Lauren Lexton co-founded Authentic Entertainment in 2000. An Emmy-Award winning producer, Lexton leads the company as CEO, while also serving as an executive producer on all productions. Over the course of the company’s history, Lexton worked on thousands of hours of programming that spans more than 80 shows for over 16 networks.

Currently, Lexton is responsible for the creation and production of hit shows such as “Flipping Out!”, “Ace of Cakes,” “Knife Fight,” “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo,” “Best Thing I Ever Ate,” and “Toddlers & Tiaras.” Prior to founding Authentic, Lexton worked as a show runner, director, writer and producer for numerous network and cable series.

Lexton graduated cum laude from NYUʼs Tisch School of the Arts and serves on the Board of Directors for the International Documentary Association. Her greatest passion is finding unknown talent and unique stories – often discovering that truth is stranger than fiction.

In addition to his role as COO, Bouson currently serves as executive in charge of production and SVP of production and operations.

After beginning his television career as a producer on the long-running “Love Connection,” Bouson went on to write, produce, and direct all genres of unscripted television – leading up to nine simultaneous productions as showrunner – ranging from documentaries and talk shows to biographies and travel programming.

Prior to his work in television, Bouson spent 20 years working at every level of the entertainment industry: as a professional actor, singer, director and playwright. This culminated in the formation of the award-winning Avante Garage Comedy Repertory Theatre Company – which he founded and served as artistic director in Nashville – along with The Avante Garage Dinner Theatre, which he owned with partners Joe Correll, Jamey Green and Kathy Shepard.

Prior to his television career, Bouson worked on Broadway for nine years as the COO of Sweet Concessions, Inc, Broadway’s premier concessionaire, caterer, and provider of VIP hospitality services. A constant innovator, Bouson brought the concept of the intermission drink pre-order to the United States.

Away from work, Michael enjoys gourmet cooking, adventure travel, women’s roller derby and pitbulls!

Will Pisnieski currently serves as the CTO and Head of Post Production.

Pisnieski joined Authentic Entertainment in 2007 as a post producer, overseeing one of the largest Apple Final Cut Pro infrastructures in the US. In the time since, Pisnieski has grown Authentic in to one of the largest Avid Media Composer and Facilis Terrablock facilities, with over 125 active clients stringing-out and editing content daily.

Pisnieski’s work spans every facet of the reality television. Prior to his work at Authentic, Pisnieski began his career on MTV’s long running reality series “The Real World.” Originally from Elmwood Park, New Jersey, Will relocated to California to pursue a degree in cinematography from the Brooks Institute, a renowned photography school.

When not working on the latest Authentic productions, Will can be found honing his bowling skills and spending time with his family.

For the past five years, Doug has been responsible for every single written word that has come out of Authentic’s enormously successful development department – totalling 498 treatments, act breakdowns, and biographies ranging from farm-flipping cowboys to skunk ape wranglers. The result of this unparalleled body of work, other than a tinge of carpal tunnel syndrome, is an irreplaceable sixth sense for creating characters, formats, and stories – along with the capability to combine them into shows that make people stop flipping channels.

Recent projects include hit shows “Guilty Pleasures” and “Top Five Restaurants” on Food Network, “Waterfront Househunting” on FYI, and upcoming shows for both Discovery and History.

One of his first assignments was to find an auction house fit for the Discovery Channel – which later manifested as the hit show, “Auction Kings,” that ran for three seasons. In the time following, Mirabello turned an inter-office pitch contest winner into Esquire Network’s “White Collar Brawler,” rejuvenated the culinary competition genre with the critically-acclaimed “Knife Fight,” and contributed to the meteoric rise of “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo.” Mirabello is also responsible for selling Authentic’s first two forays into digital content: “Geek Love” and “Next Game Boss” on IGN.

Possessing an unmatched passion for television of all kinds, Mirabello was raised watching too much of it, and is thrilled to be a part of making more. He understands that the best ideas often come from the strangest places, that the viewer is far smarter than given credit for, and, most importantly, that collaboration is the key to success.

Currently in his fourth year as Senior Director and Director of Photography for Authentic Entertainment, LaFleur creates television programs for Showtime, Discovery Channel, Bravo, Food Network, TLC, History, Travel Channel, Esquire Network and HGTV.

As a freelance cinematographer, LaFleur worked all over the world in both film and television. In addition to his continual narrative work on films, music videos and commercials, LaFleur is an accomplished multi-camera director, completing shows such as Esquire Network’s “Knife Fight” and “White Collar Brawlers,” along with the new HGTV series “Flipping the Block.”

Originally from Massachusetts, Mark now resides in Los Angeles. LaFleur earned a BFA in Film, Photography and Creative Writing from Emerson College.

As SVP of Finance and Risk Management, Halperin manages all financial and insurance matters for Authentic Entertainment.

Over the course of his career, Halperin created budgets, schedules, managed production, and worked as both a field and line producer for hundreds of episodes of lifestyle and reality/documentary programming for cable networks that include HGTV, TLC, Travel Channel, and History Channel.

Prior to joining Authentic Entertainment in 2008, Halperin spent eight years at Broadview Media as a production manager, executive in charge of production, and executive producer.

In addition to his work in television, Halperin produced television commercials, concerts, and corporate events for companies including Target, Northwest Airlines, and General Mills – along with music artists that include The Rolling Stones, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and Billy Joel. During his time in the music industry, Halperin also worked as the tour coordinator for Lyle Lovett.

Paul has a degree in Business Administration from the University of Texas at Austin and is a member of the Television Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Yamazaki serves as counsel for Authentic Entertainment.

Prior to joining Authentic four years ago, Yamazaki began her career as an attorney at Morris Yorn Barnes Levine Krintzman Rubenstein Kohner & Gellman, and subsequently at Universal Pictures.

In addition to her work at Authentic, Yamazaki is a pro bono attorney for the Esperanza Immigrants Rights Project and Catholic Charities, where she assists unaccompanied refugee minors.

In her free time, Carolyn is a SCUBA diving instructor and an Emergency First Response instructor. She has been diving for over ten years and loves being in the ocean!

Emmy-nominated executive producer Jeffrey L. Weaver is a producer, writer, director, cinematographer, editor, musician and singer.

Over the last five years, Weaver wrapped an exceptional 209-episode run of TLC’s hit “Little People, Big World” on TLC, ran the inaugural season of the breakout series “Tanked” for Animal Planet, produced “Auction Kings” (which ran for 90 episodes) on Discovery Channel, and Nat Geo’s “You Can’t Lick Your Elbow” with NFL legend Tony Gonzalez for Authentic Entertainment. Most recently, Jeff received an Emmy nomination for the reboot of A&E’s “Intervention.” He’s also developing his own shows.

He’s been actively employed in the entertainment industry since the age of 16, working as a producer, writer and director for a variety of networks, including A&E, Nat Geo, TLC, Discovery, Animal Planet, HGTV, History, OWN, Spike, TNT, E!/Style, NBC, Disney/ABC, Fox, Discovery Health, VH1, Food Network, PaxNet and Travel Channel.

Jeff lives in Los Angeles, CA with his wife and four children.

Joe Correll first joined the Authentic team in 2004 as a field producer for the long running series Weird Travels. After a few years away he retuned to Authentic in 2008 as a show runner and has worked with the company ever since. Joe has worked for a wide variety of networks including, MTV, Travel Channel, Animal Planet, USA, TLC, Wetv, Food Network, Sundance Channel, Bravo, and FYI.

His credits as Executive Producer include such hit series as Amazing Wedding Cakes for Wetv, the award winning All On the Line for Sundance, Waterfront House Hunting for FYI and Authentic’s longest running series, My First Home for TLC, as well as numerous specials, limited series and pilots.

In addition to his television credits, Joe has created, co-written and performed in  numerous theatrical plays and musicals for the stage.

Patrick Stringer joined Authentic in 2011, and now serves as Vice President, Broadcast Operations. He started his work with Authentic as an Assistant Camera Operator and quickly decided this was the company for him. Patrick is responsible for overseeing Authentic’s broadcast division and develops new workflows for the company’s field crews.

In his free time, Patrick enjoys all sorts of outdoor activities and is an avid scuba diver, surfer and fly fisher.

Nneka Enurah has been promoted to Vice President of Digital Content & Communications at Authentic Entertainment. Nneka is a versatile entertainment professional with experience in producing, talent booking, and creative development. In addition to television, she specializes in creating short-form digital content including branded entertainment, lifestyle, and food-related programming.

Prior to joining Authentic Entertainment, Nneka developed and produced both digital and television content for leading global media company POPSUGAR, where she led lifestyle programming efforts and helped to create branded content for clients including Nike, Crest, Levi’s, Dr. Pepper, and St. Ives. During her tenure at POPSUGAR, Nneka’s content vertical maintained the highest performance for the brands.

In addition to her work at Authentic, Nneka serves on the Public Relations Committee and Board of Directors for I Am Not The Media Inc., a non-profit organization that strives to promote media literacy in youth through programs and educational events.