SMIKE WALLEN

CEO | REAL ESTATE EXPERT

Smike Wallen, entrepreneur and real estate expert, earned his wealth and built his reputation by successfully flipping properties, designing residential and commercial spaces, and representing buyers and sellers of homes.

During his childhood in Indiana, Smike watched as his divorced, single mom struggled to support two young children while living in public housing.  Early experiences with scarcity and loss during formative years left their mark on Smike.  Yet, with the support of his family and a deep-seated drive to overcome, Smike broke the cycle of poverty to become the first member of his family to attend college.

In 1994, Smike packed up his red Jeep and headed for California to prove that coming from nothing couldn’t stop him from building a better life.  With the help of mentors along the way and his own uncompromising work ethic, Smike began to develop the skills that would allow him to realize his true potential.  

After saving enough money to make a down-payment, Smike picked the most dilapidated house in one of LA's best neighborhoods to be his first home.  He learned how to do all the renovation and design work himself –fully reimagining it into a showplace that he sold for profit.  From there, Smike’s flipping business grew steadily.  He had developed the knowledge to move from scarcity to prosperity.  This quick, expansive journey led Smike to an unusual conclusion: that personal success and achievement need not come at the expense of others.  

Within ten years of arriving in Los Angeles, Smike had become a millionaire. Although he had crossed the personal threshold of financial success he had always sought, he still felt as if something was missing. During a month-long trip to Bali, Smike had his “Oprah moment” – to share his “golden-touch” with others. Upon returning to California, Smike set out to form a real estate & design company that would operate differently than any other – one that would place clients first, knowing that with results, compensation would follow.  

Today, the team at SMIKEWALLEN believes in a world of abundance and opportunity.  By leveraging their unrivaled real estate expertise and collective knowledge of all things home, Smike and his diverse team manifest opportunities and deliver results for their clients.

CONTACT ME
T  323 791 6948
E  Smike@SMIKEWALLEN.com

BRE 01922628

DEBORAH BRYANT

DESIGN | INTERIOR & EXTERIOR

Deborah was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, where she is a licensed Certified Public Accountant, and graduated from the University of Detroit. She established a successful career in the entertainment industry, where she spent 33 years with Twentieth Century Fox in Michigan, New York City, and Los Angeles, where she has called home since 1991. In August 2016, she retired from Fox as Vice President of Royalty Reporting, an accounting department for the Home Entertainment division. 

Deborah graduated from the Interior Design program at the Otis School of Art & Design in June 2008, while still working at Fox. Her passion for interior design and architecture began as a teenager, when she aspired to attend Parsons School of Design in New York. Life had other roads that led her away from her passion, but she never gave up her dream. She absolutely believes that it is never too late to pursue your passion – no matter how many twists and turns life may have in store. After meeting Smike in 2001, Deborah watching firsthand as his journey flipping houses developed, and found herself creatively inspired once again.  

While the time was not yet right for her to leave her “day job,” Smike and Deborah became close friends over the years. The two have traveled extensively together, and have established a shorthand that integrates one another’s creative eye.  Smike watched over the years as Deborah established her own design company and began to take on consulting projects, in addition to her full-time job. Aware of her passion and enthusiastic about her talent, Smike extended Deborah an open invitation to join the team at SMIKEWALLEN after retiring from Fox. Today, Deborah is an integral part of the team, bringing her talent and passion for design to the Interior Design and Styling & Staging teams. Deborah is also responsible for 3D modeling, as needed, for more extensive renovation projects. An avid traveler, Deborah takes her creative inspiration from the rich visual traditions of Asian and African cultures, including those of her favorite places – Morocco, Indonesia, China, and Thailand.

Deborah takes pride in her deep connection to South Los Angeles, where she resides.  For 19 years, Deborah served as executive director of Fox‘s volunteer workplace mentoring program at Susan Miller Dorsey High School.  Deborah has also served as Chair of the Board of Directors of Community Coalition of South LA, a non-profit organization that empowers the South Los Angeles community and creates resident leaders, who advocate to strengthen their schools, families, and community by changing public policy.  Deborah has served on the board for 13 years. 


CONTACT ME
T  323 632 3220
E  deborah@SMIKEWALLEN.com