Alpharetta, GA June 2024

H i g h - q u a l i t y c a r e

w i t h h o m e t o w n h e a r t

Emory Johns Creek Hospital is committed to our community.

We’ve added two floors to the hospital, three floors to the Physicians Plaza and a parking deck, all to better serve you and your family. The new areas provide physicians, nurses and our care teams an interdisciplinary space to focus on family-centered care and ongoing wellness, supporting you with the unparalleled service and knowledgeable professionals you’ve come to expect.

No matter your health needs – from routine to advanced – we’re here to help you make your health a priority.

Our luxury furniture showrooms are open to the public on select days each month. With highquality, unique, and on-trend furniture that is available to take home same-day or schedule to have delivered and a team of expert designers ready to help, you are sure to find what you’ve been searching for at one of our exciting shopping events!

SCAN THE QR TO CHECK OUT UPCOMING EVENTS IN YOUR AREA!

Multiple locations in:

GEORGIA | DALLAS | FLORIDA

For over a decade, our team of expert designers have furnished thousands of homes, TURNKEY, all over the United States. We have cornered the market with superior products, lightning-fast lead times and unparalleled customer service and expertise! Reach out and let’s discuss what we can do for YOU!

We look forward to seeing you, Kristy & JJ Ortega

Hello friends,

June 2024

PUBLISHER

Jim Newman | jnewman@citylifestyle.com

EDITOR

Sue G. Collins | scollins@citylifestyle.com

When we moved to Atlanta from Michigan 15 years ago, our daughter was a senior in high school and she was not thrilled with the idea. Either was I, to be honest. I registered her for classes here and discovered graduation requirements between the states were drastically different and that she would be required to go to night school or study online (a new option back then). After much discussion, we decided she should finish high school in Michigan and stay with her bestie’s family. That lasted a few months and we’ll be forever grateful to the family. Jane then stayed with my besties, Scott and Melissa and their three young kids, as a transition. Melissa is a fabulous cook and Jane enjoyed hanging out in the kitchen with her, helping with the kids now and then while considering her housing options.  Scott (pictured) was busy with his career and earning his Master’s at University of Michigan. Their plates were full. Still, they generously opened their home to Jane. One evening, Scott said he needed to have a conversation with her. Both Jane and Melissa remembered being apprehensive. Was it time for her to move along?

Scott asked Jane how she felt about living with them and if she’d like to stay for good. This was his idea and came out of left field. Of course, Jane said YES. She finished classes and graduated early. But, during those four months, Scott provided an unwavering solid foundation of acceptance and friendship for Jane. While she made herself at home in the guest room (the carpet was never the same), Scott welcomed her skater friends into their home and let Jane come and go as she wished. His quiet support helped her confidently navigate living away from her family. To this day, she introduces them as her “rental parents” and Scott continues to play an important role in her life as “Pepe” to her children. His grace, generosity and fierce sense of humor are an inspiration to us all.

Happy Father’s Day to Scott, Jane’s (real) dad Jim and all fathers who are relentless with their generosity, lead by example and laugh with their children and “rental” kids.

All my best,

SENIOR ACCOUNT MANAGER

Karyn Slovin | karyn.slovin@citylifestyle.com

ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTOR

Karla Wilkinson | Karla.Wilkinson@citylifestyle.com

COPY EDITOR

Stacy Conde

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Anne Hampson Boatwright, Vikki Locke, Sean O'Keefe

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Firelite Studios, Rick Diamond, Dan Riley, Daniel Loudermilk, Tyrone Riley

Corporate Team

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Steven Schowengerdt

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Matthew Perry

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HR Janeane Thompson

AD DESIGNER Josh Govero

LAYOUT DESIGNER Emily Lisenbee

SUE G. COLLINS, EDITOR @ALPHARETTACITYLIFESTYLE

That's my grandson Teddy with Pepe.

ISO kids and their cute pets

Do you know of a special child and pet pair? Two peas in a pod? We're featuring kids and their pets in our August issue and want to hear from you! Send the editor a paragraph about why the two go together like PB & J, along with a few snapshots of the pet and human. They must live and play in Alpharetta. Send Sue, our editor, a note by June 15. Scollins@CityLifestyle.com

Firefighters Saluted

Alpharetta Department of Public Safety congratulates Fire Apparatus Operator (FAO) Matt James and Fire Apparatus Engineer (FAE) William Poteet - thank you for serving our city. James has 16 years serving the community. Poteet has nine years under his belt. Their core values are Courageous Spirit, Selfless Service and Excellence With Integrity. View career opportunities at  GovernmentJobs.com/ careers/alpharetta

MANISH ARORA

Junior Entrepreneur Drives Custom PC Company

MEET CONNOR FROTHINGHAM, A 13-YEAR-OLD JOHNS CREEK PRODIGY

ARTICLE BY JOHNS CREEK CITY LIFESTYLE STAFF

Starting a PC building company at the age of 13 is no small feat. It requires passion, dedication, and a willingness to learn and adapt. Inspired by a passion for technology, an entrepreneurial spirit, and a willingness to dive into the complexities of both computer hardware and business management, 13-year-old Connor Frothingham started his own custom PC-building business.

Connor Frothingham, the founder of Alpharetta Tech PCs – a Custom PC Builder Company offers his insight on how to get a computer business dream moving toward reality.

DISCOVERING THE PASSION

My journey began when I received my first computer at a very early age. I was fascinated by how it worked and spent countless hours learning about each component. By the age of 11, I was already upgrading parts and helping friends and family with their computer issues. At the age of 12, I customized my PC and helped several family members and friends to build their PC. This passion for technology and helping others ignited the idea of starting my own custom PC-building company.

GAINING KNOWLEDGE

I spent every free moment I had researching. I watched tutorial videos, read technology forums, and followed industry news to stay updated on the latest components and trends. I also took online courses in computer hardware and even business basics to understand what it would take to run my own company.

OVERCOMING LEGAL AND FINANCIAL HURDLES

Being underage, I faced significant legal and financial hurdles. I discussed my business idea with my parents, who were supportive and agreed to help. They became my legal guardians in the business, allowing me to operate under their supervision. We started small, using savings I had from my birthdays and from my part-time job as an IT crew member to buy the initial parts for my first builds.

FACING CHALLENGES HEAD-ON

Balancing school and business was one of my biggest challenges. I had to learn to manage my time efficiently, dedicating weekends and after-school hours to my business. Gaining credibility was another hurdle. Some customers were skeptical about my age. To overcome this, I focused on building a portfolio of my work, collecting positive testimonials from satisfied customers, and offering guarantees on my PC builds.

GROWING AND LEARNING

Word of mouth played a significant role in growing my business. Each satisfied customer recommended me to friends and family, slowly expanding my client base. Initially, profits were limited, but I reinvested profits back into the business, allowing me to take on more ambitious projects and even start offering customized options for gaming PCs, workstations, and budget-friendly builds.

REFLECTIONS AND FUTURE GOALS

Starting my own PC builder company at 13 is one of the most challenging, yet rewarding experiences. It taught me not only about computer technology, but also about perseverance, customer service, and business management. My goal is to continue growing my business, staying updated with technological advancements, and possibly mentoring other young entrepreneurs in the future.

“At the age of 12, I customized my PC and helped several family members and friends to build their PC.”

“My goal is to continue growing my business, staying updated with technological advancements, and possibly mentoring other young entrepreneurs in the future.”

Photographers

ARTICLE BY SUE G. COLLINS | PHOTOGRAPHY BY FIRELITE STUDIOS

Behind the lens with Aleks and Ken

for promotional material for

The talented team at Firelite Studios has been shooting for City Lifestyle since the beginning of the year. We love their style! Firelite is a versatile media production company. Partners Ken Jackson and Aleks Kapett are the visionaries and creators behind the lens. They create social media content and corporate branding; and shoot weddings and commercials.

FireliteStudios.com

Captured

Manny Sazon's Food Truck. The OMG burger.

While Firelite shoots editorial for us, they also work with other luxury brands.

WE are THE ART OF HAIR REPLACEMENT.

Absolute Image Consulting has been providing Atlantans with the most natural and stylish hair replacement for over 20 years. We are a small boutique center that focuses on the individual. Each client has a unique tailored service specific to their needs and style. We only use the best materials and our entire staff is trained in house by Shannon Dixon. Shannon has been voted best in Atlanta for 5 years in a row, one of Atlanta’s top 10 women in health and beauty and who’s who in Atlanta 2022.

If you are looking for the absolute best results in hair replacement, there is a clear choice.

Absolute Image Consulting Inc.

SERIOUS FUNNYMAN

ARTICLE BY VIKKI LOCKE | PHOTOGRAPHY BY RICK DIAMOND

When Jamie Bendall was 11, he remembers making business cards that read “Entrepreneur.” Today the Emory and Pepperdine grad is a lawyer, a registered civil medi-

“I’LL

and has coached over 50 youth sports teams. “I spent the first part of my professional career making choices that allowed me to be present and active in my daughters’ lives.”

CONTINUE TO GROW AS AN ATTORNEY, AS A COMEDIAN, AND AS A BUSINESS OWNER.”

ator, and a substitute municipal court judge in Alpharetta. Actively involved in the community, he also volunteers for the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce in the Emerging Leaders Program, sits on the Chamber Foundation Board, dabbles in real estate, is a stand-up comic and owns the Punchline Comedy Club in Buckhead.

“My father and I practice together in the law firm, and I would tell you that he is one of the best entrepreneurial small business owners I know.

Many people don’t think of lawyers as being small business owners, but if you have your own office, you have your own business.”

Married with three daughters, Jamie says as soon as they were old enough to play sports, he signed up to coach

What does he love about Alpharetta?

“I remember coming to Atlanta for the first time to look at Emory. To me, you could just feel the energy coming from the growth and the possibilities. I still experience that and I think it’s a net positive for the broader metro area.”

Now that he’s basically an empty nester, what’s next? “I’d like to think I’ll continue to grow as an attorney, as a comedian, and as a business owner. I’m always energized by the opportunities to give back, so I will continue to look for those when they are presented. My dad is in his late 70s and still working, and I think that’s in part because he enjoys helping our clients. Will I still be working 25 years from now? I hope so. And maybe someday my daughters will let me coach a grandchild’s team. I think I’d like that.”

Not all applicants will qualify. Requires purchase of qualifying Lennox® system. No down payment required. If you qualify for this promotion(“Promotion”) and elect to participate, Finance Charges (interest) will not accrue for the first twelve months (Promotional Period),

Allez!

AHS has won the most tournaments of any Georgia high school.

Henry Jung is passionate about the sport of fencing. The coach of Alpharetta High School’s (AHS) fencing team, Jung, a South Korean native, was a professional athlete - a nationally ranked swimmer - but became a convert to fencing through his wife and father-in-law, both accomplished fencers. “It’s really fun!” he says. “Fencing is a mental sport. You use your brain. It’s like chess.”

Though matches last only three minutes, they’re a tricky mind game of out-strategizing the opponent, as well as using precision physical skill. Jung also owns the 200-member Olympic Fencers Club.

He began coaching the AHS team in 2013 which, at the time, was a smaller group. Since then, he has grown the team to nearly 35 athletes, and his teams have earned awards including gold medals, state and regional championships and have competed on the national level. Two graduates were recruited to NCAA fencing teams, and numerous students have participated in the Junior Olympics. Current team captain, senior Joshua Hutto, won last season’s state championship.

People often perceive fencing as a medieval, aristocratic European fighting activity,

but Jung says fencing is increasing in popularity and diversity in the U.S. Beyond being a competitive team and individual sport, it has also become a popular form of fitness. Like martial arts, it produces similar benefits including discipline, development and emotional regulation.

Jung says that students who join his fencing team as freshmen consistently tend to stay through senior year, which contributes to the group’s cohesion and builds formidable team spirit. Practices include jogging, stretching, footwork, blade work and electric games in which fencers are tethered by a body cord to a scoring system.

Though fencing can appear dangerous, swordplay is done with safe disciplines called epees, foils and sabers, which are engineered to not cause injury to the body. AHS uses only the epee, a modern version of the dueling sword, and the heaviest of the three.

Jung acknowledges the support of the AHS administration, Principal Mike Scheifflee, and team sponsor, Donna Byrd. When not working, Jung enjoys spending time with his wife and two sons, as well as driving up to the mountains in sports cars.

Students who join his fencing team as freshmen consistently tend to stay through senior year. “

AHS team along with eight other district high school teams are among the 19 metro Atlanta schools affiliated with the Georgia High School Fencing League (GHSFL)

M-F: 9AM-5PM

cottonsteeldesign.com 770-361-8264 debbie@cottonandsteeldesign.com

ARTICLE BY SEAN O'KEEFE | PHOTOGRAPHY BY

Fatherhood Refining

FAMILY STRENGTH IS DR. WESTON ROBINS’ DRIVE TO HELP THOSE WHO NEED IT THE MOST.

Alison, Story, River, and Dr. Weston Robins.

Dr. Weston Robins is the President and Founder of Eternal Strength, a unique community youth center with a mental health holistic focus that opened its doors in March 2020.

Based in Alpharetta, Eternal Strength is, first and foremost, an alternative healing environment for youth. It is a recreation center, music performance and recording room, ceramics room, video game and recreation area with a full gym, and an outdoor space offering transformative therapies that are deeply relational and humanistic. Rooted in his personal experiences with addiction, substance abuse, arrests, and emotional turmoil, Wes’s personal journey would lay the foundation for his mission to help young people who were maneuvering similar life challenges.

“I have been married to my amazing wife Alison for fourteen years and we have two beautiful daughters. Story is 10 years old and River is 7,” says Dr. Wes. His wife and daughters are his world and the most important people in his life. “My wife Alison is my grounding force and rock in all I do,” says Dr. Wes. “She offers patience, insight and support in all my pursuits. I could write for eternity on the importance of my family!”

Eternal Strength is deeply relational and humanistic in their mentoring and counseling work. “We really tap into each youth that comes to the center to find out what drives them, what art they love, what mediums they gravitate toward,” says Dr. Wes. The team of talented therapists at the Center begin to build each individual therapeutic journey in ways that are co-collaborative, from songwriting, recording, drawing, painting, ceramics and many other forms of expressive arts therapy, i.e. dancing, poetry, or spoken word. “Anything expressive and seeing ways that we can offer sacred space for youth to explore, create and process!”

ALLOW OUR TEAM TO MANAGE YOUR PROJECT FROM THE INITIAL CONCEPT ALL THE WAY THROUGH TO COMPLETION.

WE HANDLE THE DESIGN WORK AND LOGISTICS TO CREATE A FUN AND ENJOYABLE DESIGN PROCESS THAT WILL TRANSFORM YOUR HOME INTO A LUXURIOUS SPACE THAT YOU LOVE.

The Team at Eternal Strength, Roswell.

SWIM, SOAK, SPA, SIP. REPEAT.

Georgia Luxury Pools makes backyard dreams come true.

ARTICLE BY SUE G. COLLINS

David Brown is on call pretty much 24/7. When a customer has a question, he presses pause on his day and focuses on solutions. It’s his pleasure. He grew up watching his father run a successful pool business and now, at the helm of Georgia Luxury Pools, David is building

PHOTOGRAPHY BY DAN RILEY

“Together with David and Patrick Ferguson of Southern Landscapes and Designs, the Flacks now have a showcase property.”

a company where design excellence and customer communication are key.

“At Georgia Luxury Pool, integrity, quality and customer service are the foundation we build upon every day to make sure the customer’s experience, from dream inspiration to building their pool, creates a luxury experience,” says David. These three core values set the bar for every employee at GLP to build a better customer experience for their dream backyard. “When you walk out of your back door, your friends and family will be impressed from pool to patio. Not only will you end up with a luxury backyard, but it will also be built better for you and your family.”

That’s the goal with every project.

Homeowners John and Jeanne Flack along with daughter Emma and son John wanted an expansive space to entertain family and friends that also had a more cozy and intimate feel for smaller gatherings. Together with David and Patrick Ferguson of

Southern Landscapes and Designs, the Flacks now have a showcase property.

Patrick chimes in, “This property was on quite a hill which provided a challenge in the existing terrain; SLD came in and removed trees and leveled the yard by building a 20’ retaining wall. SLD also built a double tier retaining wall in boulders and stone veneer to encapsulate the pool area as the focal point of the yard which gave a base for the beautiful landscape plan.”

The entire pool system and lights are set to automation and an app that the homeowners can control by their phone. The backyard also has an outdoor kitchen/grilling area, a covered patio, tv and fireplace area, night-lighting, outdoor landscape speakers and putting green.

For the pool, the family wanted a resort style backyard and a pool with a swim lane, tanning ledge and spa. David’s team designed the 18-foot x 36-foot

Bottom, left: We had such a great experience using Georgia Luxury Pools to build our pool. David is incredibly knowledgeable and easy to work with. We’ve never built a pool before and David and his team were so helpful throughout the process and responsive to all of our questions. We could not be happier with the outcome- GLP and SLD truly brought our vision for what we wanted to life.

Homeowners, John and Jeanne Flack

rectangle with a 12-foot x 6-foot tanning ledge on the side and a 6-foot bench in the deep end plus a 6-foot x 10-foot spillover spa at the end with eight therapeutic jets.

Practical flourishes include bullnose silver travertine coping for the edge and a pebble stonescapes interior with mini French grey with hand broadcast abalone shells for a sparkling effect.

Notedly, in Georgia, there are no certifications or special licenses required to be a pool builder. David has studied and passed examinations to earn his CBP (Certified Builder Professional) and Advanced CBP (Certified Advanced Pool Builder Professional) from the Pool and Hot Tub Association, which is the national organization for the industry.

“This was a beautiful project to work on,” says David. “The clients were amazing to work with, and had a backyard that gave so many options for design! In the end, I believe we created the perfect setting for their family!”

Dreaming of a pool this summer?

Consider the elevation and growth of the landscape (Patrick’s team will handle this) and local permitting. “On average, survey, design and permitting should take 1-2 months. The building of the pool (once land has been prepped and is ready to excavate) 3-4 months, weather permitting,” says David. “Even if you do not want to start the project until next January, go ahead and get the survey, design and budget complete, then you are ready to go to the next phase! Now is the time to start in order to be ready for next year’s season,” he notes.

Sneak Peek! Homesteading Haven Coming Soon to Eastern Cherokee County

A Beautiful Day FOR A DRIVE

BENTLEY ATLANTA AND E+E REAL ESTATE

PARTNER FOR A SPECIAL DAY

ARTICLE BY KARYN SLOVIN

PHOTOGRAPHY BY DANIEL LOUDERMILK AND TYRONE RILEY

Bring together a luxury automotive brand with Blue Ridge real estate experts and a gorgeous property, and you have the epitome of luxury living at its best. By extending its vision beyond the realm of automobiles, Bentley Atlanta aims to curate bespoke lifestyle experiences that embody the essence of refined living. The collaboration between Bentley Atlanta and E+E Real Estate with Compass, promises to redefine opulence, elegance, and lifestyle aspirations for discerning individuals seeking nothing short of excellence.

A warm invitation was extended to select guests for this exclusive event, and

on an early April Sunday morning, the guests gathered at Bentley Atlanta for a quick meet and greet, then embarked for the mountains in their designated Bentleys for the day.

The line of sleek, sophisticated automobiles made their way to Blue Ridge, Georgia and arrived at the one-of-a-kind, La Cresta on Main - four individually designed and decorated townhouses, each a testament to elegance and craftsmanship.

The property is showcased by E+E Real Estate, a distinguished name in the world of premium real estate. With a portfolio of exceptional properties tailored to the most discerning clientele, E + E Real Estate with Compass brings a wealth of expertise in curating living spaces that epitomize elegance, exclusivity, and comfort.

The tour showcased two stunning and well-appointed luxury townhouses right in the heart of downtown Blue Ridge. After the tour, the group made a brief stop at the E+E office before indulging in the culinary delights and drinks at the speakeasy at Grace Steakhouse.

As the day drew to a close, the convoy of Bentleys returned to Atlanta, leaving behind memories of a luxurious mountain escape, a testament to the seamless blend of opulence and nature. This is the first of two mountain excursions that Bentley Atlanta and E+E Real Estate are planning to host this year.

BentleyAtlanta.com LauraElleby.com

Greg Mabry, Laura Elleby, Thomas Echea, Karyn Slovin

Being betrayed is devastating. At Couples Academy, we focus on your betrayal, marital, and individual recovery so you can regain certainty in your life

Being betrayed is devastating. At Couples Academy, we focus on your betrayal, marital, and individual recovery so you can regain certainty in your life.

We understand the intense pain and confusion that comes with emotional and physical betrayal and we are dedicated to helping individuals navigate the difficult journey towards personal healing and marital restoration.

We

the

JUNE

JUNE 1ST

Alpharetta Brew Moon Festival

Downtown Alpharetta  | 6:00 PM

Rock the night away in Downtown Alpharetta with a true “Dancing in the Street” party featuring your favorite beers, live music by Chuck Martin and the Line Up, plus a variety of food tents and local eateries. Bring your own chairs or purchase a table and enjoy the night with your closest friends.

JUNE 2ND Savor the Boulevard

2200 Avalon Blvd. | 4:00 PM

Avalon invites guests to attend its 6th annual Savor the Boulevard to enjoy an exquisite evening of dining al fresco on the Boulevard. Four course menus with beverage pairings from participating restaurants, live music and more. Guests reserve a seat by purchasing a ticket at their selected restaurant’s designated table along the Boulevard. Ticket prices vary based on restaurant.

JUNE 7TH AND JUNE 21ST Summer Concerts

2 Park Plaza | 7:00 PM

The Alpharetta Rotary Concerts are held on the beautiful Town Green, which includes plenty of room for picnic blankets and lawn chairs and is in walking distance to more than 30 chef-driven and locally owned restaurants featuring everything from farm-to-table comfort food to tasty tacos. Free admission.

The kitchen. It’s where we strive to delight the people we love with the freshest food, exquisitely prepared and beautifully presented.

Sub-Zero, Wolf, and Cove appliances are meticulously crafted to achieve a higher standard of performance, dependability, and style—so you can raise the bar on every meal you make.

Your future kitchen starts with Sub-Zero, Wolf, and Cove, featured at