As we move through the middle of the year, decluttering becomes essential. It helps you release what no longer fits your life, reassess what’s serving you, and prepare your space for the next season ahead.
At Honeybee’s Organizing Solutions, we support intentional decluttering that keeps you on track—mentally and physically—through life’s transitions. Now booking May sessions.
Book your May decluttering session and stay aligned for the season ahead.
www.melissaorganizes.com
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, Porter Fire Department shows us what leadership looks like in real time. In the issue, Clean Stream Solutions reflects the discipline and commitment of a Marine, Daryl’s Detailing shows pride in doing honest work the right way, Game Day Men’s Health Kingwood shows another Marine reinforcing personal responsibility, and The Back Nine Golf in Atascocita highlights growth built through consistency and purpose.
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 @LAKEHOUSTONCITYLIFESTYLE DIRECTOR
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 WRITERS
Rori Ortiz | rori.ortiz@citylifestyle.com
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Hung L. Truong | Hung L. Truong Photography
Christa McCourt | Houston Studio
Francie Baltazar Stonestreet | FireHeart Photography
Jen Pisani | Jen Pisani Photography
Jordan Lewis | Byfocal Marketing
Page Cherry | Visibly Connected
Gold Standard Handyman | @goldstandardhandyman
Semper Amici Canine Training | @semperamicik9
Sprouts Farmers Market | @sprouts
Yonutz | @yonutz_kingwoodtx
Zammittis | @zammittis
@lakehoustoncitylifestyle & @eastmontgomerycitylifestyle
CEO Steven Schowengerdt
President Matthew Perry
COO David Stetler
CRO Jamie Pentz
CoS Janeane Thompson
AD DESIGNER Jenna Crawford
LAYOUT DESIGNER Meredith Wilson
QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Anna Minnick
Proverbs 3:5-6
• 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.
Springtime Smiles & Beautiful Bouquets
1: Easter Egg Hunt at the Easter Festival in Kingwood Town Center. 2: Knoxy's Kitchen where small-batch treats are made with big hearts!
3: Ella’s Easter adventure begins, searching for colorful eggs to fill her basket! 4: These toddlers had a blast during the egg hunt and sharing their goodies with each other. 5: Smiles, sunshine, and Easter eggs made this hunt extra special today! 6: Kimmie with Glorious Kreations making beautiful bouquets for X-Label event. 7: Houston Astros inspired bouquet created by Kimmie with Glorious Kreations!
CHERRY - VISIBLY CONNECTED PAGE CHERRY - VISIBLY CONNECTED
PAGE CHERRY - VISIBLY CONNECTED
Blooms, Barbecue & Fun
8: Colorful blooms and stunning costumes brought magic to the Flower Festival in Humble! 9: Beautiful costumes and blooming fun made the Flower Festival in Humble unforgettable for everyone! 10: Smiles and celebration as she proudly accepts her award at the Flower Festival in Humble! 11: Bright yellow umbrella shining as she strolls through the Flower Festival in Humble with joy! 12: Slow-smoked goodness and rich aromas filled the air at this standout barbecue vendor booth today! 13: Fire Craft BBQ, Chef David and crew bringing the heat with their delicious Prime Rib. 14: Smoky perfection on every plate as this BBQ vendor showcases award-worthy Texas barbecue flavors!
Local Celebrations 15: 3rd Coast served up tender, flavorful bites that kept festival guests coming back for more! 16: Dr. Wilcox and wife, Cynthia Wilcox celebrating 4everyoung Kingwood's 2nd Anniversary! 17: Celebrating 4EverYoung Kingwood’s second anniversary with an amazing crew dedicated to wellness, beauty, and care! 18: Celebrating Boots and Bling with Mandy and her amazing Spa at Salon M team today! 19: Boots and Bling vibes with a stylish mobile bar serving drinks and great event energy! 20: Live music brought the Boots and Bling event to life with unforgettable energy and fun! 21: Celebrating Arthur and the sweet success of Yonutz Kingwood’s grand ribbon cutting!
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Zammitti's in Kingwood, TX, is a local favorite Italian restaurant known for warm hospitality and classic comfort dishes. Guests enjoy a menu featuring fresh pasta, hand-tossed pizzas, seafood, and signature Italian entrees made with quality ingredients. Perfect for family dinners, date nights, or group gatherings, Zammitti's offers a welcoming atmosphere and consistent service that keeps the community coming back. Whether dining in or celebrating a special occasion, it remains
Paul Martincic, owner of Gold Standard Handyman, provides dependable, detail-focused home repair and improvement services throughout the Kingwood area. Known for honest work and quality craftsmanship, Paul helps homeowners with everything from small repairs to larger maintenance projects. His commitment to integrity, clear communication, and reliable service has made him a trusted go-to for residential handyman needs. Gold Standard Handyman continues to build its reputation one project at a time.
Semper Amici Canine Training provides professional, results-driven dog training throughout the Houston area, helping owners build stronger, more balanced relationships with their pets. Specializing in obedience, behavior modification, and real-world training, their approach focuses on clear communication and lasting results. Whether working with puppies or correcting challenging behaviors, Semper Amici tailors programs to each dog's needs, creating confident, well-mannered companions that fit seamlessly into family life and everyday environments.
“REVITALIZE & ENERGIZE TO MAKE MORE PROFITABLE...” DYNAMIZE (V.)
Buying or selling a home can be a stressful process if you don't have the right real estate agent. With ov er a decade of experience, you can rely on us to get you the best possible result.
D1 Training Atascocita is a premier athletic performance facility helping youth and adults reach their fitness and sports goals. Backed by proven training systems used by elite athletes, D1 offers speed, strength, agility, and sport-specific programs tailored to each individual. With experienced coaches and a motivating environment, members build confidence, discipline, and performance on and off the field. D1 Training Atascocita is dedicated to developing stronger, faster, and more prepared athletes in the local community.
SUNDAY JUNE 21 ~ 11 AM - 2:00 PM
A MARINE COMMITTED TO SUCCEED, NO CONTINGENCIES TO FALL BACK ON
ARTICLE BY RORI ORTIZ
PHOTOGRAPHY BY FRANCIE BALTAZAR STONESTREET
I
X I T
Justin Robertson went into business similarly to how many of us learned to swim in the 90s, pushed into the deep end. He did not plan a safety net or test the waters to try things out. No, he treaded water and decided to succeed.
“In the Marine Corps, you don’t plan for an exit. You commit to the mission, and you see it through.” Justin states matter-of-factly. That mindset stayed behind when his service ended and followed him into civilian life, into uncertainty, and eventually into helping him start Clean Stream Solutions.
Justin learned pressure washing early, working alongside his dad at his painting company, handling the prep work that most people overlook, but that every job depends on. When that chapter closed due to his father’s health, the skill stayed with him. After the military, he worked a series of jobs, filling time but not building anything of his own. That changed when he decided to move to the Lake Houston area with his girlfriend, now his wife, Diana. There was nothing guaranteed; there was just a skill, an idea, and a decision to move.
Most people hesitate at that point. He didn’t. “There was no halfway...” Justin reminisces, “There was only completing the mission.” That commitment is how Justin runs his business solo; he understands he is working on what is often someone’s largest investment. There is no buffer between him and the result, and that accountability shows up in his process.
The work itself is demanding in many ways; DIYers and people who want to cut costs underestimate how much goes into quality. Houston’s humidity creates constant buildup. Algae, grime, and organic growth are not occasional issues. They are ongoing conditions that can return quickly if not properly treated.
That is what sets Clean Stream Solutions apart. It is not just about removing what you see, but understanding what is there in the first place. “It’s not just spraying water,” Justin explains. “You’ve got to know what chemicals to use. There is a why to what you can and can’t use, especially around Lake Houston.” Working in the Lake Houston area means being mindful of more than just surface-level results. It means using EPA-safe methods near natural waterways and ensuring the process protects the property as much as it protects the environment.
That same consistency shows up in the conditions he works through. Whether it is the heavy heat that settles over Houston for most of the year or the colder months when most would wait it out, Justin keeps moving. As long as conditions allow, the work gets done. The environment shifts, but the standard does not.
Looking ahead, Justin is not just thinking about growth in numbers. He is thinking about building something with a goal in mind. He wants to lead a team, ideally veterans or those with a similar mindset, who share his level of discipline.
Behind every decision to start is support to make it possible. Justin credits his wife as the person who stood behind him every step of the way, from the move to the idea, and even when doubt of uncertainty crept in. She helped him build the foundation. Now, his role in the business supports the day-to-day reality of that dream; her part in that story is one he does not overlook. Without that backing, the start or result may have looked different today.
That support did more than help him start; it gave him a mission. Her belief turned the risk into something they could carry together. For Justin, Clean Stream Solutions is the pure definition of Mission Complete. What started as a risk became a routine built on consistency and discipline. Each job is another step forward, reinforcing what he has built. The results speak for themselves. The mission was locked in, and the only option was to execute.
ARTICLE BY RORI ORTIZ | PHOTOGRAPHY BY HUNG L. TRUONG
Daryl Crider didn’t set out with a business plan. Daryl’s Detailing came about by chance and luck, meeting an individual who was not averse to focus and hard work. He stepped into detailing while helping at a local auto shop. What he found was work that pulled him in. Something that drove in neglected drove out looking sharp enough to kill with just one glance. That is still the same draw that keeps him excited about his work.
Daryl is a man who talks plainly and enjoys the simple things in life. A business that takes the rough and makes it look brand new was right up his alley. In the early days, he was on his own, and the workload piled up fast. So he made a move and brought on folks to help him with the growing demand. The cars were stacked deep and tight, he and his team moving one car at a time, hyper-focused on getting another car finished and as many as each of them could each day. The demand was there, but the setup wasn’t sustainable. Soon enough, they relocated to a warehouse, and the business started to gain even more traction.
CONTINUED >
More space means more vehicles and staff. But reality hit after years of putting in full effort to run at full capacity. They had gone years without a break on most days, and it was his wife, Pamela, who offered the perspective that the solution wasn’t to bring in more staff but to scale back. Daryl didn’t know the first steps to downsize. That wasn’t in his nature; it took effort to refocus and shift his thought process from building a business to slowing down. His goal is to move the operation behind their home to bring together the two things that matter most.
Today, Daryl’s Detailing runs on referrals, no more large contracts or chasing volume. His team is not packed with rushed jobs. They work together to perform quality detailing. Other businesses may offer a quick detail that takes half the time his team might quote individuals, but they are not a one-pass operation. They are built on long-standing relationships with customers who understand what they get when choosing our shop over others.
His crew consists of individuals he trusts, and they know what matters. Customers come first. Always. If the customer isn’t taken care of, the business doesn’t exist. There’s no room for shortcuts in an industry that continues to advertise quick solutions and speed. His team is focused on delivering quality finishes across the board.
Behind all of that is a foundation of fifty years of marriage. His wife, Pamela, is the kind of partner who doesn’t just stand beside him; she is part of his everyday life, shaping his work. She helped to redefine the business and works to protect the current pace of operations. She influenced the decision to slow down, and it is a choice that helps the team focus on detailing rather than volume or speed.
That standard shows up in the work itself. “Every car is cleaned automatically,” Daryl states. “It is not treated as an add-on, it’s standard.” It is part of the process before the vehicle is brought inside, buffed, and finished with paint sealant. Interiors get the same attention. “Sometimes we do interiors two or three times,” he explains, due to things like stubborn stains that can come back up after the first cleaning. When that happens, the crew goes back in. That patience is why many customers find him after trying other quick-turnover shops first. “They finally find us,” he says in relief. By then, the vehicle usually needs more than just a quick clean. “They need a team that is willing to do the job right the first time.”
“THEY NEED A TEAM THAT IS WILLING TO DO THE JOB RIGHT THE FIRST TIME.”
Choosing discipline when life doesn’t give you a choice
ARTICLE BY RORI ORTIZ PHOTOGRAPHY BY HUNG L. TRUONG
For Jeff Klunke, her learned life doesn’t wait until you are ready; it forces your hand at times. Especially the hands of time, they force us to face truths we may not want to face. At GameDay Men’s Health in Kingwood, they help men face life head-on rather than wait for life to force their hand.
Jeff noticed ten years ago that everything in his life and body started to come apart. A Marine, built by his training and discipline, getting through tough spots with structure had always been a part of his identity. But outside of that environment, life doesn’t always follow a clear chain of command. After a difficult divorce and his declining health, the slow erosion of energy and positivity in his life at the time was evaporating. He needed clarity, and that need put him at a crossroads.
He could go one way. Or the other. So many men choose band-aids and bad decisions to mask the signs of aging or the life they once had, only to have it change forever. “I had two directions,” Jeff said. “I could have just felt sorry for myself… or I could invest back into myself.” A decision at the time that catapulted him into finding a version of himself that would eventually become the man we know today.
“The only thing I could control was what I did for myself.” No halfway measures, no only showing up when it was convenient. He committed to the gym being a constant in his life. Nutrition became an intentional choice. Over time, that discipline compounded. What started as recovery turned into transformation. He rebuilt his health and confidence, and he found direction.
“Men are stubborn,” Jeff said plainly. “We’re taught to push through, to handle it, to not make it a big deal.” They ignore the fatigue. They push through the brain fog. They avoid the conversations they don’t want to have. They patch symptoms instead of addressing the cause. They choose temporary fixes over long-term solutions. When Jeff opened GameDay Men’s Health in Kingwood, he saw it as a place built for the conversations men don’t always know how to start. The hard conversations he had when he found himself at a crossroads.
Inside the clinic, the approach is intentionally different. With medical director Dr. Cameron Erickson leading the clinical side, the model is simple: combine expertise with access and remove everything that gets in the way of trust. “There are a lot of men out there who don’t know where to go, or they’re embarrassed, or they just keep putting it off,” Jeff offers, “And it doesn’t have to be that way.” Men who have decided to trust the team at GameDay are seeing energy returning. Their confidence is coming back. Relationships and intimate connections are improving. Marriages can stabilize. The parts of life that had started to slip away from men are allowed space to get pulled back into place.
Since his crossroads moment, Jeff has gone on to start multiple businesses and remarried to his beautiful wife, Brandi, who is part of the GameDay Team. He has been able to create a life that looks nothing like the one unraveling years earlier. He has five amazing children he is proud to call his: Austin, 33; Adrien, 25; Adam, 23; Anderson, 15; and Tag, 12.
When focusing on the impact the clinic is having on the community, Jeff says proudly, “They’ll pull me aside and say, ‘I didn’t realize how bad I felt until I felt better.” For Jeff, those moments are the confirmation that what they are doing works, not because of the business, but because of the impact those men are seeing.
Dammann, MBA CEO & Owner
713-534-7844 har.com/shannonlivingstone
Built by People Who Actually Play, for Everyone to Enjoy
ARTICLE BY RORI ORTIZ
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEN PISANI
Elsa and Roberto didn’t reinvent golf; they just built what they needed. At The Back Nine Golf | Houston - Atascocita, TX, that need became a place to practice with purpose, a space that matches the pace of any player, whether it is the space needed to refine your swing or the option for beginners to step into the game for the first time. What they
opened for area residents to enjoy removes one of golf’s biggest friction points: access.
That access isn’t just about getting in the door. It’s about having consistent time to actually work on your game, not just squeeze in when a tee time happens to open up. Access to golf is the primary reason the game seems set aside only for elites. Because the reality is simple. Getting on a course isn’t always easy. Time, scheduling, cost, and pace can turn what should be an enjoyable experience into a frustrating one. When that happens, progress stalls even for great players. Experienced players run into the same issue. Without consistent repetition, it becomes harder to maintain rhythm, confidence, and control over the small details that separate a good round from a frustrating one.
Back 9 changes everything we know about golf and presents a new, simpler way to engage with the game. It gives players time to put in real reps before ever stepping onto a traditional course, the kind of time that builds confidence and repetition, sharpening ability. It creates a space where players can slow the game down, focus on specific parts of their swing, and build consistency without outside variables interrupting the process. Over time, consistent access compounds, turning small improvements into noticeable gains that carry over to every course you step onto in real life.
This allows for when golf is played in real life, when you’re actually touching grass, you get to enjoy the game you’re playing. You’re not guessing your way through a round; you’re playing with intention. This isn’t about replacing the game. It’s about enhancing your game and improving the overall experience when you’re on the grass.
At the Atascocita location, that foundation is already in place, with Fall Creek opening soon and Summerwood on the way; the vision expands beyond a single space. Each location is intentionally built to serve a different part of the game, from business and play in Atascocita, to recovery and performance in Fall Creek, to skill development in Summerwood. Together, they create a system that supports how players actually train, recover, and get better. Each location is built with a specific purpose in mind, creating a system that supports players in growth. Elsa and Roberto want people to benefit from the opportunity to train, which can improve someone’s game. What started as a single location is quickly becoming something more structured.
Back 9 is building a connected network, not just adding locations. Individuals with a membership will be able to unlock access across all three locations, expanding availability from a single set of bays to a system of bays across the area, giving players more time, more flexibility, and more opportunities to improve without increasing cost. Together, the couple has created an environment that meets players where they are and pushes them forward without forcing the process.
This is what makes Back 9 stand out from other options in the area. It’s not trying to teach people how to love golf; it’s built for people who already do. For those players, it creates something that’s been missing: consistent access to meaningful practice on greens that aren’t easily accessible. For newer players, it removes the cost barrier, and it sets them in an environment where it’s difficult to pick up bad habits.
Stepping onto a course unprepared gives anyone, at any level, undue anxiety that detracts from the game. Back 9 gives players the room to grow into the game without being turned off by it at any stage. Because improvement shouldn’t feel intimidating or out of reach, it should feel like progress, and that’s exactly what Elsa and Roberto set out to build.
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.
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.”
“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.
