The Leadership Team

Jon Barnato is the Operating Principal and Owner of KW Premier and Director of KW Commercial Sacramento. He started in real estate in 2008, at the start of the Great Recession, and founded JB Realty Group, building it the hard way: one client, one referral, and one closing at a time. He has sold hundreds of homes and spent more than a decade ranked among the top 5% of agents in the Greater Sacramento area by sales volume.

As the business grew, JB Realty Group expanded into commercial real estate and property management, and Jon now advises clients on retail, office, and land across the region. Along the way he has served as agent, team leader, sales manager, productivity coach, managing broker, and now owner. Sacramento Magazine has recognized him as a Five Star Realtor for customer service, and most of his business still comes from past clients and their referrals.

Today Jon carries forward the Keller Williams legacy that shaped his own career: a true agent community, proven coaching, and leading technology, now including AI that takes on the busywork so agents can spend more time with clients. He holds a bachelor's degree in political science from UC Berkeley and worked in public policy before real estate.

Outside the office, Jon is a husband and father of two, an endurance athlete who has swum across San Francisco Bay in the Escape from Alcatraz triathlon, and a board member of the Natomas Chamber of Commerce.

As Managing Broker, Lisa Hodge is the steady hand behind every transaction at KW Premier. She oversees broker supervision, reviews and approves files, and helps agents work through contract, disclosure and licensing questions before they become problems.

Lisa also leads our Broker Compliance Series, where agents learn the forms, the rules and the reasoning behind them in a practical, supportive setting. New and experienced agents alike lean on her for clear answers and calm guidance on tricky deals.

Her goal is simple: protect our agents and their clients, so agents can focus on serving people well and growing their business with confidence.

As Team Leader, Ron Ortez is responsible for growing KW Premier and helping every agent find the right path inside it. He meets with agents who are considering a move, helps them choose the coaching and training that fit their goals, and makes sure their first weeks here go smoothly.

Ron also works alongside our Agent Leadership Council (ALC), the group of agents who help shape the Market Center's culture, events and priorities. He believes culture is built on purpose, through the standards a team holds every day.

If you are curious about what KW Premier could look like for your business, Ron and his team are a great place to start.

Taylor Valencia leads operations at KW Premier, overseeing the systems, finances and daily processes that keep the Market Center running smoothly. Her focus is making sure every agent feels supported, valued and empowered to grow their business.

Taylor is hands-on and relationship-driven. Agents know her as approachable and dependable, someone who leads by example, values accountability, and works to build a culture of belonging where people genuinely want to be.

Outside the office, Taylor is a proud mom to her baby girl, always on the go and making time for family trips.

As Productivity Coach, Leslie Stirewalt helps agents turn goals into a plan they can actually follow. She leads 1-on-1 coaching and the weekly accountability rhythm, where agents report their activity, set specific targets for the week ahead, and get honest feedback on what is working.

Leslie works with newer agents through Launch Coaching and with experienced agents who want more structure, helping each one build a 30-60-90 day plan, a lead generation routine and the confidence to run appointments well.

A practicing Realtor herself, Leslie brings a heart-first approach to the business, captured in her motto: “Connecting Hearts to Homes.”

JC Martinez oversees all marketing initiatives for KW Premier and supports our agents with the tools, resources and marketing materials they need to grow their business.

From listing flyers, postcards and social posts to market reports, presentations and announcements for agents joining the office, JC helps agents show up polished and professional without spending their evenings in design software.

JC also helps bring our community together, supporting office events, agent spotlights and the photography that puts our people front and center.

As Market Center Coordinator, Liz Farrington keeps the heartbeat of the office steady. She manages the front desk, the office calendar and room bookings, and makes sure agents and their clients feel welcome the moment they walk in.

Liz is part of every new agent's orientation, walking them through how the office works and where to find what they need. She also helps keep our agent roster accurate and the day-to-day details organized.

If you need a conference room for a client meeting, a question answered, or a friendly pointer in the right direction, Liz is usually the first person to ask.

As Market Center Administrator, Rheanna Lamph manages the financial and administrative side of KW Premier. She keeps the back office accurate and organized so agents can trust that the details are handled.

Rheanna works closely with operations and compliance to keep transactions moving from contract to close, answering agent questions along the way and making sure nothing falls through the cracks.

Her behind-the-scenes work gives agents more time for what matters most: their clients and their business.

As Compliance Auditor, Rachel Swan reviews transaction files at KW Premier to make sure every document is complete, signed and in order. Her careful eye catches missing items early, long before they can turn into a problem for an agent or a client.

Rachel also helps agents with referral agreements and works closely with our Managing Broker to keep files moving smoothly toward closing.

Agents value her thoroughness and her willingness to explain exactly what a file needs, which makes every transaction a little less stressful.

As Operations Assistant, Joy Tabugoc helps new agents get settled at KW Premier. She guides them through onboarding step by step, from license paperwork to association and MLS applications, so their move feels simple and organized.

Joy also keeps our KW Command roster up to date and supports the coaching program, sending the weekly reminders that help agents stay on top of their accountability goals.

Her service-first approach is summed up in her own words: “Faith inspires, service uplifts.”