






"If you want to make the world a better place, take a look at yourself and make the change!"
-Michael Jackson, "Man in the Mirror"Cedar Park is home to a myriad of inspiring men! I am thrilled to be a contributor to such a gracious community, teeming with these impressive gentlemen. Most of us can think of a special man in our lives that has influenced and inspired us. Being a role model and leading by example makes lasting impressions on those watching.
My father was one of my heroes. He led his peers in the business world, serving on the Board of Directors at a major electronics company, without having a college degree. He was a devoted husband, and always made time to be with the family and have fun with us in the great outdoors! I am truly thankful for the encouragement and strength passed onto me by my father because I know it has shaped my life in incredible ways. He taught me so much but most of all, he taught me what unconditional love is! As Frank Pittman once said in his "Ask Dr. Frank" column, "Fathering is not something perfect men do, but something that perfects the man."
This month, we are proud to honor a few leading men, and their contributions to the growth and overall health of our community.
Read about Cedar Park’s Chamber of Commerce President Tony Moline, who provides leadership to our business community; Jails to Jobs Executive Director Craig Moore, who helps criminal offenders overcome barriers and obstacles; and Lead Pastor at City Reach Church Chris Gilkey, who spends his life sharing with people how he became a Believer and helping lead them to discover God's purpose in their lives.
Check out Doc Ak’s SmileOntourage making beautiful smiles for all ages while playing in the orthodontist band RELAPSE, the growth of a chiropractic practice by four generations of Wright men, and how the owners of Jack Allen’s Kitchen created one of our town’s favorite restaurants!
To all of the men who are making a difference in someone’s life, we applaud you! Sending a special shout out to my loving husband Greg, who kept our blended family together with love!
Wishing all the men in your life, that you call Dad, a very cherished Father’s Day. May this special day fill you with never-ending joy!
PAM DUGDALE, PUBLISHER
@CEDARPARK_CITYLIFESTYLE
June 2023
PUBLISHER
Pam Dugdale | pam.dugdale@citylifestyle.com
EDITOR
Megan Marshall | megan.marshall@citylifestyle.com
PUBLICATION MANAGER
Greg Dugdale
STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Emily Schoolcraft
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Steven Schowengerdt
CHIEF SALES OFFICER Matthew Perry
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER DeLand Shore
DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL MEDIA Mindy Hargesheimer
ART DIRECTOR Sara Minor
OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Janeane Thompson
WEB APPLICATIONS Michael O’Connell
AD DESIGNER Josh Govero
LAYOUT DESIGNER Kelsey Ragain
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For CycleBar instructor Heather Hopkins Burns, there is magic that happens when working out in a dark room full of people. With April marking her 1,000th class taught at the Cedar Park location, she has been a longtime contributor to that magic. While she has taken part in many forms of group fitness over the last 14 years, cycling has been at the top of her list. Sign up now for Heather’s classes! cyclebar.com
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SmileOn Orthodontics ladies attend the Lucy Hobbs Project 2023
11 | CITYLIFESTYLE.COM/CEDARPARKTX JUNE 2023
When you walk into Cedar Park Barbershop, you take a step back in time. This is thanks to its authentic, old-fashioned feel that no other barbershop in the area offers. That means Cedar Park Barbershop is so much more than a place for a five-star haircut or beard trim—it’s a place for a five-star experience.
United States Marine Corps veteran Steve Wilson began his journey as a barber at The Barber School in Utah. After moving to Cedar Park, he decided to study at the nearby Roffler School of Hair Design. Mr. Lee and Sam Eichelberger attended the same school, where they all mastered the old-fashioned ways of barbering. But where Lee kicked off his career as a military barber in South Korea, Eichelberger was setting out to follow in her father’s and great-grandfather’s footsteps.
Alex Creel and Frankie Hernandez are both Texas natives. Creel picked up his first pair of clippers when he was just 14 before going to Baytown’s R&E Barber College. Hernandez studied at Lubbock Hair Academy before cutting the hair of professional sports stars. Both have become true craftsmen over the past near-20 years.
Ready to receive services from any of these extremely skilled barbers? Book your appointment online today at cedarparkbarbershop.com or stop on by 401 Cypress Creek Road, Suite 300 from Tuesday through Friday.
DOC AK DISCUSSES THE FUN OF BEING AN ORTHODONTIST WITH SMILEON AND LEAD SINGER OF RELAPSE
Your smile has the ability to match the happiness that you’re feeling on the inside with what you’re able to portray on the outside. But you might find yourself lacking the confidence to smile like you once did. That’s where SmileOn Orthodontics comes in. For Dr. Akash Pandya, also known as Doc Ak, the goal is to ignite that feeling of confidence in his patients.
“Often, a patient cries when we take everything off and reveal their new smile. They’re crying, I’m
crying, the assistant that helped them that day is crying… It’s amazing to witness,” says Doc Ak. “They walk down our hallway with the music blaring, the strobe light going, and the candy cart ready with their family members surrounding them. That moment, no matter how many times I experience it, is a testament to great teamwork by our team, but also with our patients in achieving something beautiful.”
Doc Ak wouldn’t be where he is today without the man who helped to align his teeth and put him on the road to a healthy smile. That man would go on to be his first boss out of grad school.
“Not only did he treat me, but he also treated my sister and my brother,” says Doc Ak. “He had four locations that surrounded my childhood home and employed over 35 people from my local community. He was the go-to orthodontist in our area because he made going to the orthodontist fun.”
Early on, Doc Ak knew that he wanted to level up the orthodontic experience. Today, his team does everything in their power to ensure that patients are well taken care of. That sense of care extends to the team, as well. The mission behind SmileOn was to make them not only feel good about the work they do, but about the place they are doing it in.
“It was important for Sej—my wife and co-owner of the practice—and I to create a home away from home for our team. We wanted to build a place that they looked forward to coming to; a place where they feel supported and heard; a place where they do important work and feel a sense of community and a sense of pride,” says Doc Ak. “We dubbed our team the SmileOntourage because we not only have our patients’ backs, we have each others’ backs.”
It isn’t just in his Cedar Park office that Doc Ak is getting to uplift people in his field. A year and a half ago, CONTINUED >
the lead male vocal spot opened up for the orthodontist cover band, RELAPSE. Doc Ak was honored to be asked to join.
“I was nervous because although I had sung with choirs growing up, was part of two a cappella groups in college, and still jam with my cousins when we get together, this was the first time I would be performing with a full band. And one in which the members live all across the country,” says Doc Ak.
The other five members of RELAPSE can be found at their practices in Tennessee, Utah, Arizona, Minnesota, and Dallas. Because of the geographic separation, everyone learns their own parts of a song, then rehearses together for the first time on the day before the show. Despite that, each show has gone without a hitch.
“We have had the opportunity to perform in some really great cities like Miami, Scottsdale, and Austin, and some really cool venues like the ARIA Hotel in Vegas. Our next show is at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago for the annual American Association of Orthodontics meeting, and we’re expecting 6,000 people. Later this year, we’ll be performing on a naval carrier in San Diego,” says Doc Ak. “I still pinch myself and can’t believe that I get to perform with my fellow bandmates. We may just be the only all-orthodontist band in the world!”
If you are in need of orthodontic work, head to 1785 E Whitestone Blvd #200, Cedar Park or smileonortho.com for a guaranteed stellar time with Doc Ak and the SmileOntourage.
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2201 Double Creek Dr Suite 3002 Round Rock, TX 78664-3836 512-296-2089
recognizes that he has big shoes to fill. As the Greater Austin area and the healthcare landscape continue to evolve, he is committed to furthering the practice with the opening of their second branch and is excited to see it grow from the ground up.
In 1920, the first commercial radio station began broadcasting. The first League of Nations meeting was held. Women were allowed the right to vote. Across the United States, the Roaring Twenties was gearing up. And Dr. J. Stanley Wright was opening the doors to the first Wright Family Chiropractic in Austin, Texas, where he would go on to care for the community for 65 years and pass down his legacy.
“We are a generational practice and see families who have been coming to our office for decades,” says Dr. Tyler Wright. “One of the coolest parts of my job is speaking with patients who have had direct interactions with my grandfather, and sometimes my great-grandfather, and how their lives were changed for the better. Knowing that my family has had such an impact on so many people has to be one of the most rewarding aspects of my job.”
Over ten decades after Wright Family Chiropractic’s founding, Tyler works alongside his father, Dr. James “Billy” Wright. Seeing how much his dad helps people on a daily basis, Tyler
“The city has expanded exponentially since our opening. Another reason we expanded into Cedar Park is to be closer to existing patients that could no longer make the long drive into central Austin,” says Tyler. “I have learned so much in two years about practice management because we took this step so early in my career. I know that my ability to provide the best services possible will benefit greatly from everything that I’m learning now.”
Tyler hasn’t just learned the tricks of the trade through his experience at Wright Family Chiropractic, however. Following in his father’s footsteps, Tyler attended Baylor University—a campus that he was drawn to from a young age, watching football games. After completing undergrad as a Medical Humanities major, he went to chiropractic school for 10 semesters.
“I’ve always had an interest in healthcare. It was fascinating to take so many courses that taught us how the body works and how complicated things truly are,” says Tyler. “A part of chiropractic that really drew me in is the fact that it’s a drugless and conservative profession that seeks to treat a variety of neuromusculoskeletal issues that don’t respond well to general medical care. In our office, we are helping patients stay out of pain and stay off dangerous drugs while avoiding risky surgeries.”
Since kicking off his career, Tyler has found a passion for meeting people where they are and helping them in their quest to get where they
want to go. His favorite part of being a chiropractor is, in fact, the people. That extends beyond his patients and to anyone interested in learning about the field, including elementary schoolers during Career Day. Tyler has had the opportunity to share his most rewarding experiences as a chiropractor with those students.
“At the beginning of the presentation, I asked them to raise their hands if they have ever heard of a chiropractor. Most of the kids raised their hands,” says Tyler. “When I asked if any had seen a chiropractor themselves, there were quite a few that kept their hands raised. It shows that chiropractic as a profession has become more mainstream over the past decade.”
There are many reasons to visit a chiropractor and so much to learn about what they do. If you are interested in discovering how Dr. Tyler Wright and Dr. Billy Wright can improve your quality of life, visit them at their Cedar Park location at 200 Buttercup Creek Blvd #106 or online at wrightfamilychiroaustin.com
After high school, Turner Barnett wasn’t sure about his direction in life. Instead of immediately going to college, he packed his bags and hopped on the first plane to Spain. While traveling alone for three months, he immersed himself in the Spanish culture and language.
“When I got back to Austin, I had ideas of becoming a doctor. After several volunteer experiences, I realized that one of the most integral aspects of servicing someone is effective communication,” says Barnett. “From then on, I focused on my ability to communicate with the Spanish speakers around me, which has been infinitely rewarding.”
But with his father’s cancer diagnosis and later passing, along with the COVID-19 shutdown, Barnett’s future continued to be unclear. He shifted from pre-med to chemistry, then to studying Spanish. Upon graduating in May 2020, Barnett was looking left and right for opportunities for work, and Integra Insurance Services spoke to him.
“My first day at Integra is one of my favorite memories. I drove all the way to Lufkin. Out in ‘the sticks,’ I expected some good ol’ fashioned Texans, and that’s what I got,” says Barnett. “What I didn’t expect, however, was the beautiful workspace that immediately separated itself from the businesses around it.”
Barnett was also amazed by how the Integra staff knew the lives of everyone who walked into the office. It was important to him to have the ability to always be by the side of his clients, and Integra placed a lot of trust in him to achieve that.
“Integra has enabled me to volunteer for my community during the week,” says Barnett. “I’m pushed to connect with my neighbors, friends, business owners, and community members in a way I never would’ve with a desk job.”
integrainsuranceservices.com
When taking the time to honor the father figures in your life, show them how much you care by finding the perfect gift. From practical items to sentimental keepsakes to presents that come as a complete surprise, there is something out there to fit every dad’s personality and interests. Draw inspiration from top-of-the-line brands to make the occasion one to remember!
Have you ever received a knock at the door at two AM from someone saying that your cows are running down the road? Michael Langford experienced this while growing up on a dairy farm in the Pacific Northwest.
“There are few jobs like working on a dairy farm. It’s one of those occupations that is so dependent on the people running it that it commands all of your time and energy,” says Langford. “Living on the farm for the majority of my childhood had the biggest impact on my work ethic.”
Because no one around Langford was ever in sales, it was a foreign concept to him. That was until becoming a car salesman at BMW made him rethink his outlook.
“I learned to help people at a higher level, with excellence through a process,” says Langford. “I sort of felt called to get into real estate. Now that I have been doing this for the better part of a decade, I’ve found that serving in buying or selling clients’ homes is much more rewarding.”
Langford recalls his time with an older widow named Sam who was tired of her retirement going down the rental drain. He spent months searching for a home close to Sam’s family and helping her regain hope until receiving their offer acceptance call. She still lives in that house and loves it.
“My job is to add value to the people,” says Langford. “I get to serve people in the community that are walking through a major transaction in life. That’s a lot of weight to bear at times. But if done correctly and at a high level of excellence, it’s extremely rewarding.”
Langford is grateful to live in Central Texas. He enjoys hill country hikes, Lake Travis sunsets, and raising his children here. He resonates with the saying: “I may have not been born here, but I got here as soon as I could!”
Michael Langford’s accolades are a representation of the people that he helps navigate the local real estate market. Through his commitment to integrity and consistency, he has earned titles that include Top Producer at Realty Austin, Top 500 agent in Central Texas, and Diamond Club Top Producer. Despite his gratitude for such recognitions, Langford knows that once you put your trophy on the shelf and add it to your email signature, it’s time to get back to work.
INSTAGRAM: @MICHAELLANGFORD_
FACEBOOK: @MICHAELLANGFORDRA
WEBSITE: REALTYAUSTIN.COM/AGENTS/MICHAEL-LANGFORD
At Jack Allen’s Kitchen, you are greeted with pimento cheese and homemade crackers. For Jack Gilmore and Tom Kamm, it’s all about setting the standard within those first few minutes. But their emphasis on hospitality extends far beyond their fresh, locally-sourced menu.
“Our goal is to develop people in the next generation of restauranteurs and wish them the best of luck,” says Kamm. “You have to want to take care of people and create a great work environment. We have over 700 families that are dependent on us and we don’t forget that.”
Despite having made names for themselves in the local restaurant scene, Gilmore and Kamm came from humble beginnings. At 15, Gilmore bussed tables while Kamm faced the Dairy Queen lunch rushes. While both expected to go on different paths in life, the hospitality industry was in their blood.
“Before Jack Allen’s, I had known Tom for 19 years. By year 10, we had planned on opening our own restaurant, but never had the money. In the meantime, we kept learning the craft,” says Gilmore. “We designed restaurants, built them, opened them— all on someone else’s dime. We even went to school on someone else’s dime to know what we needed to do.”
In 2009, following a 15-minute investor meeting, everything fell into place. That August, Gilmore and Kamm found a location. By October, they quit their executive restaurant jobs. And come December, the two were officially owners of their first Jack Allen’s in Oak Hill. Now, 14 years later, they are on track to open their sixth location.
“Each location is positioned about nine miles apart, which is perfect,” says Gilmore. “We don’t want to be the best restaurant
in every city—we want to be your favorite. It’s not uncommon for our guests to eat lunch at one restaurant and dinner at another.”
Jack Allen’s is embedded in the community. Gilmore, Kamm, and their teams cultivate that community by supporting local fire departments, police, and military members. Since their start, they have also raised over one million dollars for the Lone Star Paralysis Foundation with proceeds from their queso sales and other community initiatives.
“Last August, right before school started, we even invited every teacher in the community to have free lunch with us,” says Kamm. “It starts with staying humble. In whatever form hospitality takes in the future, it’s still the same.”
At 1345 E Whitestone Blvd, you can look forward to original dishes, frozen margaritas, and top-tier customer service. VISIT JAK IN CEDAR PARK!LEVEL UP YOUR GAME ROOM WITH THE BEST IN HOME ENTERTAINMENT FROM AUSTIN BILLIARDS
BY MEGAN MARSHALL | PHOTOGRAPHY BY AUSTIN BILLIARDS
Eric Teggeman was introduced to pool in the 1940s. In the back room of his father’s grocery store, he saw men gathering and socializing while playing pool and other games. And while he enjoyed the experience, it wasn’t until after his time serving in the Air Force that he would truly find his passion. Come 1971, Eric decided to open Austin Billiards, where his son, Jim, would grow up. Jim continues to honor his father’s legacy as the current owner of Austin Billiards, bringing his dream of having a combined showroom and warehouse into a reality. From foosball to darts to—of course—pool tables, this family-fueled business has it all.
Visit Austin Billiards at 9514 Anderson Mill Rd, Austin or online at austinbilliards.com .
Nothing describes summer better than a good cookout! And what is a cookout without a good, quality steak and the perfect grilling recipe?
1. Thaw and acclimate the steak. For searing to occur, the proteins in steak need to be heated to at least 310°F. Tossing cold meat onto a hot grill lowers the temperature and can prevent a crust from forming, so it’s important that any frozen steaks are thawed completely before cooking.
2. Salt your steak 30-45 minutes before grilling. This causes the salt to draw moisture from within the steak up to the surface, where it dissolves the salt and creates a brine that gets reabsorbed into the steak where it breaks down tough connective tissues.
3. Oil the grate on the grill, not the steak. Use tongs and a paper towel dipped in vegetable oil to lube your grates.
4. Manage your heat well. Remember that your grill needs to be hot for your steak to get a good sear. But if it’s hot enough to cause your oil to smoke, it’s too hot.
5. Use the 60/40 rule. The best-tasting steaks are seared on both sides and cooked evenly in the middle. The simplest way to do that is to only flip your steak once. The 60/40 rule suggests that 60% of your cook time should be spent on one side, and 40% on the other.
6. Keep the lid closed. It may be tempting to peek, but trust the experts and keep it shut! Opening the lid makes your grill lose heat, which makes steaks cook unevenly.
7. Check for doneness. A meat thermometer will give you the most accurate temperature reading:
• Rare: 120°F
• Medium Rare: 130°F
• Medium: 140°F
• Medium Well: 150°F
• Well: 160°F
8. Let your steak rest. Pull your steaks from the grill once they’re cooked to 5-10 degrees below your target temperature and rest for 10-15 minutes.
In 2012, Tony Moline was appointed to the Cedar Park Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee soon after joining the Chamber to represent the business district. He values being part of the “Clearinghouse of Information” for the community, helping not just businesses, but also non-profits, the school district, and the city at large.
“Being able to convey important information to each of these organizations is vital for our community as a whole,” says Moline. “I have lived in other places. Most of us in Cedar Park have, but we have short memories. The things that make Cedar Park great are the things that many other places don’t have.”
On top of serving on task forces and committees, Moline has been on the boards of the Texas Association of Business and the Texas Chamber of Commerce Executives for several years. This has allowed him to have input and gather information at the state and federal levels.
“The city has seen an explosion of businesses from The Parke and Costco, to great restaurants, to being the hub for healthcare in Western Williamson County,” says Moline. “It has truly been a blessing to watch this community grow.”
cedarparkchamber.org
After years as a misdemeanor and felony prosecutor, Craig Moore wanted to help youth in the criminal justice system. He achieves this with Jail to Jobs—an organization committed to reducing recidivism through employment-based mentoring services.
“My favorite memory was when I had a one-on-one conversation with a young man that went through our program who told me about the impact that Jail to Jobs had on his life. There was no one else in the room at the time,” says Moore.
While Moore appreciates the big events and opportunities to connect with supporters, the sincere moments of reflection and gratitude with participants are most meaningful to him.
“Empowerment doesn’t mean that we’ll remove the barriers and obstacles in a young person’s life,” says Moore. “It means that we will help a young person realize what needs to be done in order to overcome those barriers and obstacles.”
jailtojobs.com
While serving in the U.S. Marine Corps, Chris Gilkey’s daughter was bitten by a rattlesnake, resulting in her lower leg needing to be amputated. Although he had not grown up with a close relationship with God, it was then that Jesus came to him in a vision.
“He promised to heal my daughter and use my life for His purpose to tell people everywhere about His love and grace,” says Gilkey. “I have been doing just that for 25 years.”
Gilkey has surrounded himself with genuine people in pursuit of a true relationship with God through City Reach Church. He hopes to help and serve the amazing people of this area to make a difference in their lives.
“We have a saying at our church: Forget Religion, Find God. That statement is at the core of who we are as a family,” says Gilkey.
cityreachchurch.com
A curated selection of the most intriguing upcoming events in our area.
2100 AVE OF THE STARS, CEDAR PARK, TX 78613
Come out to the H-E-B Center at Cedar Park for a special shopping experience. Vintage Market Day will be presenting its spring event entitled Lovely Day. Expect to see upscale, vintage-inspired original art, clothing, home decor, seasonal plantings, and so much more. This event offers a unique opportunity for vendors to display their talents in venues throughout the country. vintagemarketdays.com
Old Town Street Festival presented by ACDI
100 N BRUSHY ST, LEANDER, TX 78641 | 11:00 AM
You cannot miss out on the popular Old Town Street Festival in Leander's Old Town District. This year's headliner is Texas country singer-songwriter, Dale Watson. Listen to live music all day while participating in family-friendly activities fit for adults and children. You also get to enjoy a variety of food vendors, and local and regional wineries and breweries. oldtownstreetfestival.com
GRAND JUNCTION, CO
Heroes Night Out is headed to Colorado! Veterans and first responders from the United States, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Norway, and Australia are coming together in a joint event with Fox Bravo Overland. They will compete in physical and mental activities for prizes while on the road. Consider donating to provide an unforgettable adventure for these heroes. heroesnightout.org
JUNE 16TH
2310 BRUSHY CREEK RD, CEDAR PARK, TX 78613 | 5:00 PM
Do you love skateboarding? Register to take part in Go Skateboarding Day at Brushy Creek Skate Park! The evening kicks off with a game of SKATE for children ages 12 and under. Then, you can participate in the street competition and bowl contest. Just keep in mind that waivers and helmets are required to compete. cedarparktexas.gov
2051 CYPRESS CREEK RD, SUITE Q, CEDAR PARK, TX 78613
Children ages 7 to 10 can spend the week honing their passion for dance with Art Beat Dance Studio. During the ABDC Mini-Intensive, they will be exposed to multiple genres, including ballet, tap, jazz, and hip-hop. The camp culminates in a demonstration of choreography. Check out Art Beat Dance Studio's website for more fun youth summer camp opportunities. artbeatdancecenter.com
JUNE 24TH & 25TH
2100 AVE OF THE STARS, CEDAR PARK, TX 78613
This year, the Greater Austin Comic Con promises to be bigger and better. Between the cosplay contests, gaming competitions, superhero-themed car show, and fantastic vendors, there is so much to be entertained by at this event. You might even get to meet your favorite TV stars or comic book creators! Purchase single-day or two-day passes for your family. greateraustincomiccon.com