

In 1995, Ian decided to join forces with his wife, Michele, to launch Gumley Haft Kleier, a boutique real estate brokerage firm specializing in the marketing of luxury properties throughout Manhattan. Ian, who focuses on the marketing and business end of the company, has nurtured the family-owned company to become one of the leading real estate brokerages in Manhattan.

Like the rest of his family, Ian is an animal lover who supports multiple charities including the ASPCA, Bide A Wee, Stray From the Heart and The Humane Society. He also loves classic movies and owns an extensive collection of original movie posters and entertainment photography.

Michele Kleier- Michele Kleier, president and chairman of Gumley Haft Kleier, has been a force in Manhattan's highly competitive real estate scene for more than 25 years. She has brokered more than $1 billion dollars in real estate sales; possesses a list of celebrity clients that includes Katie Couric, Barbra Streisand, John Travolta and Billy Joel; and manages a sales staff of more than 40 brokers and is an elected member on the Board of Directors for the Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY). Named repeatedly by New York magazine in their annual list of the "Most Powerful Brokers in New York", Michele's story has been covered by countless media outlets, including The New York Times, The New York Post, The Wall Street Journal, CNBC and NBC's Access Hollywood.

Michele, who holds a master's degree from Columbia University, enjoys working alongside her daughters, Sabrina and Samantha, and her husband, Ian, and believes that her company is "run by smart New Yorkers for smart New Yorkers."

Michele lives on the Upper East Side of Manhattan with her husband and their three Maltese dogs Lola, Roxy and Dolly. She also loves to travel and enjoys spending time with her family at their homes in Boca Raton, Fla., and Atlantic Beach, Long Island.

Lisa LaPorta- Based in Los Angeles, designer Lisa LaPorta has extensive experience managing projects of all types and sizes, from concept through completion. Her business includes many prominent clients, who appreciate her strong design sense, practicality and ability to listen to their needs.

She received her formal training in design from UCLA Department of Environmental Art and Design and has appeared on several HGTV shows including Designers' Challenge, Designing for the Sexes and Designed to Sell.

Viewers are attracted to her reassuring communication style and creativity, and she loves the opportunity to roll up her sleeves and get to work on a variety of projects. She has a lifelong passion for all types of design, art, architecture and music. She is also a Latin scholar who knows the best museums, shoe stores and sidewalk pizza in Florence, Italy.

Simon Ley- Simon Ley, originally from Brighton, England, is a master carpenter. He began working in the United States in Miami, Fla., where he was recruited for his craftsmanship to work on houses of the rich and famous. Currently, he is dividing his time between swinging a hammer for the cameras on Designed to Sell and running The Ley Group, a boutique construction firm based in Washington D.C. In his spare time, he plays the drums and jazz flute.

Tatiana Londono- Tatiana Londono lives and breathes the world of real estate. This dynamic young agent began her career by cold-calling her way into the real estate business five years ago. Within a year she reached the Top 10 Agents list, thanks to her tough persona, brilliant skills and trademark style. With sales in the seven-figure range, Tatiana decided it was time to set up her own agency, the Londono Realty Group. The trials and tribulations of setting up her own agency are captured on HGTV's new docu-soap, Property Shop. Tatiana currently lives in Montreal with her husband and two young children.

Chad Lopez- Born in Wyoming, Chad Lopez grew up on a ranch and has been doing construction most of his life. From an early age, he was building everything from fences to garages with his dad. He started working in home construction to help pay for school and has been in the industry for seven years. Chad studied industrial design for furniture and products and tries to incorporate those techniques into his projects whenever possible.

Deborah Lupard- Deborah Lupard, an agent on HGTV's Selling New York, was the top producer in 2010 at Warburg's Tribeca office and has been recognized as one of the top producers year after year.

These awards celebrate her integrity, hard work, and the results she has achieved for her clients and customers. Deborah's simple strategy of integrative bargaining leads all parties to a positive outcome where everyone is a winner.

Prior to establishing a career in real estate, Deborah was an assistant director on feature films for Martin Scorsese and Oliver Stone. She has lived and worked in Tribeca for more than 30 years.

Brandie Malay- Along with being a real estate expert on the Chicago edition of Designed to Sell, Brandie Malay is an award-winning Realtor and host of Hidden Potential. She has worked in the real estate and housing industry for a decade and is currently a Realtor with @Properties in the windy city. Her home sales revenue puts Brandie in the top 2 percent of Realtors in the country. Before selling real estate, Brandie played a part in building it: she worked in the home finance industry helping arrange loans for builders of high-end custom homes.

Brandie Malay's experience in the home selling and home construction worlds makes her the perfect addition to the HGTV family.

Shirley Mattame-Male- Born and raised in Bahrain, Shirley Mattam-Male has lived and worked in the U.S. for the past 19 years. She first became interested in real estate after the purchase of her second home several years ago, and now she is a rising star at McEnearney Associates Inc., one of the preeminent D.C.-area real estate firms. Her professional background stems from the days in Bahrain, where she was a sales executive in the hotel industry.

She brings her keen eye for the importance of style -- and staging -- to the sale of homes in Washington and now to the Designed to Sell team. "Every home has its own best face. My job is to help the owners display the true nature of each house," she says, adding that the key to success is to "never lose focus of the needs of your clients."

Scott McGillivray- For nearly 10 years Scott McGillivray has been turning real estate into real income. What started out as a university project to help homeowners generate additional income by creating rentable rooms in their homes has grown into a successful business of working with builders and renters to help homeowners offset their mortgage expenses.

Scott's real estate expertise, coupled with his wit and charm, has made him an asset to several home renovation shows, including appearances on two Debbie Travis series, From the Ground Up and Debbie Travis' Facelift. Scott's latest venture, HGTV's Income Property, allows him to share this wealth of knowledge about raising extra cash with first-time homeowners.

Sabrina Kleier Morgenstern- Sabrina Kleier Morgenstern, executive vice president of Gumley Haft Kleier, graduated magna cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania. After a successful stint in television at NBC's Access Hollywood, she decided to change careers and become a broker in her family's real estate business.

Covering all areas of Manhattan, Sabrina has successfully brokered both high--profile co-ops and condos. She is a member of the Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY) and is the broker specialist at several luxury buildings on Fifth Avenue, Park Avenue and Central Park South. Sabrina's been named one of New York's "Top Real Estate Agents Under 30" in The Real Deal and she frequently appears in The Wall Street Journal, New York Observer, New York magazine and the New York Post.

Sabrina resides in Manhattan's Upper East Side with her husband and son, Cooper.

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