From home renovation to real estate television shows, there are many exciting opportunities in this corner of media at HGTV. Join us on Wednesday, December 1 on ZOOM, and hear from lifestyle executives, producers and talent share how they create appealing content.
Presented with the Mayor’s Office of Media & Entertainment. This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.
BRIAN BALTHAZAR, FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, BALTHAZAR ENTERTAINMENT
As an executive producer and founder of Balthazar Entertainment, Brian Balthazar draws upon more than twenty years of television experience both behind and in front of the camera to develop and produce unscripted lifestyle programming.
The early years of his eclectic career history centered on morning news and talk, including launching the fourth hour of the TODAY show with Kathie Lee and Hoda, serving as co-executive producer of The View, and appearing as a features reporter for NBC News. He then pivoted to a role as a network executive at Scripps Networks interactive, where he oversaw countless lifestyle shows for HGTV, including Flip Or Flop, Love it or List It, Christina On The Coast, and House Hunters.
Concurrent to all these roles, he managed to make regular appearances as a pop culture, entertainment and lifestyle guest on more than 50 talk shows and series, including the Today Show, The Wendy Williams Show, The Talk, CNN programming and more.
Today, he blends his continued passion for lifestyle programming and his ongoing role as a trend and pop culture expert for syndicated and network television, while leading a production team in the creation and delivery of series and specials for HGTV, Food Network, Discovery Plus and more.
His most recent project, “Tough Love With Hilary Farr” premieres this December on HGTV.
JESSICA LOFTUS, SR. MANAGER, INTERN AND TALENT OPERATIONS, DISCOVERY INC
Jessica oversees project management for the global recruitment team as well as manages the US Internship Program. She started out as an intern at Discovery back in 2012 in Corporate Communications and has been with Discovery ever since. Jessica is based out of Discovery’s New York headquarters and is a University of Maryland grad. She is a fan of all things pop culture, entertainment and television!
EGYPT SHERROD AND MIKE JACKSON, CO-STARS, MARRIED TO REAL ESTATE, HGTV
Powerhouse real estate broker and designer Egypt Sherrod, and her husband, builder Mike Jackson, are the stars of the new HGTV series, Married to Real Estate, slated to premiere in January 2022. The series will feature eight one-hour episodes that follow Egypt and Mike as they juggle their busy professional and personal lives while helping clients land their perfect home in a dream neighborhood.
With a keen eye for design and ensuring future profit, Egypt leverages her knowledge of the market to find affordable properties in desirable locations for her clients. Mike and his team then create a gorgeous home with smart renovations that increase its worth and return on investment and, together, they turn houses into dream homes.
Egypt and Mike also will compete in the new season of HGTV’s mega-hit home renovation competition series, Rock the Block, slated to premiere in early 2022.
MODERATOR: LOREN RUCH, GROUP SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, DEVELOPMENT & PRODUCTION, HGTV
Loren Ruch is the Group Senior Vice President of Development and Production for HGTV where he oversees the programming and development team responsible for all of their hit programs including Celebrity IOU, A Very Brady Renovation, Property Brothers: Forever Home, My Lottery Dream Home, Flip or Flop and hundreds more.
Prior to this role, Loren spent 13 years managing teams and creating content across many of the Discovery networks including HGTV, Food Network, Travel Channel, DIY Network, Cooking Channel, and Great American Country.
Loren spent ten years at Fox’s Good Day LA and the nationally syndicated Good Day Live where he was the recipient of five Emmy awards for his team’s work. He started his career in daytime talk and game shows including Home & Family, Love Connection and Family Feud. You may recognize Loren from his Discovery+ series HGTV House Party where he hosts and interviews celebrities.
He lives with his husband David in Manhattan.