The Kind of Men You Can Count On
When I think about what it means to be a man, the first word that comes to mind is leadership. It means leading well, pursuing the common good, taking responsibility for your family, and staying committed to your purpose even when it is difficult.
Being a man today carries a different weight than it once did. There is an expectation to be strong, but also compassionate. To provide and protect, while also being present, aware, and emotionally grounded. There is a duality to it, a constant push and pull. You are called to grow, to improve, and to rise, while also being steady and a source of real strength in each season of life.
What I have learned is the importance of honesty, understanding my emotions, and recognizing the emotions of others without losing sight of what is right. Not just in work, but in how you show up for the people who depend on you. My faith in the path, the purpose, and the calling I have been led to is my guiding force. Faith gives us the courage to take risks and step into the unknown.
On the cover, the Porter Fire Department shows us what leadership looks like in real time: it is courage, and answering the call when it matters most. In the issue, Amtex Overhead Doors reflects responsibility in protecting what families depend on, Eric Moorehead represents consistency and service over mass production, and MACH ONE Epoxy Floors showcases an Air Force Veteran using discipline and precision to do the job right.
I have been fortunate to have examples of that kind of leadership in my life. My father never compromised on doing the right thing, and that example shaped how I approach challenges today. Taking risks, trusting in something greater, and being willing to step away and burn all the boats has defined my journey.
It is what led my family to take a leap of faith and move here to build a life. At the end of the day, what matters most is how you show up for the people you care for. The greatest joy in my life is the love within my family and the way we support one another.
My challenge for men reading this issue is to find your brotherhood. Find accountability. Surround yourself with men who share your values and challenge you when you need it, because no man is meant to do life alone.
MIKE COOK, AREA DIRECTOR
@EASTMONTGOMERYCITYLIFESTYLE
June 2026
PUBLISHER
Nicole Cook | nicole.cook@citylifestyle.com
EDITOR
Rori Ortiz | rori.ortiz@citylifestyle.com
AREA DIRECTOR
Mike Cook | mike.cook@citylifestyle.com
PUBLICATION DIRECTOR
Kelsey Connell | kelsey.connell@citylifestyle.com
MARKET AREA COORDINATOR
Kelly Richard | kelly.richard@citylifestyle.com
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Rori Ortiz | rori.ortiz@citylifestyle.com
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Hung L. Truong | Hung L. Truong Photography
Isabel Shaw | Only Love Remains Photography
Francie Baltazar Stonestreet | FireHeart Photography
Kelly Booth | Kelly Anne Styles Photography
Tyler Jones | Tyler Jones Photography
Embree Construction Group, Inc. | @embreegroup
New Caney Independent School District | @newcaneyisd @lakehoustoncitylifestyle & @eastmontgomerycitylifestyle
Corporate Team
CEO Steven Schowengerdt
President Matthew Perry
COO David Stetler
CRO Jamie Pentz
CoS Janeane Thompson
AD DESIGNER Zach Miller
LAYOUT DESIGNER Jamie Housh
QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Brandy Thomas
Proverbs 3:5-6
Apply Fast & Easy
• Driver’s License – you will be asked to take a photo of both the front and back with your cell phone
• You will be asked to take a selfie with your cell phone to show proof of life
• Routing number of the source bank (bank your initial deposit is coming from)
• Account number at the source bank
• Username and password for your online banking account at the source bank.
NOTE: you will be prompted for a multi-factor verification code from your source bank for security purposes.
city scene
WHERE NEIGHBORS CAN SEE AND BE SEEN
13th Annual Houston Barbecue Festival
1—7: The 13th Annual Houston Barbecue Festival was a true celebration of everything that makes Houston barbecue unique. From smoky brisket and tender ribs to flavorful sausage and creative regional specialties, every bite highlighted the passion and craftsmanship of local pitmasters and restaurant owners. This festival recognizes the hard work, talent, and dedication behind Houston’s best barbecue while giving guests the chance to sample top-quality dishes and discover new favorites. It also celebrates the rich diversity and history of barbecue found across the city. More than just a food event, the festival brought the community together to honor tradition, support local businesses, and experience the unforgettable flavors that make Houston barbecue truly one of a kind.
EMC Happenings in the Community
8–11: Students showcase captivating storytelling as they represent their school. West Fork High School Theatre takes the stage with its UIL production of Dracula, bringing suspense, talent, and theatrical creativity to local audiences. 12–13: Mark Linabury spends time reading children’s books to students at a local elementary school. The visits create meaningful moments of connection while inspiring students through stories and community engagement. 14: The Greater EMC Chamber celebrates a ribbon cutting for Henry’s Home, Horse and Human Sanctuary, the community welcomes an organization that supports both horses and people through compassion.
NEW CANEY ISD
NEW CANEY ISD
NEW CANEY ISD
NEW CANEY ISD
TYLER JONES
TYLER JONES
TYLER JONES
There’s no better time to rejuvenate and enhance your natural beauty. At Pout Medspa, we believe in highlighting your unique features and helping you step into the new season with confidence and grace.
Contact us now to schedule your appointment or to plan your beauty party. Let’s make this fall your most fabulous season yet!
business monthly
Group.
McIlroy Insurance Group, led by Chris McIlroy, delivers personalized coverage solutions for businesses across the Houston area. While offering a range of insurance options, their main focus is on medical insurance solutions for small businesses, helping employers provide affordable, reliable benefits to their teams. With a strong emphasis on customer service, the agency guides clients through complex coverage choices with clarity and confidence, building longterm relationships rooted in trust and protection for what matters most.
Photography by Francie Stonestreet
Visit McCoy’s New Caney today for quality materials and service!
McCoy's Building Supply recently celebrated its grand opening in April, bringing quality materials and trusted service to New Caney. Contractors, builders, and homeowners will find everything from lumber and hardware to tools, roofing supplies, and farm and ranch essentials. Known for knowledgeable staff and dependable products, McCoy's makes projects easier from start to finish while proudly serving and supporting the growing East Montgomery County community.
Improve your golf game anytime at Golf Lab 24!
Golf Lab 24 is redefining how golfers in the East Montgomery area practice and improve their game. This cutting-edge facility offers 24/7 access to indoor golf simulators equipped with advanced swing-analysis technology, providing players with real-time feedback in a private, comfortable setting. Whether you're a beginner or experienced golfer, Golf Lab 24 provides a convenient, data-driven way to sharpen skills, play virtual courses, and elevate performance year-round.
Photography by East Montgomery City Lifestyle
Photography by Embree Construction Group, Inc.
SERVICE ABOVE SELF
SHOWING UP ON SOMEONE’S WORST DAY
ARTICLE BY RORI ORTIZ
PHOTOGRAPHY BY HUNG L. TRUONG
When you're showing up on someone's worst day, it isn't just part of the job. It's a decision made daily. A decision to carry the emotional weight of moments most people will never want to experience again. As a first responder, you make the active choice to show up in those moments. Within the Porter Fire Department, that weight doesn't fall on a single person. It's distributed; it is a weight shared amongst the ranks. They train for and live through those moments together. What's forged in the fire isn't just skill. It's a camaraderie that starts when you're a probie.
For Carter Johnson, Chief of Porter Fire Department, the mission is service to the community. Every call, every
response, every decision rooted in that responsibility. Whether it's a structure fire, a medical emergency, or something in between, the expectation is the same. Show up prepared. Show up professional. Show up ready to be the difference. But behind that mission is constant movement. Growth that doesn't wait.
Porter is expanding, and the department is moving with it. Increased staffing. Advanced equipment. Strategic planning that stretches years ahead, all with one goal in mind: getting closer, faster, and more effectively servicing the people in the areas who need them. Because in emergency response, distance and seconds add up to response times, and that matters.
And preparation is the only thing that bridges the gap created by distance and seconds. That preparation isn't just physical. It's mental. It's an emotional muscle that must be trained and built through repetition, through shared experience, through knowing that the person next to you has done the work and will do it over and over again when it counts. It's what allows a team to move as one. It's what allows a firefighter to walk into uncertainty with confidence. And it's what allows a community to trust that when those firefighters answer the call, someone with the experience to handle any situation comes. Not just to respond. But to carry the weight of that experience. Together.
For Clif Lafreniere, that beginning wasn't polished and predictable. He was at a crossroads in his life. A life that once leaned in the most wrong direction one can find oneself in, he reshaped his life through faith. He was granted the discipline and decided to start over. Construction had been his familiar, but not fulfilling work. The fire service wasn't something he grew up chasing, and he was unsure, but willing to step into the opportunity. And then it became everything.
What began as a leap quickly turned into purpose. Early mornings, packed bags, long shifts. The kind of work that demands more than showing up. It demands growth. As a rookie, nothing was handed to him, even at his age. Respect wasn't assumed. It was earned through repetition, through failure, through proving, again and again, that when the tough moments came, he would be ready."Do it until you can't get it wrong," Clif affirms. That standard isn't just a phrase. It's the baseline. And it doesn't stop at the individual.
For Diego Hernandez, that same foundation evolved into leadership. Starting as a volunteer, stepping into a full-time role, and rising through the ranks, his perspective shifted from learning the job to carrying the responsibility for others within it. Because in this line of work, leadership isn't about authority. It's about accountability. Every decision has weight. Not just operationally,
but personally. The men beside you are more than coworkers. They are husbands, fathers, sons. The job requires a level of trust that extends beyond the incident and into real life. It's a culture that runs deeper than most people realize. Firefighters at Porter FD don't just train together. They live together. Forty-eight hours on shift. Meals cooked as a team. Grocery runs shared, then stories told across the kitchen table that turn into lessons, into trust, into something that holds when the pressure hits the crew. And when it does hit, there's no room for hesitation. Because while the camaraderie is built, it's tested daily on the job.
The calls compress time, creating situations where training must take over. Where someone else's worst day becomes your everyday. There is a responsibility to manage, stabilize, and carry through the best parts of yourself to show up for those around you. That expectation, that standard, is set from the top down.
to Floors FROM FLIGHTS
ARTICLE BY RORI ORTIZ | PHOTOGRAPHY BY ISABEL SHAW
How Civilian Life Led Ben Carter to Build a Business
From the flight hangar to brightening garage foundations, Ben Carter started MACH ONE Epoxy Floors locally with the same mindset that carried him through the Air Force. He runs his company like a unit. Military precision meets civilian craftsmanship.
As an Air Force Technical Sergeant, Ben led crews in aircraft maintenance, where there was no margin for error. Shifts stretched from eight to eighteen hours. Nights blurred into mornings. The work demanded discipline, repetition, and a standard that could not slip. That environment shaped him.
When he transitioned out, there was no clear civilian path waiting for him. His skill sets did not translate to anything available on paper. What was translated was the foundation underneath it. It was a work ethic combined with accountability. Ownership felt like the next obvious step for him. Through a veteran-focused franchise group, he found MACH ONE Epoxy Floors and recognized it could become something more.
In the beginning, Ben was the crew. He answered calls, sold jobs, prepped concrete, and installed floors all by himself. Sixty to eighty-hour work weeks were normal. Growth came slowly, then all at once. He landed a 20,000-square-foot warehouse project, which became the turning point he needed. The job was executed cleanly. When the payment cleared, it quelled something that had been nagging at him since he started: that owning a business could work. That moment helped him break the doubt cycle, rather than pushing him to chase more hours. That big job forced him to ask a different question. How do I build something that does not take me away from my life?
Today, MACH ONE operates with a full crew and multiple trucks. Ben has stepped out of most installs, not because he cannot do the work, but because he built a team that can handle it. That shift stemmed from the same leadership philosophy he brought with him from the military. Take care of your people, and take care of yourself. He hires with intention and trains for standards, not shortcuts. In epoxy, the difference between a floor that lasts and one that fails comes down to the preparation. Concrete must be properly ground, cleaned, and profiled before anything is applied. Miss a step or rush it, and the system breaks down over time. It may not show immediately, but it will show.
The same principle applies to people. Ben learned quickly that experience does not always equal quality. Teaching from scratch often produces better results than correcting bad habits. Expectations are clear. The standard is high. If something is not right, it gets fixed. Even if it takes him time to train new individuals, that standard applies to every job, whether it is a residential garage or a commercial facility. Different spaces, same execution. Prep work is thorough. Materials are high grade. The process is followed without deviation. This is why the company backs residential work with a lifetime adhesion warranty. Confidence comes from knowing the foundation is solid.
The business holds Veteran-owned status, and though it has opened doors, it is not what has closed deals. Trust had to be earned. Today, the business runs on referrals, repeat clients, and growing commercial partnerships that bring consistency beyond seasonal demand.
At home, Ben is a husband and a father of five. That role defines success more than any contract or revenue number. Providing matters, but presence matters more. A business that demands everything is not a win. Ten years from now, success will be a business that runs without constant oversight. A team that operates at the same standard Ben set from the very beginning. Where time is spent where it matters most, the floors are the product, but the foundation Ben is setting for his future is something else entirely.
LEGACY IN THE GRAIN
WHERE CRAFTSMANSHIP MEETS MEMORIES, PIECES SHAPED BY DECADES OF LIVING
ARTICLE BY RORI ORTIZ
PHOTOGRAPHY BY HUNG L. TRUONG
Eric L. Moorehead stepped into woodworking not as an entrepreneur looking to make the big bucks, but as a father looking to build a crib, a high chair, a toy chest, drawers, and even small rattles for his children. Each piece was shaped by hand and by intention, surrounding his family with objects that carried more than function. That first spark never left; it simply waited.
Years later, as retirement approached, Eric made a decision that would define everything that followed. He did not want to retire from something; he wanted to retire to something. What he chose was woodturning, not as a hobby, but as a pursuit of mastery. That pursuit became & Growth LLC, rooted in his belief in the power of "&" in which function and art, precision and creativity, discipline and imagination coexist. It’s the freedom to combine opposing views into one like Functional Fine Art. Every piece he creates reflects that balance, designed for use yet elevated beyond utility. That elevated purpose is a vessel that holds the memories of the individual owner.
At the center of his work is a partnership, not a relationship, that has already stood the test of time. Eric and his wife, Mary, recently celebrated 50 years of marriage, traveling together across Texas, bringing his work to art shows in small towns. These small-town art shows are where artisans can share their true art form in a way that preserves the craftsmanship and keeps it recognized and valued. She sands, she finishes, and she stands beside him at every show, talking to customers and guests. Together, they carry not just inventory, but memories with beautiful stories, building something with a rhythm that keeps them working side by side. Across Texas, from one small-town art show to the next, Eric and his wife set up their tent, arrange each piece with care and consideration. Then they wait, not for volume but for a connection with a new individual with a beautiful story. They have built a business that thrives on conversations. Repeat customers return not just for the work but for the connection, to share more stories they now carry.
Their journey is different. There is no Instagram or Etsy shop, no mass-produced products for sale, and most definitely no duplicates. Eric refuses to make the same piece twice. Every bowl, every handle, every custom request is one of one, because to him, wood is never just wood. It holds memories, and that is the beauty of every single piece; it has its own unique memory. A woman once brought him a log from a hackberry tree she had planted with her father as a child, and decades later, it became a bowl she could hold onto and cherish to keep that memory alive. Another client brought oak from their family property, asking for pieces that reflected shared traditions, resulting in custom ice cream scoops shaped for the hands of the family members who have aged but still gather on that property.
These are not product transactions; they are memory translations. Eric begins every new piece with a conversation, understanding what the project or the wood means to the individual before deciding what it will become. Their stories are what shape the piece just as much as the wood grain itself. That
CONTINUED >
same sense of legacy continues within his own family, as his son has taken up the craft, building furniture for his daughters and continuing a cycle that long began with a simple decision to make something by hand.
In a world built on speed, Eric chooses intention. In a market defined by overproduction in sameness, he chooses individuality. His work reminds people that some objects are meant to carry more than function; they carry time, people, and legacy. Because behind every piece in his hands, he knows the grain never forgets, and he works to share the memories. There is a story that every piece of wood is waiting to tell.
THE DAY IT STOPS
WHAT MOST HOMEOWNERS IGNORE UNTIL IT DOESN’T WORK, BECAUSE NOT MAINTAINING YOUR GARAGE DOOR ALMOST ALWAYS COSTS MORE
ARTICLE BY RORI ORTIZ | PHOTOGRAPHY BY HUNG L. TRUONG
Garage doors are largely ignored. They are used every day, treated like a daily button you press to get you to the next step in your day. You move through life. In and out, open and close, without a second thought. Until they fail, something snaps, binds, or refuses to move. What was once a background button to the convenience of your life suddenly becomes a barrier you cannot work around.
For Cody Papuga, owner of Amtex Overhead Doors, that one moment, it is just a door to something more, is his everyday. The next problem is that when an overhead door stops, it's a dangerous situation that many trivialize. It's just a hindrance to someone getting out of the garage to go to work, pick up their kids, or even leave their house for an event. He does not dramatize it. He just wants to educate individuals about what it is, a moving wall. "Most people wait too long," he says. "They hear something, they notice something, long before it becomes a problem, and they let it ride." Sometimes that decision only leads to inconvenience. In the best situation, a car is stuck in the garage. A delay in the day. Other times, it is more serious. Springs carry tension based on the door's full weight. Panels can bind. Tracks can fail. What looks simple carries enough weight and force to cause real damage if handled incorrectly or left unaddressed for too long.
That is where Cody's work begins. A call comes in. A problem that started small has grown into something bigger, causing a delay. And from there, it is on him to figure it out and fix it the right way. Cody chose this industry by chance. It was already part of his life because of his grandfather. Not old had his grandfather built companies in the same trade. His father is still working in the industry for another company. Being around something and choosing to build your life in it are two different things. He spent fifteen years learning the trade firsthand. Installation. Repairs. Troubleshooting problems that were not always obvious. Over time, he started to see the patterns.
Tara Papuga, Owner of Amtex Overhead Doors
Cody Papuga, Owner of Amtex Overhead Doors
Tara & Cody Papuga, Owners of Amtex Overhead Doors
"I didn't agree with how things were being done," Cody says plainly. No safety net, no guarantees, he decided he was going to do the work to strike out on his own, to see every job he was associated with being done right. Safety matters to him because of his own life experiences. Cody was in a serious accident that left him with broken legs, hips, pelvis, and a ruptured spleen. He spent time in a wheelchair. He was not alone in that process. He had people in his corner, helping, supporting, showing up when it mattered. That experience stayed with him. It shows up now in the way he works. There is no patience for shortcuts. No temporary fixes are okay because they lead to bigger problems later.
Amtex Overhead Doors reflects that approach. Cody shows up and handles everything himself. In the market, customers already feel unsure of who to trust. He sees it every day. Homeowners calling multiple companies, getting different answers, different pricing, different explanations. The confusion alone is enough to make people hesitate. His approach tells the customer the truth about what is wrong. Tell them what it takes to fix it, whether that helps his bottom line or not. Then do the work the way it is supposed to be done if he is hired.
His wife, Tara, is part of his foundation. When Cody talks about building something, Tara is steady. She trusts his decisions, even when they come with risk. She understands what it takes to build something from the ground up, and she chooses to stand beside him in it. For Cody, that trust matters. It allows him to focus on the work, knowing that what he is building is not something he carries alone.
As Amtex Overhead Doors continues to grow, it is not just about more jobs; it is about doing all things jobs or conversations the right way. Because at the end of the day, most of the problems in life aren't fixed alone, and Cody hopes that if a delay does occur in your day, you don't ignore it. Give him a call, because you can either take care of it when it starts, or you deal with the consequences when it stops everything.
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
JUNE 10TH
Get active and join the fun at weekly volleyball sessions!
Kingwood Revolution Volleyball | Porter, TX | 6:00 PM
Open Play Volleyball takes place weekly on Wednesdays at Kingwood Revolution Volleyball, now featuring brand new sand courts from 6 P.M. to 9 P.M. All skill levels are welcome, and it’s just $5 per player. Whether you're improving your game or enjoying time with friends, it’s a fun, active way to connect with the community.
JUNE 13TH
Dive in, race hard, and join the Splash and Dash!
Big River's Waterpark | New Caney, TX | 7:00 AM
The Splash & Dash 5K, 10K, and Aquathlon takes place Saturday, June 13, 2026, at 7:00 A.M. at 23101 Highway 242 in New Caney. This exciting multi-sport event combines swimming and running for all fitness levels. Perfect for families and athletes alike, participants can enjoy a fun, energetic atmosphere while challenging themselves and staying active together.
