Creative Elements
Thinking about making some changes in your home? Dreaming about a new kitchen or bathroom you saw on Pinterest or Houzz? Whether it is changing your current look for more modern, clean lines, updating the traditional to more transitional,or simply making your space more functional, Creative Elements is ready to make your next step a reality
| 817.793.6061 |
Turn your goals into action
Price & Associates is a highly respected wealth management team, one of the largest in Texas. With an understanding of your unique priorities and financial situation, we can help you plan for the life you’ve always envisioned. Supported by the global resources of Merrill, our team comprises talented and experienced individuals committed to building strong client relationships based on trust and personalized service. From the start, we talk about your aspirations and encourage you to ask questions about issues that matter most to you. We want to be your first call for financial advice and guidance and offer you customized, proactive, professional service.
Price & Associates
Jeffery Price, CPFA®
Managing Director • Wealth Management Advisor
817.410.4940 • Jeffery_price@ml.com
Jeffery Price has been recognized by:
Trenton Owens , CPFA®
First Vice President • Senior Financial Advisor 817.410.4934 • Trenton.owens@ml.com
Forbes “Best-in-State Wealth Advisors” 2018-2022. Published annually Jan–April. Rankings based on data as of June 30 of prior year.
Forbes “America’s Top Wealth Advisors” 2020-2022. Published annually Aug-Oct. Rankings based on data as of Mar 31–June 30 of current year.
Forbes “America’s Top Wealth Management Teams High Net Worth” 2022. Published on November 8, 2022. Rankings based on data as of March 31, 2022.
Barron’s “Top 1,200 Financial Advisors: State-by-State” 2014-2022. Published annually in February-March. Rankings based on data as of September 30 of the prior year.
Trenton Owens was recognized by: Forbes “Best-in-State Next-Generation Wealth Advisors 2019. Published on Sep. 4, 2019. Rankings based on data as of March 31, 2019.
Forbes “Top Next-Generation Wealth Advisors” 2017-2018. Published annually July-Sept. Rankings based on data as of March 31 of current year.
The Barron’s “Top 1,200 Financial Advisors: State-by-State” list, published annually in March; rankings based on data as of Sept. 30 of prior year. Rankings considered advisors with a minimum of seven years financial services experience, who have been employed at their current firm for at least one year. The Top 1,200 award included top advisors in each state, with the number of ranking spots determined by each state’s population and wealth. For both awards, other quantitative and qualitative measures include assets under management, revenues generated by advisors for their firms, and the quality of the advisors’ practices, regulatory records, internal company documents, and data provided by the advisors themselves.
Forbes “America’s Top Wealth Management Teams High Net Worth” 2022; published on Nov. 8, 2022; rankings based on data as of March 31, 2022; Forbes “America’s Top Wealth Advisors” list, published annually Aug–Oct.; rankings based on data as of Mar 31-June 30 of current year; the Forbes “Best-in-State Wealth Advisors” list, published annually Jan–April; rankings based on data as of June 30 of year; Forbes “Best-in-State Next-Generation Wealth Advisors” list, published on Sept. 4, 2019; rankings based on data as of March 31, 2019; Forbes “Top Next-Generation Wealth Advisors” 2017-2018, published annually July-Sept. Rankings based on data as of March 31 of current year. Data provided by SHOOK™ Research, LLC. The awards are based on an algorithm of qualitative and quantitative data, rating thousands of wealth advisors with a minimum of seven years of experience and weighing factors like revenue trends, assets under management, compliance records, industry experience and best practices learned through telephone and in-person interviews. Investment performance is not a criterion because client objectives and risk tolerances vary, and advisors rarely have audited performance reports. Rankings for all awards are based on the opinion of the publications, and these awards do not evaluate the quality of services provided to clients and are not indicative of this advisor’s future performance or representative of any one client’s experience. Neither Merrill nor the advisors pay a fee to the publications in exchange for inclusion in their recognition lists. Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (also referred to as “MLPF&S” or “Merrill”) makes available certain investment products sponsored, managed, distributed or provided by companies that are affiliates of Bank of America Corporation (“BofA Corp.”). MLPF&S is a registered broker-dealer, registered investment adviser, Member SIPC and ad wholly owned subsidiary of BofA Corp.
Welcome to April!
Investment by definition is the act of devoting time, effort, energy or finances to a particular undertaking with the expectation of a worthwhile result. We can invest in a lot of things such as our community, our relationships, our finances, and our health with the hope that the effort will have a positive impact. We can invest in our community by supporting our local businesses, schools and local organizations. We can serve the community through volunteerism and investment in future generations. Investing in our finances helps create wealth, meets long-term financial goals and secures our retirement. On a personal level, we can invest in our families and enrich relationships by giving time and effort to the people in our lives that mean the most to us. This type of investment has the most meaningful impact to not only ourselves but to the people closest to us.
While investing in ourselves, relationships, community and finances can look very different from person to person, the effort we put into these areas of our lives are done with the common goal of having a positive impact that yields results. In this issue, we wanted to share about some of the ways that we can invest in our community, our finances and with those that we love.
With love,
April 2025
PUBLISHER
Rachael Fenton | rachael.fenton@citylifestyle.com
EDITORIAL COORDINATOR
Mallory Newell | mallory.mckeever@citylifestyle.com
SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR
Ashlynn Roberts | ashlynn.roberts@citylifestyle.com
STAFF WRITERS
Sophie Betzhold, Amy Young
STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Pixel Perfect Rose | rose@pixelperfectrose.com
Corporate Team
CEO Steven Schowengerdt
COO Matthew Perry
CRO Jamie Pentz
CTO Ajay Krishnan
VP OF OPERATIONS Janeane Thompson
VP OF SALES Andrew Leaders
AD DESIGNER Rachel Kolich
LAYOUT DESIGNER Emily Lisenbee
QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Megan Cagle
Learn how to start your own publication at citylifestyle.com/franchise.
city scene
WHERE NEIGHBORS CAN SEE AND BE SEEN
1: Primrose School of NE Flower Mound celebrated a Happy Valentine's Day! 2: Primrose School of Old Orchard learned about the "inventor" of the potato chip! 3: Flower Mound Chamber of Commerce awarded Marty Bryan Citizen of the Year! 4: Cross Timbers Rotary fed 45+ seniors a delicious hot lunch at Christian Community Action! 5-7: Cross Timbers Rotary Club hard at work at Community Strong Farms!
CROSS TIMBERS ROTARY CLUB
PRIMROSE SCHOOL OF OLD ORCHARD
PRIMROSE SCHOOL OF NE FLOWER MOUND
FLOWER MOUND CHAMBER
MARTY B’S AMAZING CATERING
Got an event that calls for Texas-style hospitality? Marty B’s offers catering for parties of 20 and over
INVESTING IN memories
ARTICLE BY AMY YOUNG
The sense of smell is powerful. It can instantly evoke sweet memories or transport you to a specific place and time in your past. When I smell leather, I am immediately dancing on the floor at the Hall of Fame in College Station years ago as a college student. (Some of you Aggies out there might remember?) Or when I smell peach preserves, I am standing in my grandmother’s kitchen in the summer. But for one talented, self-taught woodworker, it’s fresh-cut wood and tree sap that makes her heart race. Caitlin Knabe, of Knabe Woodworking, admits to enjoying a stroll through Home Depot’s lumber department.
As a young married couple, Caitlin and her husband had just bought their first home and were excited about filling it with some new furniture despite a limited budget. Out on a walk one evening, Caitlin noticed construction wood scraps on the side of the road and wondered, “Could I use that wood to make a headboard?”
The answer was an absolute “Yes!” She posted her creation on Facebook and immediately received orders for 15 more headboards. Knabe Woodworking was in full swing. Caitlin’s dream of creating heirloom pieces for generations of families to invest had begun.
Knabe Woodworking sees all of its unique pieces as heirlooms for future generations. “They don’t make furniture like they used to. I create custom pieces that are unique and ensure quality.”
Caitlin can use a picture you have or the idea in your head to create a one-of-akind piece for your home. She enjoys making functional pieces like creative nooks that address your personal needs such as a curio shelf in a corner to hold precious figurines or a bookshelf in a room to display all of your athlete’s trophies. When Caitlin’s mother requested a barn door, Caitlin shrugged and thought “I’ve never made one, but I could learn.” Now 870 barn doors later, she has definitely figured it out. A barn door Caitlin created was once moved by the homeowner from the old house to the new one. The piece had quickly become an heirloom piece to keep in the family.
Investing in unique pieces is a cherished way to share memories and family traditions for future generations. Remembering meals and laughter around a table that your family shares is
THEY DON’T make FURNITURE LIKE THEY USED TO. I create CUSTOM PIECES THAT ARE unique AND ENSURE QUALITY.
a priceless gift to leave for others. Caitlin says that hard work and hustle make a business. And her hard work is allowing her clients to invest in something that will last a lifetime.
To contact Caitlin Knabe about your unique woodworking idea, email her at knabewoodwork@gmail.com or visit her on Facebook.
A BROTHER BUILT BUSINESS
Local garage door company operates with family at the forefront
ARTICLE BY SOPHIE BETZHOLD
PHOTOGRAPHY BY SARAH MARIE PHOTOGRAPHY
Now that spring is in full effect, the newly warm weather and budding scenery outside is practically begging to be enjoyed. No matter your ideal day, imagine loading up the car with supplies and loved ones in anticipation, only to realize you’re trapped inside. This time, not from the weather
Created by two brothers with a vision, the business with two generations of experience continues to deliver exceptional service to the DFW area.
outside but from a garage door malfunction. Unless you’re a seasoned mechanic, taking the problem to Google is likely the first step. Save your time scrolling, and opt to choose the local company with family highlighted on their webpage and at the forefront of their business model. Created by two brothers with a vision, the business with two generations of experience continues to deliver exceptional service to the DFW area by keeping the customer’s needs at the forefront, prioritizing a relationship-oriented mindset and implementing core family values into everyday work.
Having grown up working for their grandfather’s garage door company in Florida, brothers Aaron and Jason had always strived to open a business of their own. After leaving the corporate world and relocating to the DFW area, Aaron was looking for a new profession. Feeling it was the perfect time to act on their dream of working together, Jason followed suit,
driving a newly wrapped Meadows Garage Doors van across the country to get to work. Both men smiled when reflecting on their number one supporter and co-founder: their Mom.
Today, the Meadows honor their mother by extending her support to their customers, treating their requests as “how [they] would service [their] own Mom’s garage door,” Aaron said with a chuckle. “Our promise to you contains the core values of commitment, integrity, excellence [and] a serve-first mentality.”
While customer service is a key component of the company’s success, quality parts and services are essential as well. Instead of opting for cheaper, foreign-made parts, the brothers choose to use only American-made products from industry leaders to supply clients with a lasting fix with exceptional input from the professionals on the job. By using a consultative process, the knowledgeable technicians
at Meadows also offer expert advice for other services and design suggestions to upgrade your garage door style or operation. Those suggestions come from professionals whose families have also mostly been in the garage door business for generations as well. Their deep knowledge of the industry makes the staff reliable and is why the employees are fulltime instead of contracted, ensuring the technicians are trustworthy, insightful and equipped to tackle any challenge presented to them.
Whether it’s an emergency door repair, garage door opener troubleshooting, cable or spring replacement or a full door revamp, the staff at Meadows Garage Doors is there each step of the way, offering open and constant communication to meet the needs of each client. Through the consultative process, the staff and technicians are able to leave homes within the day with a fully operational system, free of cosmetic flaws which has left hundreds of customers satisfied enough to contribute to the company’s five-star rating on Google.
The Meadows brothers have proved that keeping relationships and family values at the forefront of business allows for success. As the company begins to grow, so too does its reputation and positive impact on the community.
I N VESTI N G IN YOU R OWN SPACE
HOW LUCIE WITH CREATIVE ELEMENTS REMODELS TO SUIT YOUR LIFESTYLE
ARTICLE BY MALLORY NEWELL
Powder Bathroom
Remodeling allows for functional and beautiful changes in your home without the pressure and price of relocation. This powder bathroom sits between the bar and kitchen and, with a revamped design, now flows seamlessly with the rest of the home. An opaque door and stunning gold-finish fixtures and hardware made this small space functional for guests without sacrificing style.
The Kitchen
Functional changes were made to enlarge this galley-style kitchen to better suit the client’s lifestyle. A love of baking required plenty of cabinet storage and a built-in pantry, while raising the cabinets to the ceiling and adding open shelving added to the cohesive and intentional look.
The Bar
While this space used to be two coat closets, a stunning bar better suits the lifestyle of a client who loves to entertain and works in the liquor industry. With showcase glass cabinetry and a wine fridge, this space operates as a happy hour station and conversation starter, as well as decor.
Mudroom & Laundry Room
This laundry room was approached with a desire for multifunctionality. The washer and dryer were pushed to the corner and extra storage added above, freeing up space to create a custom mudroom bench. Finer details such as bench drawers, gold hooks, and an open doorway made all the difference in making sure these changes were sustainable while adding more openness to the area.
ARTICLE BY MALLORY NEWELL | PHOTOGRAPHY BY PIXEL PERFECT ROSE
THE MELGAR FAMILY
Californians that were meant for Texas
In early 2020, Audelino and Elizabeth Melgar got married. A week later Audelino flew to North Texas from their home in California to interview the new VP of his company. Elizabeth and Audelino had been on the search for a place to settle down with their daughter, Gizelle, outside of California. Quite a few states (Washington, North Carolina and even Alabama) were on the list of possibilities, and Texas wasn’t one of them. But upon his return home, Audelino told his new bride, “We should look into Texas. It’s beautiful here.” A week later, Audelino and Elizabeth were driving through Argyle and Bartonville, Texas, looking at properties. With each minute they spent in Texas, Audelino and Elizabeth realized, “We were born in California but I think we were meant to be in Texas.”
First, came the building of the perfect home on their new Texas homestead. At every turn, Audelino and Elizabeth chose with intentionality. Each element of their home speaks of investing in quality, investing in beauty and investing in the vital aspects of home.
With inspiration from Tuscan and Mediterranean styles, as well as the Californian estates of their homeland, many elements were imported from Europe or sourced from local Texan vendors. As an outdoor-loving and party-hosting family, the gathering spaces were crafted with extra love, especially the kitchen and the outdoor patio. The kitchen’s stunning Lacanche range stove took two years to build, all in preparation for the years of delicious cooking and joyous hosting to come. Between the kid’s wing and the adult’s wing, the kitchen operates as the hub of the household, Elizabeth says. Additionally, the thoughtfully-planned one-story design ensures that the family stays together. As for the outdoor loggia area, it needed to be big enough to entertain new and old friends and hold a growing family. The investment in furniture was yet another piece of ensuring that the elements of their home would last long through the years.
“We love to meet new people and learn people’s backgrounds and personal stories. We have met so many wonderful people in such a short amount of time.”
After settling down, life began. New friends were made as Gizelle attended Argyle High School, Elizabeth began co-hosting the Denton Mom Walk and they decided to expand their family with Thalia born in November of 2022 and Elianna born in October of 2024. The building of their “forever family”, as Elizabeth says, was starting.
Now with two littles under two — 5-month-old Elianna and 2-year-old Thalia — and a graduating senior, life is oh-so-full for the Melgars. But the dreams of the future are oh-so-big. Elizabeth’s excitement for their homestead brims over into her voice, “We have so many plans for this property.” A flower and vegetable garden, an honest stand, fruit orchards and chickens, are just a few items on the list of the family’s dreams for making their property everything it can be.
With the foundation of a home in which to grow, build and love, digging deeper into the community is the next step of the Melgars’ journey. The future ahead whispers promises of a women’s fitness class with a local trainer, movie nights and storytime for the kids of the community and continuing to expand the invite list of Elizabeth’s annual Mother’s Day brunch to include even more local new moms.
The adjustment to Texas from California was easy, Elizabeth shares, “I think we were meant to be in Texas. The Southern hospitality here is something that I’ve never seen anywhere else.” Both Elizabeth and Audelino radiate approachability, kindness and the Texas friendliness they have come to know and love themselves. “We love to meet new people and learn people’s backgrounds and personal stories. We have met so many wonderful people in such a short amount of time,” Elizabeth gushes, “It’s just been life-changing. People here are so kind and it always feels effortless, like you’ve known that person forever.”
“My goal is to walk into the coffee shop and feel as if it’s a family gathering,” Elizabeth laughs. With one glance, one can see that the Melgar family is now truly at home. They were meant for Texas just as much as Texas was meant for people like them.
PRIMROSE SCHOOL OF NE FLOWER MOUND 972-691-3815
PRIMROSEFLOWERMOUND.COM
PRIMROSE SCHOOL OF OLD ORCHARD 972-315-9495
PRIMROSEOLDORCHARD.COM
URGENT
In the Crow’s Nest
Jeff Price celebrates 30 years of investing in life-giving legacies at Merrill Lynch
ARTICLE BY MALLORY NEWELL | PHOTOGRAPHY BY PIXEL PERFECT ROSE
GENERATION ONE, TWO AND THREE
A legacy is a reflection of your life and values, says Jeffery Price, CPFA®, Managing Director and Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill Lynch. A legacy that is sustained through generations requires healthy values regarding money. “I have a client who has created a ‘legacy letter’ that talks about the history of how he started the business, how he sold it and his desire to make sure these resources impact the Kingdom. It’s hard to pass that on to a generation.”
Jeff joined Merrill Lynch in 1995, only a few months after his marriage to his wife Cara. April of 2025 marks 30 years at Merrill Lynch. Working alongside Jeff are his closest confidants and mentees, Trenton Owens and Jeff’s son Connor.
Trent Owens, fellow CPFA®, Senior Vice President and Senior Financial Advisor has been working alongside Jeff for close to 15 years. “I call him my business son,” Jeff explains, “He’s someone I can trust. We’ve done a lot of life together.” Connor Price was raised in the business, interned with Merrill Lynch through the years and, after experience both abroad and in D.C., officially joined Merrill Lynch in 2021 as a Financial Advisor.
“I think about legacy and those that are coming behind me. How am I leaving a reflection of my life on the team I’ve built so it has a lasting impact? I’m trying to chart a course that allows them to obtain a
“I think about legacy and those that are coming behind me. I'm trying to chart a course that allows them to obtain a level that I could never hope or dream of.”
level that I could never hope or dream of.” Jeff’s legacy is deeply connected with his mentorship and discipleship of Trent and Connor in not only the business but in their faith, “The legacy that I’m trying to lead them into–as I mentor and disciple them– is mighty men of God.”
A NEW LENS
Though Jeff mentors Trent and Connor, their young eyes bring vitality to the business. “You do something for 35 years,” Jeff says, “it’s easy to get blinders on. They see things that I can no longer see because I’ve done it for so long a certain way and had success.”
Between now and 2045, Jeff says, 84 trillion dollars will be passed down from the baby boomer generation in the U.S. that have built businesses and industries from scratch. Both as the holder of a legacy and the one advising on it, a relationship with the next generation is vital. Trent and Connor allow Jeff to see “through the lens of the second and third generation. They see things differently than their parents or their grandparents.”
LEGACIES ARE LIFE-GIVING
“What’s your first memory of money?” Jeff often asks his clients. The steps to building a legacy begin with establishing the lens through which we see life. Jeff’s first memory, he shares, is two cases of chicken noodle soup.
As a seven-year-old who knew nothing of money or the recession taking place, young Jeff Price watched as his struggling mother worked two part-time jobs and his desperate father flipped burgers after losing his job. A local church gifted two cases of canned soup to Jeff’s family. The generosity of this moment, he says, shaped his own legacy of wanting to pass down a relationship with money based on blessing others. “Money can be life-giving or life-destructive,” Jeff explains, it can breathe life with generosity or it can add fuel to the fire of an addiction or a life that finds value in the balance sheet.
“The legacy that I’m trying to lead them into–as I mentor and disciple them– is mighty men of God.”
IN THE CROW’S NEST
These types of conversations are the ones that distinguish Jeff and his team at Merrill Lynch. “I use the analogy that we’re on a ship and the client is the captain,” Jeff explains, “My job is to be in the crow’s nest to say, ‘Here’s where you want to go and how to get there in a healthy way.’ Some advisors in our industry don’t know how to do that. They really never get to the heart of the issue. And that’s what we’re trying to do.”
Jeff's son and daughter, Connor and Catherine Price, wearing Merill Lynch merchandise as young children
events
A SELECTION OF UPCOMING LOCAL EVENTS
APRIL 5TH
Easter Bunny & Egg Hunt
Lewisville Thrive | 9:00 AM
What better way to enjoy the Easter season than with pancakes and the Easter Bunny himself? Join the City of Lewisville at Thrive for the family's next favorite spring tradition. There will be food, photo ops and an egg hunt, including a sensory hunt in the Frog Fruit room in Thrive.
APRIL 5TH
Dallas Country, Blues & Red Dirt Music Festival
Flower Mound River Walk
Come and experience CMA, Texas CMA, Grammy Award and Billboard Top 10 artists performing live on the main stage, plus artists & crafters, a farmers fresh market, and a gourmet food and beverage garden, featuring craft beer and wines!
APRIL 12TH
Easter Egg Scramble
Jake's Hilltop Park, 4975 Timber Creek Drive | 1:30 AM
The Town of Flower Mound invites you to Jake's Hilltop Park for the Town's 41st Annual Easter Egg Scramble! Enjoy an afternoon filled with candy, fun activities and a special visit from the Easter Bunny. Festivities start at 1:30 p.m., with the egg scramble kicking off promptly at 2:30 p.m.
APRIL 12TH
Texas Tunes: Sue Foley
Lewisville Grand Theater, 100 N. Charles St., Lewisville | 8:00 PM
Blues artist Sue Foley will be performing with her band at the Lewisville Grand Theater. This concert is being supported, in part, by a grant from Texas Commission on the Arts. Tickets start at $20. www.lewisvillegrand.com
APRIL 12TH
2025 Spring Eco-Action Day with Keep Flower Mound Beautiful
Flower Mound High School, 3411 Peters Colony Rd. | 8:30 AM
Join Keep Flower Mound Beautiful for their 2025 Spring Eco-Action Day! This community-wide cleanup event includes volunteers picking up trash at different roadways, parks and green spaces around town; a recycling and shredding drop-off for the community; and a fun and informative environmental fair.
APRIL 26TH
Kid Fish
Rheudasil Park, 2401 Lake Forest Boulevard | 9:00 AM
Join the Town of Flower Mound for a free kids' fishing event at the Rheudasil Park pond, where more than 500 pounds of catfish will be stocked! Prizes and awards will be available in various categories. Rods, reels and bait will be provided, but feel free to bring your own if you prefer!
Want to be featured?
Good times,
Good times, great food
From breakfast to burgers, merlot to margaritas, from Asian & Argentine to American & Texan. New: A chocolate shop and a Thai restaurant have been added to the mix. Come join the fun!
