Affordable Child Care Starts Here
Driven by Purpose
We all know the age old image: a single drop in the ocean sending ripples far and wide across the sea. One act of kindness spreading infectiously through a community. One decision that impacts the entire trajectory of someone’s life. One person’s dream creating generations of legacy and impact for others.
Every day we make decisions that affect the world, and there are some people that take that responsibility seriously. It’s apparent in their stories and their families and the meaning they’ve made of their lives. This month, we’re highlighting some of those people.
This Gentlemen’s Issue serves as a spotlight for men in our community who are making change in their corner of the world. They are nonprofit leaders, business men, motivators, fathers, changemakers and they embody qualities that support our Chula Vista community – caring for your neighbors, putting family first, doubling down on personal growth, embracing fatherhood, building a legacy, and more. These men represent what it means to be driven by purpose.
As we move into the summer season and the days get warmer, longer, and more lively, let’s remember to celebrate those in our community who show us what it means to be a good leader. We have much to learn from the people in these pages and the people around us, if we take the time to look.
SARAH KRUEGER, EDITOR @CHULAVISTACITYLIFESTYLE
June 2026
PUBLISHER
Andrea Malave | andrea.malave@citylifestyle.com
EDITOR
Sarah Krueger | sarah.krueger@citylifestyle.com
STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Joaquin Suarez | hellojoaquinsuarez@gmail.com
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER
RaeLynn Fuson
Corporate Team
CEO Steven Schowengerdt
President Matthew Perry
COO David Stetler
CRO Jamie Pentz
CoS Janeane Thompson
AD DESIGNER Rachel Kolich
LAYOUT DESIGNER Adam Finley
QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Megan Cagle
Proverbs 3:5-6
city scene
WHERE NEIGHBORS CAN SEE AND BE SEEN
1 – 2: Attendees learn about dementia care tips and managing caregiver stress at the George G. Glenner Alzheimer’s Family Centers’ Caregiver Expo 3: Darryll T. Coleman partnering at the Financial Planning and Generational Wealth Building Seminar 4 – 7: Partners gather together to network at the Chula Vista City Lifestyle Monthly Mixer hosted by Cross Border Xpress (CBX)
SOWING THE SEEDS OF EDUCATION
THE RIPPLE EFFECT OF SUPPORTING FAMILIES IN THEIR EARLIEST YEARS
ARTICLE BY SARAH KRUEGER PHOTOGRAPHY
PROVIDED BY
CDA
For more than 50 years, Child Development Associates (CDA) has made a lasting impact on the lives of working families, creating positive change in the local community by supporting children, families, and childcare providers. Beginning right here in Chula Vista as a family business, the organization has grown from a small one-room preschool in Otay Mesa to serving tens of thousands of families and childcare providers across California. CEO Rick Richardson shares that CDA employees are deeply committed to supporting a thriving ecosystem of education and workforce development: “We believe
that all families deserve equal access to supportive services that will promote children’s healthy development and future family success,” he says.
Rick’s passion for this work stems from his childhood. Growing up, his family didn’t have much. “It really starts with my personal experience with childhood poverty and my mother’s struggles as a single parent.” Rick was a latch-key kid, which meant long stretches of time alone while his mom worked and went to college classes at Southwestern and later, SDSU. Though there were some difficult years, his mother taught him a lot about public service—that communities and organizations can make a real difference by lifting up people who are in need.
“This work feels very personal to me. We’re helping families like me and my mother gain safety, stability, and opportunity to reach their full potential.”
Rick’s mother founded CDA in 1974 as a single preschool in Otay Mesa, committed to her desire to help families like her own. During his college years at San Diego State, Rick worked at a CDA preschool supporting his mother’s dream. Following college, he spent 23 years serving the country through active duty service in the US Army, living all around the world before coming back home to San Diego.
In 2011, Rick returned to CDA to pursue his passion for education and public service. Today, he’s the CEO, running a thriving organization with 374 employees, supporting over 20,000 low-income families in San Diego County, and taking his mother’s original mission far beyond her wildest dreams.
BUILDING A BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR CHULA VISTA AND BEYOND
The mission of Child Development Associates is to empower and promote the well-being of families, childcare providers, and the greater community through financial and support services. At its core, CDA enables parents of
young children to work, finish school, and build stability by providing access to affordable childcare, and it enables childcare providers to offer nutritious meals and effective programming for students throughout the community.
The extra support received by families and childcare providers means that the ecosystem of quality childcare in our community is stronger, more cohesive, and designed to support greater opportunities for the futures of children and families.
GOOD FOR EVERYONE
A thriving childcare ecosystem has a wildly impactful ripple effect on society. When parents can afford high-quality care and early education, they have the time and resources to pursue their own stability through school, college degrees, full-time work, and family care. When families are self-sufficient and successful, the entire community benefits.
A child raised in a supportive and sturdy environment is more likely to perform better in school, opening doors to greater higher education or career opportunities in the future. More stable families result in employers with reliable, focused, and dedicated employees they can count on. If employers are operating successful
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businesses with dedicated and resourced employees, then more jobs are created and more opportunities are available for future families. More businesses means more taxes for Chula Vista, providing more of the resources necessary for thriving communities. The wellbeing of our communities as a whole is profoundly interconnected, and access to quality early education and childcare sits at the center of it all.
A BROKEN MARKET
The biggest challenge that families face right now when it comes to childcare, Rick says, is that they simply cannot afford to pay what it actually costs. At the same time, childcare providers cannot survive being paid what families can afford. It’s a broken market.
The solution isn’t simple. Quality childcare isn’t something easily automated or made more efficient with technology. It takes a good deal of resources to care for children well, which is why it is such a costly service. This gap—between what providers can offer and what families can afford—is where CDA comes in.
PLANTING SEEDS FOR THE FUTURE
Rick keeps an acorn seed on his desk to remind him that his work is all about planting seeds. “It’s not about me or you.
It’s about how many seeds you can plant, how many trees and plants will grow from those seeds, and then how those plants create more seeds and more growth, causing a ripple effect in the community.”
Planting seeds in the community is something Rick does well. Through his family legacy at CDA, his involvement in the Chula Vista Community Foundation, his role as Commissioner on the San Diego County First Five Commission, and his position as an officer on the Child Care and Development Planning Council, his impact spans far and wide. His focus is on building systems of support so that our already great community can become even greater in the future. Despite everything focused on dividing us in our world right now, Rick finds that sitting down with people and asking, “what are we going to do for our children?” has the power to unite us for the future.
What’s next for Rick? He says that it’s leaving his legacy equipped to create positive change for the long run. “One of my focuses right now is growing the next generation to lead and operate CDA. I want to leave a team that doesn’t skip a beat when I retire. Who not only keeps CDA going but makes it better and better and better. We’ve been around 50 years, I want to be around 50 more.”
Rick and his family enjoying time away in the desert
UNWAVERING RESOLVE
ARTICLE BY SARAH KRUEGER | PHOTOGRAPHY
PROVIDED BY JORGE ALVAREZ
FROM MEXICO
CITY TO SAN DIEGO,
JORGE ALVAREZ IS REDEFINING WHAT IT MEANS TO INVEST IN COMMUNITY THROUGH ACTION,
RESILIENCE, AND EMBRACING CHANGE
Jorge Alvarez is a man of action. Where others may spend days, months, or years planning their next move, Jorge jumps in head first.
From the time he was 16 years old, Jorge considered himself an entrepreneur. Throughout his life he’s started roughly 14 businesses across all kinds of industries—marketing, imports, retail, fitness, real estate, and more. Many of the 14 were very successful while some, he says, not so much. Through it all he has learned valuable lessons from every challenge: that consistency, learning from your mistakes, and surrounding yourself with the right people is what gets you through.
Jorge’s story starts in Mexico City, where he grew up. He met his wife, a San Diego native, in Cancun. When she moved to Mexico City for college, they began dating and eventually married. For seven years Jorge and his wife were successful in Mexico City, running businesses and building a life for themselves. Jorge shares that as their success rose, their safety in Mexico City began to become more of a concern. When it was time to have children, they decided to move back to the United States to settle down and grow a family. In 2014, they put down roots in San Diego.
After nearly a decade of growth in Mexico, this move shook things up for Jorge. Language barriers, cultural differences, and new business meant that he needed to dig deep to find his way through. His learning curve was steep, though, and it wasn’t long before he began to establish himself. After a number of learning experiences, “failed” businesses, and pivots, he entered the world of real estate. This is where his success really started to grow. Within the first 9 months of his real estate career, he became “Rookie of the Year” at his global real estate firm. Today, Jorge continues to thrive as a successful realtor with Compass realty, working with clients both here in California and across the border in Mexico.
Along his journey, Jorge has learned many important lessons. Here’s just a few:
1. Family Comes First. Everything Jorge does is for his family. He and his wife have been married 19 years and he has three children: a 10-year-old daughter, 12-year-old daughter and a 14-year-old son. When asked his definition of success, his answer was quick and unwavering: “Success for me is family. It’s having kids that want to spend time with you. It’s walking into your house and your family is happy to see you. It’s being together.”
2. Focus on Your Sphere of Influence. When Jorge first came to San Diego he got into the gym business. In that industry, he wasn’t immediately successful. In fact, the gyms he owned were losing money. What he built during this chapter, though, was a strong network. The people he surrounded himself with—restaurant owners, local business owners, students— helped link him to others that offered support, connections, and valuable insight to help him pivot to his future venture in real estate. The lesson? Pay attention to who is in your sphere of influence and build your network with intention.
3. Do your Research. Some of the failed business attempts in Jorge’s story came about because he rushed into something without proper analysis. Understanding the market will help you delineate between what is a lucrative opportunity and what isn’t. Make sure to always run the numbers before diving in. Once you have them, though, don’t wait too long before acting on it.
4. Pick the Right People. A significant element to being successful comes from choosing the right partners. Someone may seem wonderful in business, but struggle internally in ways that will impact the people around them. Others may seem like they aren’t a good fit, but over time you learn they have integrity and character. Remember that you can never judge a book by its cover. Pick the people you trust.
5. Take Action. Jorge is not one to wait around. Once the initial research is done on a business venture or decision, he doesn’t spend time thinking about it. If the numbers are good, he goes in with his full energy. This, he says, is what makes him stand out from other realtors. Quick decisions, avoiding toxic people, staying away from drama, and fixing situations immediately as they arise keep him moving forward.
6. Diversify Your Income Streams. The reality behind the real estate industry is that it isn’t easy. Sometimes income is inconsistent, and it requires high level pipeline building and steady high-effort. While his primary role is as a realtor, Jorge branches out into other areas to ensure stability for his family. Whether it’s development, flipping homes, or multi-family investments, finding ways to hedge risks means his success is more stable long term.
Amidst being a highly successful entrepreneur, business owner, and realtor, What’s most important to Jorge isn’t the measure of his properties, deals, or money. “That’s not what’s important to me. It’s the people around me that are important.” For him, it’s about the life he’s building beyond his businesses. One that is defined by courageous action, intention, learning from his challenges, and investing in the people who matter most.
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ONE man’s TRANSFORMATION
And the gym that got him there
ARTICLE BY SARAH KRUEGER PHOTOGRAPHY BY THE CAMP TRANSFORMATION CENTER
At first glance, a high-energy, bootcamp-style gym might seem like a place designed for the already motivated. The early risers, the seasoned athletes, or the ones who thrive on competition. But at The Camp Transformation Center in Chula Vista, the story is far more inclusive. Whether you’re chasing peak performance or simply searching for a place to begin, The Camp Transformation Center meets you exactly where you are.
Originally opening as a place to help people stay consistent on their individual health and fitness journeys, The Camp (as it’s affectionately referred to) has transformed into something much deeper. While people are actively participating in fitness challenges and crushing their goals, they are also becoming part of a community. Members are referred to as part of the “Awesome Fit Family”–or AFF– and pride themselves on their commitment to encouraging greatness in one another, having fun, and celebrating wins both big and small.
Matt Reilly, owner of The Camp Transformation Center in Chula Vista, knows firsthand just how transformational The Camp can be. For him, the work he does there is personal.
Matt found the Camp Transformation Center during one of the lowest periods in his life.
After losing both of his parents in quick succession, enduring the breakdown of his marriage, and figuring out life as a single father, he found himself overwhelmed, disconnected, and deeply depressed. He would often get home from work and fall asleep for the entire evening, leaving school projects, nutritious dinners, and extracurriculars for his kids by the wayside. “It was killing me,” Matt remembers. “At that time in my life, I knew that wasn’t who I wanted to be. I knew I wasn’t who my parents wanted me to be, or the type of father I wanted to be, but I just couldn’t snap out of it.”
Matt on the left, post transformation
Then one day, he came across an ad for The Camp Transformation Center. Like many, he had tried traditional large gyms before, hoping that discipline alone would spark change in his life. But it hadn’t. Nothing so far had seemed to really work.
This ad offered the original Camp Transformation signature challenge—lose 20 pounds in 6 weeks and get your money back. He signed up for the challenge, figuring he would work hard, get his money back, and move on with his life. Little did he know that this one decision would change everything about his life.
Matt’s experience at The Camp wasn’t instant magic. The workouts were tough and most mornings he would wake up sore and uncomfortable. In the first week he only lost one pound, and nearly all of his motivation with it. But his coaches encouraged him to keep at it, despite wanting to quit.
Though skeptical, he continued. At the end of each class, the two guys working out beside him would offer a fist bump and a single question: “You coming tomorrow?” The next morning when he woke up sore and unmotivated, it was this promise to his workout buddies that got him out of bed and into the gym, day after day. Soon, one week passed, then two, then three, and his momentum grew. His small wins began to stack and when he rounded the 6 week mark, Matt had met his goal. He was hooked. He asked his coach if he could join another challenge, and he met that goal, too.
It wasn’t long before Matt noticed something bigger than his weight changing. Rather than getting home and collapsing into bed, he found himself with an abundance of energy in the evenings. Now he was the one calling his kids downstairs to spend time together, going to the store, and cooking dinner, rather than the other way around. He almost didn’t recognize his old self anymore. His zest for life was back.
“This is the only gym I’ve ever gone to that I’ve actually enjoyed going to. The only one that worked. I was getting results, meeting new people, feeling better. That’s when everything shifted.”
The Camp Transformation Center helped Matt grow in every area of his life—physically, mentally, emotional, spiritually. It helped him realize that it’s not only about fitness, but about decisions that affect your whole life. He used to feel comfortable with the idea of living for just 20 more years. These days, he has grandchildren and a renewed sense of purpose. His goals for his life have completely changed.
After years of being a member, Matt took it to the next level. Today, he owns the Camp Transformation Center in Chula Vista and El Cajon and infuses these philosophies into every class. Workouts are led by experienced trainers and challenges are designed to support people at all fitness levels. Whether you can’t do a single pushup or you prefer to go “beast mode,” everything is structured so that people can simply show up and do the work. There is no guesswork, shaming, or intimidation, just a clear path forward to help people work on their their fitness and reclaim their life. Most importantly, they do it with a community of support behind them. For people like Matt, that’s the thing that makes all the difference.
The Camp Transformation Center in Chula Vista offers group challenges to improve lives through fitness and community support. Every weekday there are classes most hours, on the hour - 6am, 7am, 8am, 9am, 4pm, 5pm, 6pm, and 7pm, and Saturday mornings at 7am, 8am, and 9am.
The 6-Week Transformation Program helps people begin their journey into fitness and weightloss.
Elite Strength training offers semiprivate customized training focused specifically on building strength.
The Peak Physique Program is for those ready to put in the toughest work.
And a Membership offers you access to the entire community.
If community support, group classes, nononsense discipline, and high levels of support and accountability are what you’re looking for, your next transformation awaits you at The Camp.
The Camp Transformation Center Offers Something for Everyone
More than just a gym, we are a family. At The Camp Transformation Center Chula Vista, we pair our proprietary 6-Week Transformation Program with the unwavering support of our 'Awesome Fit Family' (AFF). With expert nutrition and workouts that evolve with you, we provide the community encouragement you need to meet your weight loss goals and discover your true potential.
AN EXCERPT FROM EPISODE 6 OF SHARE THE LIFESTYLE, A CITY LIFESTYLE PODCAST
Photographer: Brittany Dawn Short
Creative Director: Jen Birn
Stylist: Stephanie Coultress O’Neill
Location: Hotel Saint Cecilia, Austin, TX
MIKE JOHNSON HAS BUILT HIS LIFE AROUND ONE QUIETLY RADICAL IDEA: THE STANDARD YOU SET PRIVATELY IS THE ONLY ONE THAT MATTERS.
After eight years in the Air Force, a celebrated run on national television, and a health crisis abroad that sent him deep into supply chains and ingredient certifications most founders never touch, the result is Oshun — a luxury ritual brand built on provenance you can trace and integrity you can verify. In an exclusive conversation for the Share the Lifestyle podcast, Mike shares what it actually takes to build something worth putting your name on. Read the highlights below, then scan the QR code for the full episode.
Q: YOU BECAME A FAN FAVORITE ON THE BACHELORETTE AND THEN LEFT THE SPOTLIGHT. YOU MOVED TO MEXICO, LEARNED SPANISH, THEN COSTA RICA, AND BUILT A COMPANY. WHAT DID THAT EXPERIENCE TEACH YOU ABOUT HUMAN BEHAVIOR?
A: “If you’re a good person going in, that shows. If you’re not, that shows too. I also learned that people form this parasocial relationship with you — they assume things about you. When all actuality, different circumstances bring out different parts of who you are. I was on TV trying to find love. The kindness people were showing after felt a bit fake, because they wanted to be a part of something that isn’t who I am individually, but a part of what they saw on TV. And so I had to get away from everybody and everything and the noise.”
THE QUIET STANDARD:
MIKE JOHNSON
“Too many people have prayed for me. So I’ve got to get up and do the walking.”
— Mike Johnson
Q: YOU JOINED THE AIR FORCE RIGHT OUT OF COMMUNITY COLLEGE. WHAT WERE YOU ACTUALLY RUNNING TOWARD?
A: “There was something in me that was saying: I’m not living up to my full potential. I was being a follower. My uncle said, ‘What’s going to make you become an adult the fastest?’ I said, obviously, the military. The Air Force broadened my thought process more than anything. We’re so caught up in our own perception — when you learn to understand different people’s perspectives, it adds to you in so many ways.”
Q: WITH OSHUN, YOU OWN YOUR MANUFACTURING, YOU EMPLOY A CHEMIST, EVERY PRODUCT HAS A BATCH NUMBER TRACEABLE TO ITS ORIGIN DATE. WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO GO THAT DEEP WITH THE BRAND?
A: “The EU bans 1,100 ingredients in personal care products. The U.S. bans nine. That’s my starting point. Oftentimes, it might be the same ingredient, but it comes from a place where it doesn’t have the highest purity. And 60% of what we put on our skin is absorbed. Every product Oshun makes carries a batch number that goes back to the exact day it was created — I can show you every single supplier, the date, the origin. I own more than one part of the supply chain because that’s the only way I can stand behind what’s in the bottle.”
This conversation is just the beginning. Mike goes deeper into why he’s buying land up north, the family in the Philippines who prayed over his factory floor, and what he’d tell every person ready to stop performing and start building. Scan the QR code for the full, exclusive City Lifestyle interview on the Share the Lifestyle podcast.
MIKE JOHNSON
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JUNE 2026
A SELECTION OF UPCOMING LOCAL EVENTS
JUNE 1ST
23rd Annual Chula Vista Chamber Golf Tournament
Country Club of Rancho Bernardo12280 Greens East Rd, San Diego, CA 92128 | 8:30 AM
Join the Chamber for their annual tournament and networking. Includes registration, breakfast, auction, awards, cocktails, and buffet. Register at web.chulavistachamber.org/events
JUNE 7TH
Music in the Park
Memorial Park - 373 Park Way, Chula Vista, CA 91910 | 4:00 PM
Family fun, activities, and music by Grooveline San Diego - funk, rock, R&B, and soul. Bring your blankets, lawn chairs, and loved ones. Music starts at 5pm. This event is made possible in part by the City of Chula Vista and the Performing and Visual Arts Grant.
JUNE 8TH – AUGUST 7TH
Wildlife Camps at the Living Coast Discovery Center
Living Coast Discovery Center1000 Gunpowder Point Dr, Chula Vista, CA 91910 | 8:00 AM
Established in 2010, Wildlife Camps at the Living Coast offer day camps for students in grades Pre-K through 6th. The camp is situated at the Living Coast Discovery Center, a nonprofit zoo and aquarium located on the San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge. More info at thelivingcoast.org/WildlifeCamps
JUNE 14TH
A Day at the Park
Bayfront Park - 980 Marina Way, Chula Vista, CA 91910 | 11:00 AM
A free, family-friendly event organized by the Port of San Diego. Zumba, Folklorico, delicious food, face painting, inflatables, and children’s activities offer a day for the whole family to enjoy. Free parking and shuttles available from the Chula Vista Public Library. More information at portofsandiego.org/events
JUNE 21ST
Father’s Day
Everywhere | 8:00 AM
Enjoy a beautiful day with the dad’s in your life! Fire up a BBQ, go to the zoo, play catch, or watch his favorite movie. Whatever it is that makes the day special for the fathers in your life is the way to go.
JUNE 26TH
Chula Vista Chamber 99th Annual Installation
Dinner & Gala
Gaylord Pacific Resort & Convention Center
The Chula Vista Chamber of Commerce hosts its 99th Annual Installation Dinner & Gala, themed “Tides of Time.” The event celebrates 99 years of legacy, featuring the installation of new leadership, awards, and reception. RSVP by June 18th. Details at web. chulavistachamber.org/events
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CLIENT FOCUSED. RESULTS DRIVEN.
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AWARD WINNING TRIAL ATTORNEY
ARTICLE BY SARAH KRUEGER PHOTOGRAPHY BY RAELYNN FUSON
OLD FASHIONED WAY
There’s something about a low lit room and the taste of oaky bourbon that makes this timeless classic the perfect go-to nightcap. Simple. Smooth. Straightforward. At home or on the town, this one is always a winner.
Ingredients:
• 2oz Bourbon Whiskey
• 1 Large Ice Cube or Sphere
• Pure Cane Sugar Cube
• 2 Dashes of Orange Bitters
• 2 Dashes of Angostura Bitters
• 1 Orange Rind
Directions:
1. Muddle. In your rocks glass, muddle the sugar cube with both bitters.
2. Combine. Add the bourbon whiskey of your choice and stir until sugar is dissolved.
3. Chill and Stir. Add large ice cube and stir for 20-30 seconds to chill.
4. Garnish. Express your orange peel over the drink and rub around the rim. Place twisted orange peel in the drink for garnish.
5. Enjoy. Take a sip and let the warmth seep in. You’ve earned it.
