A Realtor, a home builder, a real estate consultant and a lawyer who handles real estate closings are among the latest cast of candidates vying for a job at one of Donald Trump’s companies in the fifth season of “The Apprentice,” a reality television series.
During the first show, which aired Monday, Trump invited the group of 18 job applicants into his private jet and then allowed the applicants to introduce themselves while standing on a windy tarmac. Setting the record straight on his much-talked-about mane, Trump revealed to the group that his hair must be real because it did not blow away.
Leslie Bourgeois, 28, a Realtor for Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate in Boca Raton, Fla., who is originally from Houma, La., and all of the other contestants with a real estate background avoided firing in the first episode. Bourgeois, a former state tennis champion in Louisiana who has also competed in volleyball and swimming, remains active in the Southern Palm Beach Women’s Tennis Association.
“I learned very early in life how to focus, set goals, train and mentally prepare for competition,” Bourgeois stated in a brief interview posted at an NBC Web site. “Possessing a positive attitude, a strong determination and having the ability to bounce back after setbacks will keep you at your best.”
Bryce Gahagan, 28, a home builder who was born and raised in Kansas City, Mo., co-founded a residential building company when he was 24. The Gahagan-Eddy Building Co. specializes in custom homes, with many projects exceeding $1.5 million. Gahagan attributes his success to “the whole package: family, friends, career and love – a real passion in life,” according to an interview posted at the NBC site. “Donald Trump’s apprentice should have a real estate background. My career is currently residential building and development; I am here to expand on what I already know.”
Charmaine Hunt, 27, of Nashville, Tenn., is a real estate consultant who has previous experience working for a mortgage firm in Scottsdale, Ariz. The Nashville City Paper newspaper reports that Hunt is an executive at First American Home Warranty, which provides insurance policies for appliances, lighting fixtures, water heaters, heating and cooling, plumbing, electrical and other home systems.
“A leader has to be tenacious, creative, an excellent communicator, and someone who can get along well with all different types of personalities. Success to me is having passion and doing the absolute best you can at everything you do – and feeling good about it. If you enjoy your job and are great at it, but you don’t make the big bucks, you’re still successful,” according to an interview posted online.
Brent Buckman, 30, a lawyer from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., who seemed to get on the nerves of some of his teammates in the first episode of the Apprentice 5 season, handles real estate closings and also works for a law firm that specializes in insurance defense. Buckman was born and raised in Toronto. He participated in an “enriched theater program” during his high school years that included such studies as improvisation, mime, mask and clown.
“My definition of success is money, education and power,” according to an interview at the NBC Web site. “I believe the best way to enjoy life is to live in a big house, drive a fancy car, eat at fancy restaurants, dress in the best threads and take luxurious vacations. A leader must be confident, energetic, unique, friendly, outgoing, approachable, reliable, dependable and easy to get along with.”
Jose “Pepi” Diaz, 25, a lawyer from Miami, Fla., does not have a background in real estate but he has helped to build homes for Habitat for Humanity, a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing group that has built about 200,000 houses around the globe.
Other contestants include: Allie Jablon, 30, medical sales manager; Andrea Lake, 31, sticker company owner; Dan Brody, 31, clothing company owner; Lee Bienstock, 22, business analyst; Lenny Val, 37, trading company owner; Michael Laungani, 29, management consultant; Roxanne Wilson, 26, appellate lawyer; Sean Yazbeck, 33, recruitment consultant; Stacy Schneider, 38, criminal defense lawyer; Summer Zervos, 30, restaurant owner (“fired” in the first episode); Tammy Trenta, 33, wealth manager; Tarek Saab, 27, global product marketing manager; and Theresa Boutross, 36, psychotherapist.
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