Islander Alumnus, Business Grad, to Premiere on HGTV

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – “Shakas up” to Gino Montalvo `12, who earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. The former radio host, turned real estate agent, is starring in a new HGTV pilot called “Shoring the House,” which is set in Corpus Christi. It’s a house-flipping show with a twist, incorporating social media and selfie-style camera work, along with the high-quality production quality HGTV is known for.

Montalvo was a local radio host for nine years, and during that time, he helped transform the local radio landscape from an exclusive “on the air” presence to include a huge social media following. Wanting to capitalize on innovative social media trends and user engagement, Montalvo, a first-generation college student, decided to attend Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi for a marketing degree to help businesses share their stories and build their brand. After graduation, Montalvo additionally earned a real estate license and used the education he earned at the Island University to once again build an enormous social media following that helped grow his business and ultimately led to him being “discovered” by HGTV.

“When my parents told me that I needed to get a college degree, they didn’t really have a reason why I should, they just knew it was important,” said Montalvo. “But now I know why. My degree gives me credibility. It helped me get my foot through the door. It’s helped me chase and realize my dreams.”

“Shoring the House” premieres at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 26. Montalvo says, depending on ratings and focus group feedback, the show may be picked up for additional episodes.