 "San Antonio Home + Garden Show")
HGTV's Rico Leon
Rico León, the dynamic real estate and construction virtuoso and star of 2 Seasons of HGTV's Rico to the Rescue, Season 1 (and winner) of Battle on the Mountain, House Hunters, and a special hosted by Wendy Covey, boasts a stellar career with a portfolio surpassing $350 million. His expertise spans across a broad spectrum including real estate, construction, residential and commercial development, and roofing, marking him as a multifaceted industry leader.
Originating from the East Coast, Rico's journey took a pivotal turn in 2018 during a road trip to California. A serendipitous event unfolded when his car broke down in Denver, leading to an unexpected love affair with the city. This twist of fate prompted him to set roots there, embracing Denver as his new home. Raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, within a community rich in Puerto Rican heritage and characterized by a robust blue-collar ethos, Rico honed an unwavering work ethic and a drive for success. These early influences have been instrumental in shaping his professional trajectory, fueling his passion for tackling challenges and transforming them into triumphs in the construction realm.
See Rico on the Fresh Ideas Stage Friday at 5pm and Saturday at 1pm!
Texas Eats' David Elder
David
Elder is the host of the San Antonio food show, Texas Eats. The social media
segment, Elder Eats, dominated in Central and South Texas in 2017, 2018 and
2019, with more than 30 videos receiving more than 1 million views each! The
whole first season of Elder Eats is available to watch on the KSAT TV app on
your Roku streaming device.
David’s
passion for food started at a young age, learning cooking techniques and
recipes from his mother. His first job in high school was at a popular Texas
BBQ chain.
The
bustling pace and energy of the kitchen inspired David to work in an upscale,
awardwinning Hill Country Bistro and vineyard. He started as a coldside cook,
preparing salads and appetizers, moved to sauté chef, and was promoted to head
grill chef at the age of 19.
The
kitchen experience David gained ingrained essential cooking fundamentals and a
working knowledge of American cuisine. David worked both back-of-house and
front-of-house positions in restaurants across Central Texas, learning how to
serve guests and create unforgettable dining experiences.
Elder
is also an award-winning graphic designer and web designer working for top
companies and nonprofits in the San Antonio area. He went to high school in New
Braunfels. He moved to San Antonio to attend the San Antonio College for Web
Design & Graphic Design and the University of Texas in San Antonio for
Marketing. David started working for KSAT 12 in the summer of 2015 as a
Graphics Coordinator and is now the Host and Executive Producer of Texas Eats
on KSAT 12.
David
married his wife Mallory Elder in 2017 and they welcomed their son Beau into
the world in 2018. Together, the family actively participates in community
events throughout the year.
See David on the Fresh Ideas Stage Friday at 3pm and Sunday at 1pm!
