A new show on HGTV will soon spotlight construction of a communication alum’s dream home. Kelli Smith, a 2003 graduate of UTC, will be featured on the reality show “Dream House” along with her fiance, James Ladd.

After spending her last semester at UTC in Hawaii as a national exchange student, Smith decided to move back home to Chattanooga, where she began work as the Executive Director of FamilyMenders, a local community-based organization that helps families get counseling. In 2004, she became engaged to James Ladd, and the couple decided to buy a piece of land with a beautiful view on Stringer’s Ridge in Chattanooga .

As a partner in B.R. Smith Construction, a business owned by Smith’s dad, Ladd drew up  plans for the couple’s 3000-square-foot, five-story “dream home,” complete with four bedrooms two offices, and five full baths. Smith’s father agreed to build the house with help from Ladd and Smith’s brother, who is also a partner in the business.

After the house plans were complete, Ladd and Smith sent their blueprints and a building proposal to HGTV. To their surprise, HGTV contacted them about participating in the network’s new show, “Dream House.” According to Smith, the show is basically a 13-week story focusing on the “struggles and thrills” of building a new house, but with the added excitement of involving a young, engaged couple.

“It has been a really slow process for us because of all the details surrounding the contract between my dad’s construction company and HGTV,” Smith said. “As of right now, we are competing with a house in Oregon over which one will air in the fall and which one in the spring.” Once scheduled, the show will air on HGTV three times a week.