Gaard Swanson

Gaard Swanson Host of Generation Renovation and National Hardware Show 2007.

Sports broadcaster by day, home renovator by night: This describes Gaard Swanson, a native of San Francisco, whose passions in life are divided. For the past 20 years Gaard has enjoyed a career in sports broadcasting, having anchored at Fox Sports in Los Angeles and KING-TV in Seattle.

But when he's not covering Super Bowls and pennant races, he's out scouting property. Swanson has a thing for old houses that need help. He's renovated dozens of them in California and Washington state, which makes him a perfect host for one of HGTV's hottest new series, Generation Renovation.

Speaking from personal experience, Swanson knows what it takes to turn an ugly duckling into a swan. He once bought a fixer-upper and transformed it into a 4,300-square-foot palace from the ground up. Accustomed to tearing down walls and being ankle deep in dust, he can relate to the homeowners on Generation Renovation. He understands the work involved and has a deep appreciation for what homeowners go through.

A graduate of San Diego State University, Swanson is an avid golfer and enjoys spending time with his two children, Madeline and Isabel.