Distinguished Men of Conroe
ARTS + CULTURE
COWBOYS ON IRON HORSES
CONROE’S FIRST GENTLEMAN
JUNE 2026
“Knowledge will give you power, character earns respect.” Bruce Lee
Welcome to the Distinguished Gentleman's Issue of Conroe City Lifestyle. This month, we explore a simple but profound question: What does it take to be a distinguished man in Conroe, Texas?
To answer that, we must first look back. In this issue, we dive into the life of Isaac Conroe, the visionary founder of our great city. He was a man of grit and foresight who transformed a simple sawmill into a thriving community. He set a standard of stewardship that continues to pulse through the heart of Montgomery County today.
That same pioneering spirit is evident in the six remarkable men profiled in our feature story. Whether it is Bob Goshen transforming global business cultures, Ryan Eisenbath building wellness through faith, or Tom Faust mastering the art of lakefront hospitality, leadership here takes many forms. It is Loren Goodrich crafting outdoor spaces with a servant’s heart, Scott Harper relentlessly showing up for local nonprofits, and Matthew Reibenstein designing unique, quality homes with the discipline of a competitive roper.
What defines a distinguished man today? It is not merely a title or a particular occupation. It is stewardship. It is the daily choice to build with care, keep faith and family close, mentor instead of compete, and serve when the work is quiet or unseen. It is the unwavering commitment to leave a company, a team, or a neighborhood better than you found it.
That deep-rooted camaraderie and rugged individualism are also captured beautifully in our feature, "The Iron Horse Cowboys." This article takes you inside the Cut and Shoot Harley group, a brotherhood that perfectly embodies the loyalty, freedom, and grit that define our local culture. They remind us that the long road ahead is always better navigated together.
As Montgomery County continues to grow at a rapid pace, the character of our community will not be determined by concrete and blueprints alone. It will be shaped by the people who lead, serve, and welcome others into the life of this place.
May the stories in these pages inspire you. Notice the men who build well, serve quietly, and invest in others. Then, consider where that same kind of work is being asked of you.
I hope you enjoy this issue as much as I did making it.
KEVIN BRATTON, PUBLISHER @CONROECITYLIFESTYLE
June 2026
PUBLISHER
Kevin Bratton | kevin.bratton@citylifestyle.com
MANAGING EDITOR
Chris Staples | chris.staples@citylifestyle.com
STAFF WRITER
Andie Monet | andie.monet@citylifestyle.com
STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Shannon Matlock, Arrowhead Photo goarrowheadphoto@gmail.com
MARKET SUPPORT ASSISTANT
Margie Taylor | margie@taylorizedpr.com
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Connie Monroe | connie.monroe@luxurycougar.com
Texas Goodness | stories@texasgoodness.com
Chris Staples
Corporate Team
CEO Steven Schowengerdt
President Matthew Perry
COO David Stetler
CRO Jamie Pentz
CoS Janeane Thompson
AD DESIGNER Andrew Sapad
LAYOUT DESIGNER Jamie Housh
QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Megan Cagle
Learn how to start your own publication at citylifestyle.com/franchise.
Conroe’s First Gentleman
How Isaac Conroe’s private home became Montgomery County’s temporary courthouse.
Conroe’s Distinguished Gentlemen
Montgomery County men leading through work, faith, grit, and service.
Conroe’s Cowboys on Iron Horses
A Montgomery County Harley chapter carries
Six men, one landscape, and a shared sense of place. This Gentlemen’s Issue cover captures the quiet strength, weathered character, and rooted spirit that continue to shape Conroe and Montgomery County.
city scene
WHERE NEIGHBORS CAN SEE AND BE SEEN
1: Jan Harris & Cheryl Robinson having fun at CCL client party at Margaritaville 2: The Amazing, “Debbie & Southern Disposition” (band) with Kevin Bratton
JUNE 2026 Want
CCL VIP partner Gala. 3: Champion bloodline puppy, training and health check auctioned off at TWCA Gala for $19,000.
benefiting TWCA raised $1.2 million in endowments. 7:
weekend crawfish!
at
4: Elizabeth & Randall Bolt (left), Julie Ambler Linsey and Ryan Bibler (right), TWCA Gala Executives 5: World renowned Bob Goshen enthralls listeners at the Conroe City Lifestyle VIP event. 6: Revelry at the Ranch Gala
#1 Bayou Boiled partners with newly opened Lil’ Roux at 202 N.Main for
Lil Roux on Metcalf and Main now open!
Formerly called "The Hidden Bar" or 202 N. Main in downtown Conroe, "Lil Roux" is now open! Local legend, song writer and country star Debbie Glenn (owner of Red Brick Tavern and Lucy Blues,) bought it, fixed it up and now offers a trifecta of cool places to hang out downtown. Lil Roux at Metcalf and Main offers amazing boiled crawfish on the weekends. It has an outside courtyard, and a secret speakeasy out back.
Photography provided
Out Run Hunger June 13th w/ Montgomery County Food Bank
Come on out for the Montgomery County Food Bank's Outrun
Hunger event on June 13th with a 8K & 5K Trail Run and a 1K Color Dash. The event's proceeds benefit Montgomery County Food Bank's programs for children, seniors, and families facing hunger in Montgomery County. Every $1 raised provides up to 4 meals. This event offers summer fun for all. The Party Pavilion offers music, food trucks, photo ops, a kids zone, and more.
Conroe City Lifestyle and The Woodlands Partner Appreciation Gala
The Conroe City Lifestyle and The Woodlands City Lifestyle threw a VIP partner appreciation gala at Margaritaville 4/23. Everything was free for partners/clients. Debbie Glenn & Social Disposition (band) crushed it. BoB Goshen, a famous speaker, enlightened the crowd. The beef wellington, coconut shrimp, and seared Ahi were amazing. Businesses got free video production reels in our mobile production studio, Over $6,000 in prizes were given away. Businesses shared stories, referrals and growth strategies.
Photography by Staff
CONROE’S FIRST GENTLEMAN
ARTICLE BY TEXAS GOODNESS
HOW ISAAC CONROE’S PRIVATE HOME BECAME MONTGOMERY COUNTY’S TEMPORARY COURTHOUSE.
Isaac Conroe, the lumberman and civic figure whose sawmill settlement grew into the city that bears his name.
“Conroe’s first gentleman lent his home when the county needed one.”
Before Conroe had a courthouse, it had a home.
When the county seat shifted from Montgomery to Conroe, Isaac Conroe did more than welcome government to the sawmill settlement that carried his name. He opened his own property at Avenue A and First Street as a temporary courthouse while Montgomery County waited for its new building. For a brief and defining season, a family residence became part of the machinery of public life.
In that sense, Isaac Conroe might be remembered as Conroe’s first gentleman. Not in the formal sense of title or ceremony, but in the older civic sense: a man whose influence was measured by what he was willing to place in service of his community.
His story begins with work. A Civil War veteran and lumberman, Conroe came to Southeast Texas with his wife, Margaret Richardson Conroe. He built a sawmill business, helped anchor the
settlement near the railroad, and became the first postmaster of the new community. The town that grew around Conroe’s Switch eventually became the city that still bears his name.
The historical marker at the Isaac Conroe Property gives the house its lasting civic weight. The original section of the residence was built shortly after Conroe purchased the site in 1885. Four years later, he contracted with county commissioners to use the property as a temporary courthouse. County records and offices moved from Montgomery to Conroe and remained there until the new courthouse was completed in 1891.
It was a practical arrangement, but it also reveals something personal. A town still becoming itself needed a place for public business, and one of its leading citizens offered his own ground. His household became a bridge between private life and public trust.
The family story continued. Isaac and Margaret raised three children, and their son William Munger Conroe later bought the home from his father. William became a prominent lumberman and oil man, extending the family’s presence in the economic and civic life of the area.
For the Gentlemen’s Issue, the lesson is clear. Leadership is often remembered in buildings, titles, and names on maps. Here, it looks more human. It looks like lending what you have when the community needs it.
To connect with the story, visit the marker at Avenue A and First Street and explore local history resources through the Montgomery County Memorial Library System Genealogy and Preservation Center in downtown Conroe.
This marker identifies Isaac Conroe’s former home as Montgomery County’s temporary courthouse during Conroe’s early civic transition.
The Isaac Conroe home at Avenue A and First Street, where Montgomery County records and offices were temporarily housed while a new courthouse was built.
CONROE’S Distinguished GENTLEMEN
ARTICLE BY CHRIS STAPLES PHOTOGRAPHY BY SHANNON MATLOCK, ARROWHEAD PHOTO
Montgomery County men leading through work, faith, grit, and service.
In Montgomery County, leadership is often easier to recognize than to define. Leadership is not granted by position. It is proven through presence, action, and trust. More often, it shows up in the daily choices that make a place stronger: the decision to serve beyond the job description, to build with care, to mentor instead of compete, to keep faith and family close, and to keep showing up when the work is quiet, difficult, or unseen.
For this Gentlemen’s Issue, Conroe City Lifestyle looks at men whose lives reflect different forms of strength. Some lead companies. Some lead teams. Some lead through service, hospitality, healthcare, craftsmanship, civic engagement, or the example they set at home. Their stories are not identical, and that is the point. Montgomery County is not shaped by one kind of man or one kind of work. It is shaped by people who bring their experience, values, discipline, and relationships into the places where they have been called to serve.
Across these profiles, a few themes repeat. Work matters, not only as a means of earning a living, but as a way to create stability for others. Faith matters, not as a slogan, but as a compass for decisions, service, humility, and perseverance. Grit matters because every meaningful path includes setbacks, risk, long days, and lessons learned the hard way. Service matters because success that never reaches beyond the self is too small a vision for a growing community.
These men represent businesses, organizations, families, and causes rooted in Conroe, Lake Conroe, Montgomery, The Woodlands perimeter, and the broader county. Their work touches homes, outdoor spaces, resorts, clinics, chambers, nonprofits, neighborhoods, churches, and community gatherings. In different ways, each one helps shape the everyday experience of living here.
That matters in a county changing as quickly as ours. Growth brings new homes, new businesses, new families, and new opportunities, but it also raises a question: what kind of community are we building while we grow? The answer will not come from plans and projects alone. It will come from the character of the people leading, serving, hiring, volunteering, coaching, building, and welcoming others into the life of this place.
Readers will find accomplishment in the pages that follow, but accomplishment is not the only story. The deeper story is stewardship. These are men working to leave something stronger than they found it. A better company. A healthier team. A more connected community. A place where family, faith, craft, service, and responsibility still matter.
Taken together, these spotlights offer a simple local invitation: notice the men who build well, serve quietly, lead steadily, and invest in others. Then consider where that same kind of work is being asked of you.
“A strong community is often built quietly, by people who keep showing up when the work needs doing.”
Montgomery County men whose work, faith, grit, and service help shape the community.
In Conroe’s business community, leadership is not an abstract idea. It shows up in how teams communicate, how companies serve clients, and how people handle pressure when the next decision matters. For Bob Goshen, those lessons have been tested across boardrooms, stages, military service, and business turnarounds around the world.
Goshen is a global keynote speaker, entrepreneur, author, and leadership coach who has traveled more than four million air miles speaking to audiences across the world. Known for humor, directness, and high energy, he has spoken for major universities, the U.S. Army, Chambers of Commerce, large banks, and hundreds of smaller organizations. His audiences have ranged from corporate teams to packed colosseums in China, Russia, the United States, and Canada.
His message is rooted in real-world leadership. Throughout his career, Goshen has helped companies transform culture, develop stronger leadership teams, and raise performance across entire organizations. One of his most notable business experiences involved helping turn around a struggling company and grow it to more than $2.9 billion in sales while serving more than four million new customers.
At the center of his philosophy is a simple but demanding goal: help organizations find their unified voice. Goshen believes companies perform better when leaders, teams, and front-line employees move in the same direction with clarity, trust, and shared purpose.
That perspective was shaped long before the keynote stage. A U.S. Navy veteran, Goshen served in intelligence, tracking and intercepting global communications to help locate threats around the world. He also played college football as a linebacker, where teamwork, discipline, and resilience were learned under pressure.
His work has earned personal endorsements from well-known leadership figures, including Lou Holtz, Zig Ziglar, Jim Stovall, Lt. General Don Campbell, and Ty Boyd. Today, Goshen serves on two major college boards, supports more than 30 philanthropic organizations in the United States and abroad, and is the author of eight books.
He is also a husband, father of three, and grandfather of five. For local leaders, his example offers a practical challenge: build teams around a clear voice, stronger culture, and a shared commitment to serve well.
Bob Goshen, global keynote speaker, author, leadership coach, and U.S. Navy veteran.
In Harper’s Preserve and Creekside, Ryan Eisenbath’s work in natural healthcare began long before the clinic doors opened. His story starts in St. Charles, Missouri, where he met his wife, Jen, when they were both 15. High school sweethearts, they built a life shaped by faith, family, and a willingness to follow where God was leading.
After earning a petroleum engineering degree from the University of MissouriRolla, now Missouri S&T, Eisenbath began a career in oil and gas. That first chapter took Ryan and Jen more than 1,000 miles from home. Later, it took their family across the world to Southeast Asia, where they experienced cultures and healthcare traditions very different from those they had known in the United States.
Living overseas expanded the way Eisenbath thought about health. He saw communities place a strong emphasis on natural healing, body awareness, and whole-person care. One unusual marker of that season is that he has now visited more countries than American states. More importantly, those years helped shape a conviction that the body is designed with an extraordinary capacity for healing.
After more than a decade in senior oil and gas leadership, Eisenbath felt called toward a different kind of work. The move into entrepreneurship was not only a career change. For Ryan and Jen, it was an act of faith and a chance to build something their three daughters could watch up close: a family saying yes to a calling.
That calling became HealthSource of Harper’s Preserve, followed by HealthSource of Creekside. Eisenbath leads with a servant’s posture, modeling his approach after the example of Jesus: listen first, meet people where they are, and treat each person with patience and dignity.
His clinics focus on chiropractic care, rehabilitation, and natural wellness strategies for people seeking better movement, recovery, and daily function. For Conroe readers, the takeaway is practical: do not normalize pain or limited mobility. Ask questions, understand your options, and work with licensed professionals who can help create a responsible plan for care.
For Eisenbath, the clinics are not simply businesses. They are an expression of faith, family, and service to neighbors as Harper’s Preserve continues to grow across Montgomery County and nearby neighborhoods.
Ryan Eisenbath, owner of HealthSource of Harper’s Preserve and HealthSource of Creekside.
On Lake Conroe, hospitality is more than a room, a meeting space, or a weekend by the water. It is the feeling guests carry home. For Tom Faust, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Margaritaville Lake Resort, Lake Conroe-Houston, that understanding has been shaped by decades in the hotel industry and a career that began with an unforgettable turn.
Faust joined Margaritaville Lake Resort in September 2020, bringing experience from some of the most recognized names in hospitality. Before arriving on Lake Conroe, he spent nine years with Omni Hotels and Resorts as vice president of sales. Prior to Omni, he worked eight years at the Anatole in Dallas under both the Wyndham and Hilton flags. He also spent 18 years with Sheraton and Starwood Hotels in operations, marketing, and sales roles at both the corporate and field level.
His introduction to the industry, however, was anything but ordinary. While in college in St. Louis, Missouri, where he grew up, Faust was working at a gas station when he was robbed and put into the trunk of a car. Afterward, his parents insisted he change jobs. The next day, he was on a Bi-State bus headed downtown for an interview to become a bellman at Stouffer’s Riverfront Towers, located between Busch Stadium and the Gateway Arch.
He got the job. He also met the woman who would become his wife.
The human resources director who hired him was Michele Catena, now Michele Faust. Their shared hospitality story became a family story, and Tom and Michele have now been married for 48 years. They are the parents of Adam Faust and Lauren Larkin, and grandparents to Poppy, Phoebe, Thomas Wolfgang Faust, and Olive Larkin.
Today, Faust’s work at Margaritaville Lake Resort helps connect the Lake Conroe area with guests, groups, companies, and families looking for memorable experiences close to home. His career offers a practical reminder for Conroe readers: the best hospitality is built on service, consistency, and people who know how to make others feel welcome.
Tom Faust, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Margaritaville Lake Resort, Lake ConroeHouston.
Around Conroe and Lake Conroe, the best outdoor spaces often begin with a simple question: how will this family live here? For Loren Goodrich, founder of Houston Deck and Shade and Loren’s Lumber, that question has shaped a business built by hand, refined through leadership, and grounded in faith.
Goodrich started building decks at 16 and launched Houston Deck and Shade at 19 in 2009. He is quick to say the early years taught him hard lessons. He knew the trade, but business required a different kind of growth. Trying to carry every responsibility himself only took the company so far. The turning point came when he learned to lead, delegate, and trust others with responsibilities he no longer needed to hold.
That shift changed more than the size of the company. It changed the kind of leader he wanted to become. Over the last several years, Goodrich has focused on strengthening company culture, sharpening sales systems, and building a team that can serve homeowners and contractors.
In 2021, he opened Loren’s Lumber, creating a supply hub for Houston Deck and Shade and for other contractors who need reliable materials and support. Today, his companies employ 26 people and continue to grow.
Behind that growth is a personal philosophy shaped by mentors, coaching, reading, faith, and family. Goodrich credits good men in his life for speaking truth and helping him become a better leader, husband, father, and man. He also points to his wife, Bianca, as one of his greatest influences. Married for 14 years, they have three children, and he describes her as a steady voice through every season of building business and family.
His friend Howard Partridge often says, “All of business and all of life is about relationships.” Goodrich has taken that to heart. For him, success is not measured only in revenue, projects, or expansion. It is measured in service, leadership, family, and what is done for Christ.
Away from work, his best memories are made on the lake, crappie fishing, deer hunting, and spending time with family. For readers planning an outdoor project, his story offers a practical reminder: build the structure, but do not neglect the people around it.
Loren Goodrich, founder of Houston Deck and Shade and Loren’s Lumber.
In Montgomery County, some leaders are easiest to find by looking where help is needed. For Scott Harper, service has never been limited to an official title. It has been a career, a habit, and a way of staying connected to the people and organizations that shape Conroe, Lake Conroe, and the surrounding community.
Harper has more than 26 years of nonprofit experience, with leadership roles spanning the Conroe and Lake Conroe Chamber of Commerce, YMCA work in Tampa and Houston, and service across civic, education, healthcare, and community boards. His professional path began at Wal-Mart’s corporate fitness center in Bentonville, Arkansas, after he played football and earned a degree in Sports Management and Recreation from the University of Southern Mississippi.
Those early experiences helped shape a leadership style built around relationships. Harper is known as a connector, a supporter, and a steady presence in community life. When he is not officially working, he is often still serving: volunteering on boards, supporting nonprofits, helping community organizations, or lending time where it can make a practical difference.
His civic resume is long. His service includes roles with New Danville, HCA Houston Healthcare Conroe, United Way of Greater Houston’s Montgomery County Advisory Board, Leadership Montgomery County, Conroe Noon Rotary Club, Education for Tomorrow Alliance, CASA, Assistance League, Lone Star College Small Business Development Center, Lone Star Family Health Center, and multiple Conroe ISD committees.
Harper’s work has also been recognized beyond Montgomery County. He has spoken for chamber professionals across Texas and Alabama, received Leadership Montgomery County’s Core Values Award in 2023, earned Rotary’s Paul Harris Fellow Award, and was honored by the YMCA of Greater Houston for excellence in financial development and fundraising.
Still, his story is not only about meetings, boards, and committees. Harper and his wife, Jennifer, have been married for 30 years. They live in Montgomery with rescue dogs, cats, and horses, and in their spare time they run Revel Ranch, a horse boarding facility. Their daughter, Laine, is a Baylor graduate, and their son, Ethan, is a Texas Tech graduate.
For Conroe readers, Harper’s example is direct: strong communities are built by people who keep showing up. Join a board, volunteer for a cause, support a chamber event, or simply help connect one person to the next right opportunity.
Scott Harper, nonprofit leader, community volunteer, and longtime Montgomery County relationship builder.
In Conroe and Montgomery County, homebuilding is rarely only about floor plans. It is about land, family, trust, and the kind of long-term decisions that shape how people live. Matthew Reibenstein, Chief Strategy Officer of Story Built Homes, brings that perspective to his work with a rare mix of business strategy, technical building knowledge, and Texas cowboy discipline.
A proud Texas A&M graduate, Reibenstein first built his reputation as founder of Royal Design Build Co., where craftsmanship, transparency, and client trust became central to the brand. Royal’s success eventually led to its acquisition and integration into Story Built Homes, where Reibenstein now helps guide long-term strategy, business development, land opportunities, and custom home growth.
His credentials reflect serious industry depth. Reibenstein has earned advanced designations including Certified Graduate Associate, Certified Green Professional, Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist, and Graduate Master Builder. He was named the Texas Association of Builders’ inaugural Excellence Under 45 recipient in 2014, received GHBA Custom Builder of the Year honors in 2017, served as GHBA President in 2024, and received the 2025 B.E.A.M. Award for Builders Engaging Associate Members.
For Reibenstein, leadership also means showing up for the broader industry. He serves as a Texas Builders Foundation Trustee and is known for mentoring young builders, supporting association work, and advocating for residential construction through groups such as the Greater Houston Builders Association.
Away from the boardroom, Reibenstein is a professional competitive roper. The sport requires timing, discipline, partnership, and steadiness under pressure. Those same traits carry into his work: measure carefully, trust the team, and execute when the moment arrives.
At home, faith and family remain the foundation. Reibenstein and his wife, Katy, have been married for more than 14 years and are raising their three children, Paxton, Brinlee, and Reagan, on acreage in Montgomery County. Their family life includes horses, hunting, Aggie football, church, Bible studies, and time outdoors.
For local readers considering a custom home or major building project, his example offers a clear takeaway: choose builders who understand both the structure and the life that will happen inside it.
Matthew Reibenstein, Chief Strategy Officer of Story Built Homes and Montgomery County homebuilding leader.
Conroe City Lifesty L e™
Inspiration for your best local life.
Exclusive giveaways.
Hidden gem alert!
Good news in your neighborhood.
Local content by local creators.
Inside scoop on all things local.
Locally-inspired food & drink recipes.
We proudly open Lakefront Studio to photographers in our community. Lakeside Studios is available for rent providing a peaceful, professional space designed to support creativity and collaboration. With a fully functional indoor studio and private lakefront, Lakeside Studios is the perfect location for your next creative project.
ARTICLE BY CONNIE MONROE PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED
Cowboys on Iron Horses
A Montgomery County Harley chapter carries history, fellowship, and service down the road together.
On Montgomery County roads, the sound of an iron horse can still carry a story.
For the riders of the Cut-N-Shoot Texas Chapter, that story began in 1989, when Harley-Davidson's owner group concept was still new and Montgomery County riders were helping shape what a local chapter could become. Sponsored today by HarleyDavidson of The Woodlands, the chapter is part of the Harley Owners Group, often known as H.O.G., and it remains rooted in the same simple idea: people who love Harley-Davidson motorcycles should have a safe, organized, community-minded way to ride together.
The chapter's emblem, the Cut-NShoot Cowboy, has become its own local legend. Some say the image was sketched on a napkin after someone saw a diner sign in Colorado. Others connect him, at least in spirit, to the Little Dude icon remembered along I-45. The origin may be disputed, but the meaning has lasted. The Cowboy represents men and women from different backgrounds, different professions, and different stages of life who share a common road.
Members call themselves Shooters, but this is not a motorcycle club in the outlaw
sense of the word. The name invokes community pride of a riding group built around dealership connection, safe rides, fellowship, and service. The chapter's values are straightforward: ride together, enjoy each other's company, look after one another, and give back to Montgomery County.
At its height, the chapter counted more than 1,500 members and was able to give more than $100,000 to local agencies during the holidays. Over the years, dealership changes, new chapters, and aging charter members have reshaped the long standing organization. Some riders moved to other groups. Still, the Cut-NShoot Texas Chapter remains active and welcoming, carrying forward a tradition that blends the open road with local responsibility. As chapter historian Stan Christiansen puts it, “I’m very proud of the way the organization is run, and the fact that we’re still going strong.”
Three things to know when you see them ride: they are part of a national HarleyDavidson owner network, they carry deep Montgomery County history, and their public identity is tied to community service rather than intimidation. These riders are neighbors first, people who meet
“The camaraderie lasts a lifetime.”
- Cut-N-Shoot Texas Chapter Historian, Stan Christiansen
Members gather at a recent meeting
around motorcycles but stay connected through loyalty, charity, and shared miles.
The iron horse may be the machine, but the chapter's real engine is people.
For readers who want to learn more, the easiest next step is to visit a meeting. The Cut-N-Shoot Texas Chapter meets at
Harley-Davidson of The Woodlands on the second Saturday of each month. Meetings are open to those interested in the chapter, the riding community, or its philanthropic work.
You do not have to know every road to understand the spirit of this group. When you see the Cut-N-Shoot Cowboy riding through Montgomery County, give a wave because you know who is passing by.
Behind each of our 200+ City Lifestyle magazines is someone who cares deeply about their community. Someone who connects people, celebrates businesses, and shares the stories that matter most. What if that someone was you?
Or maybe it’s someone you know. If this isn’t the right time for you, but you know someone who could be the perfect fit, we’d love an introduction Markets available nationwide. Learn more at future.citylifestyle.com Set your schedule. Make an impact. Build a life you’re proud of.
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
Nice? Is Whiskey On Ice
In speaking to Whiskey lovers (most happen to be men, but do accept me in their brethren as a fellow enthusiast, writer, and educator), I’ve learned a great many opinions on how to drink Whiskey. Specifically, preferences on adding water and ice vary greatly.
A brand ambassador that I had the privilege of listening to recently said the obvious: both dilution and temperature change when you add ice, so if you are going to add something, a little water is best. I personally prefer to use a water dropper, so I can add one drop at a time until I get to the desired taste.
HERE ARE THE DIFFERENCES:
THE BEST WAY TO ENJOY YOUR WHISKEY: ON THE ROCKS, ROCK, NEAT, OR WITH WATER
Rocks: Provides the highest rate of dilution as a lot of ice melts quickly. If you are drinking a barrel proof Whiskey, it kind of defeats the purpose as the distiller didn’t add water as they do in every other type of finished Whiskey.
On the Rock: The single rock, cube, or sphere is the slowest to melt and thought to be the most aesthetic. It’s nice if you want to stretch out your tasting. I often order on the rock if I want my drink to last longer.
Neat: This is the way single malt Scotch is served at a tasting event, in a branded Glencairn or Neat glass so that proper nosing for aromas can be achieved - and a dram of Scotch, smaller than an ounce, fits in them perfectly.
Water: As I mentioned above, quoting the brand ambassador, a little water is better for a fine Whiskey over any kind of ice. Often, if ordered with water, the water is served in a separate vessel on the side so you can add in as much as you want.
Quoting another expert on the subject, Richard Paterson of The Dalmore famously and enthusiastically demonstrates in his Scotch classes how to drink single malt Scotch Whiskey: Paterson fills a lowball glass to the rim with ice, adds Scotch and then ceremoniously throws it over his shoulder onto the carpet of the classroom – because that much ice makes the drink worthless. One more quote, never “add green tea or milk to Whiskey. You can add a little water, but not a lot of ice.”
Ultimately, the reason we add ice can be for aesthetics, to stretch out the time spent on one glass, for cooling, and for dilution. However, the number one reason enthusiasts add water is … drumroll please … because adding a little water actually opens up a Whiskey to show more aromas and flavors.
events
A SELECTION OF UPCOMING LOCAL EVENTS
JUNE 1ST - 7TH
22nd Annual Wine and Food Week
The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel & Convention Center
Crushing It With Cocktails June 4, 6:00–9:00 PM • Intense mixology competition . • Ladies of the Vine Tasting, Luncheon & Panel (June 5, 11:30 AM–3:00 PM) • Sips, Suds & Savor (June 5, 6:00–9:00 PM) night of wine, craft beer, and food • Wine Tasting & Chef Showcase ( June 6, 7:00–10:00 PM) for the Chef of Chefs Culinary Award competition, $5,000 prize.
JUNE 4TH
Karaoke Every Thursday at Lucy Blues downtown
Lucy Blues 711 MADELEY ST CONROE, TX 77301 | 7:30 PM
Conroe
Ready to unleash your inner rockstar? Every Thursday, the mic is YOURS at Lucy Blues! Karaoke Night with KJ Ally All the hits, all the fun, and zero judgment. Grab your friends, warm up those vocal cords, and come sing your heart out! Don’t miss it – see you Thursday!
JUNE 5TH - 14TH
Puffs, Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at.. Certain School of Magic
Crighton Theatre
“Puffs,” is a comedic play by Matt Cox that parodies the Harry Potter series from the perspective of the "Puffs," the students in the Hufflepuff house. The story follows a group of ordinary students as they navigate their years at a magical school, focusing on their own relatable struggles with friendship, bullying, and survival rather than the main hero's quest.
JUNE 6TH - 7TH
KimoKawaii Anime Experience & Convention
The Lone Star Convention & Expo Center (9055 AirPort Road)
Pronunciation kee-moh-kah-wahy-ee. KimoKawaii definition. The term used to describe something that is both weird and cute. For Example. The baby one-eyed platypus, with its fluffy fur and webbed feet is so kimokawaii! Fun & exciting activities such as a Cosplay contest, Japanese Fashion Show, Karaoke, Workshops, Voice Over Sessions, Photo-ops, panels, amazing artists, exhibitors, voice actors, and so much more!
JUNE 13TH - 14TH
HERPS Exotic Reptile & Pet Shows
The Lone Star Convention and Expo Center 9055 Airport Rd, Conroe, TX, 77303 | 10:00 AM
The largest reptile show in the Houston area. Now the largest venomous show in Texas! Thousands of reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates, feeders, and supplies. Get up close to some of the most exotic animals on the planet! Saturday 10am-5pm Sunday 10am-4pm Pay at the door: $12 for adult 1 day, $5 kids ages 5-12 1 day. 4 and under are free!
JUNE 29TH
Stars and Stripes Celebration celebrating the U.S.'s 250th birthday
Heritage Place in Downtown Conroe | 6:00 PM
6:00 to 9:30 pm at Heritage Place in Downtown Conroe with plenty of kids' activities. Conroe Symphony Orchestra plays at 8:00 pm, fireworks start at 9:15 pm. It's all free. Bring lawn chairs or blankets and water. 6:00 pm – Event Starts 7:00 pm – Presentation of Colors/ National Anthem 8:00–9:00 pm - Conroe Symphony Orchestra 9:15–9:35 pm – Fireworks Show
