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There’s something to be said for a man who knows his craft – who shows up prepared, takes pride in his work and earns respect over time.
This Men’s Issue is a reflection of that mindset.
On our cover, former Detroit Tiger Kirk Gibson’s legacy extends far beyond the field. Through The Kirk Gibson Center for Parkinson's Wellness, he’s channeling that same grit and determination into something even more meaningful, bringing hope and progress to those who need it most.
Inside this edition, we highlight the men and businesses that keep Troy moving—from Automotive Authority, where expertise meets trust, to Temperature Repair, where service still means doing right by the customer. These are the kinds of Troy businesses people return to time and again. Not because they have to, but because they want to.
We also take a step onto the fairway, rounding up some of Troy’s best golf destinations, because sometimes connection can be found between tee and green.
This issue is for the local men who build, fix, lead and show up – and for those people who value them.
TODD
HAIGHT, PUBLISHER
June 2026
PUBLISHER
Todd Haight | todd.haight@citylifestyle.com
MANAGING EDITOR
Margaret Haight | margaret.haight@citylifestyle.com
PUBLISHER ASSISTANT
Allison Sommerville allison.sommerville@citylifestyle.com
ACCOUNT MANAGERS
Jessica Parsons | jessica.parsons@citylifestyle.com
Julie Flores
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Cindy Stewart
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Simran Bajwa, Darrell Ellis
CEO Steven Schowengerdt
President Matthew Perry
COO David Stetler
CRO Jamie Pentz
CoS Janeane Thompson
AD DESIGNER Jenna Crawford
LAYOUT DESIGNER Kelsey Ragain
QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Brandy Thomas
Inside
Inside
Kirk Gibson’s mission: building community, movement and hope for those living with Parkinson’s at the new Kirk Gibson Center for Parkinson's Wellness.
Simran Bajwa
Daniel Cooke of Expedition Detroit has been reappointed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to the Michigan Wildlife Council for a second term. He has served on the Council for the past two years and witnessed Michigan’s prioritization of conservation firsthand. The Michigan Wildlife Council is entrusted with educating the public about the importance of wildlife conservation and its role in preserving Michigan’s great outdoor heritage for future generations.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has appointed Lissa Pietrykowski, owner of Peak Physique Fitness Training and Peak Women in Troy, to the Michigan Board of Physical Therapy. “My work in fitness has always been rooted in helping people move better, feel stronger and live healthier lives. I look forward to bringing that perspective to the board,” Pietrykowski said. A personal trainer of 12 years, Pietrykowski holds a biological sciences degree from the University of Michigan and a postgraduate certificate from Eastern Michigan University, bringing fitness and education expertise to the state licensing body.
Baker College has secured $213,000 in grant funding to expand opportunities for middle and high school students across Michigan, supporting summer camps/dual enrollment programming during Summer 2026. “These grants allow Baker College to expand access to high-quality summer learning while removing barriers for students and families,” said Dr. LaTasha Ellis, Dean of Undergraduate Programs. “Whether students are earning college credit or exploring new academic interests, these programs create meaningful pathways to confidence, curiosity and future success.”
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ARTICLE BY TODD
Inside Troy’s Automotive Authority, where trust matters more than the transaction
The first thing you notice about Automotive Authority isn’t the shop. It’s the dog.
She’s stretched out comfortably near the front, calm but alert, welcoming customers like a familiar host.
For one regular customer – Lauren, age 33, professional, perpetually busy – this has become part of the ritual. Lauren brings in her car, settles into the waiting area with her laptop and works for hours, occasionally pausing to pet Bailey, the shop’s unofficial ambassador.
Lauren loves the dog. But she comes because she trusts the man behind the business.
That man is Tim Anderson, owner of Automotive Authority in Troy. And recently, he did something most people don’t expect from a mechanic.
He told her not to fix her car.
She had come in like any other visit, expecting a repair. Tim took a look and handed her the estimate. Then he took it back.
“I’ll fix the car,” he told her. “But I wouldn’t do it if I were you.”
He could have done the work. It would have been thousands of dollars from Lauren’s pocket. But the more he looked at the car, the more he was sure it had deeper issues.
Even if he fixed this problem, bigger ones were close behind.
Instead, he advised Lauren: Save your money and put it toward a new car. Then he went a step further.
“Go drive a few,” he said. “Figure out what you like. Then come back and let me know your top choices, and I’ll tell you which ones I see the most in the shop, and the ones I see the least.”
In other words, he worked himself out of a job – and a regular customer.
That moment captures everything about Automotive Authority. In an industry where many customers walk in worried about inflated estimates or fake repairs, Tim has built a business on doing the opposite.
“It’s about transparency,” he says simply.
Every day, customers turn to Tim for a second opinion, bearing long lists of recommended repairs from dealerships or chain shops. Sometimes, the issues are real. Often, they’re not needed at all.
He’s built his shop around a different philosophy: show the customer exactly what’s happening, explain it clearly and only recommend what’s truly necessary.
“No more, no less,” he says.
“Tim has proved himself over the years. While other shops are trying to get my every dollar, I’ve seen him refuse to do repairs that aren’t in my best interest.”
It’s a mindset rooted in something deeper than business strategy. Tim grew up in Richmond, a small town just northeast of Troy, where reputation isn’t a marketing tool, it’s who you are.
“You learn pretty quickly that if you’re not honest, it catches up to you.”
That approach extends to every part of the Automotive Authority experience. Customers aren’t rushed or treated like transactions.
For some, especially women who may feel uneasy walking into an auto repair shop, that’s a real comfort when noises start coming from the engine.
“I want that fear to go away when they walk in,” Tim explains. Sometimes, that means fixing a problem and standing by it. Other times, simply listening. Occasionally, it means saying no to repairs that aren’t needed.
“We’ll advise against spending money if it doesn’t make sense for the customer. And we gladly offer second opinions, even if it means we’re talking them out of a repair.”
Because for him, the goal isn’t today’s invoice. It’s the relationship.
“I’d rather not make money today,” he says, “and have you come back for the next 10 years.”
Many of his customers have been coming to him for decades. Some now send their children, even grandchildren.
And Lauren, the woman who walked away without getting her car fixed? She came back.
After test-driving several options, she sat down with Tim and went through them one by one. He offered insight based on which models hold up, which don’t, which have the least problems and which tend to cost owners the least over time.
“As a woman, it’s so important to have a mechanic you know is looking out for you.”
“As a woman, it’s so important to have a mechanic you know is looking out for you,” she says. “Tim has proved himself over the years. While other shops are trying to get my every dollar, I’ve seen him refuse to do repairs that aren’t in my best interest.”
Since buying her new car a few months ago, Lauren hasn’t needed to come back to Automotive Authority.
She misses Bailey, but she’s doing something far more valuable.
She’s sending everyone she knows to Tim.
@automotiveauthoritytroy | (248) 619-9020
INSIDE THE DETROIT TIGERS LEGEND’S FIGHT AGAINST PARKINSON’S AND HOW HE’S COACHING OTHERS THROUGH IT
I’m midstream in conversation with Kirk Gibson when the Detroit Tigers legend suddenly pauses. He’s spotted someone lining up a shot at the pool table on the far side of the room.
Gibson offers a quick apology and steps away from the interview.
“I need to go show Harry a thing or two,” he says.
With that, Kirk is at the table, cue in hand, trading shots and quiet banter. The man is Harry Neuman. And in that unscripted moment, the story reveals itself.
For decades, Harry has lived a quiet life, far from the spotlight that followed Kirk. But like so many diagnosed with Parkinson’s, including Gibson himself, his world had gradually begun to narrow.
“You sit at home just reading the paper and watching television,” Harry says. “Every day. That’s what it becomes.”
Before finding The Kirk Gibson Center for Parkinson’s Wellness, that rhythm defined his days. A few months ago, someone encouraged him to visit. At first, it was occasional. Now, it’s daily.
“Everything here is free if you have Parkinson’s. It’s just for them, because it’s the only place they can be comfortable being themselves.”
– Kirk Gibson
“I’m here Monday through Friday,” he says. “I don’t miss too many days.”
“Here, I can sit and talk with people who understand exactly what I’m going through,” Harry says. “You can’t get that anywhere else. Not like this.”
In just a few months, he’s formed what he calls a wide circle, dozens of people he knows by name. People who notice when he’s not there.
“My family loves that I come here,” he adds. “It’s changed my life.”
For Kirk, this is the point. Diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2015, he approached it the way he approached everything else: As a problem to solve, for others more than for himself. The Kirk Gibson Center for Parkinson’s Wellness in Farmington Hills is that starting point.
This feels less like a facility and more like a private club, with one admittance requirement: Parkinson’s.
“Everything here is free if you have Parkinson’s,” says Kirk. “It’s just for them, because it’s the only place they can be comfortable being themselves.”
“People come in and realize they belong here,” says the center’s CEO, Mary Lynn Foster. “They quickly see they’re not alone in their disease. That’s why some people drive an hour or more just to be here.”
This shared experience is what makes moments like the one at the pool table feel so natural. A World Series hero stepping away from a tour because someone on his team is ready to play.
Inside these walls, titles fade. Watching Kirk interact with the members – friends, actually – you realize fame doesn’t matter here, only the common ground shared by those with Parkinson’s.
Just months after opening, the center already offers more than 130 weekly classes to help members manage symptoms and slow progression of the disease. Classes focus on balance, speech, functional strength, brain health, posture, breathing and more.
Tour the center and you’ll see members boxing or practicing yoga and tai chi. Others create art or power walk on the elevated track.
In one class, members practice handwriting to help counter the micrographia (small handwriting) brought on by Parkinson’s.
Elsewhere, the cardio drumming class improves upper body strength, while spinning builds endurance.
“Our members are supported by highly experienced coaches and volunteers who have created a culture that is deeply human and personal,” says Mary Lynn. “We expect to see more than 60,000 visits to the center this year.”
On any given day, the mission is simple: show up, move, connect.
Adds Steve Annear, CEO for the Kirk Gibson Foundation: “We’re building something that can go beyond this building. There’s a need for this in every community, and we’re thinking about how to take what we’re learning here and share it.”
The physical benefits are measurable: improvements in balance, strength, mobility. And something even more important: Hope.
In a recent survey, 92 percent of member participants report a more hopeful outlook on their lives.
With Parkinson’s, hope is a treasured commodity that’s revealed in small ways. Like how Harry, once isolated at home, now shows up every day.
Cam Gibson is director of brand development for the center. He’s also Kirk’s son and a former professional baseball player in his own right.
“I came into this after baseball, not really knowing what I was doing,” he says. “Now I see how much this matters. You see the relationships and the connections, and you realize the social benefit is just as important as anything happening in the classes.”
Parkinson’s is the fastest-growing neurological disease in the developed world, so the need for spaces like this continues to grow. Gibson’s leadership in creating something brand new feels familiar, like what we once watched on the field.
“You may not be doing it for you today,” Kirk says. “Do it for the next person.”
Always thinking about the team.
That mindset, rooted in years of winning through strategy and collaboration, resonates here, because no one is doing this alone.
Across the room, the game of pool continues. Two men – one known across the baseball world, one in his local community – share the same space and the same experience.
On the same team.
And for Kirk Gibson, this may be the most meaningful one yet.
kirkgibsoncenter.org l (313) 823-2319
The Kirk Gibson Center for Parkinson’s Wellness offers every program at no cost to members, ensuring the individuals and families who are navigating Parkinson’s can receive support without financial strain.
This mission succeeds only through the generosity of others.
“We know what this center means to the people who come here,” says Steve Annear, CEO for the Foundation. “Just in our general area, more than 8,000 people are impacted by Parkinson’s disease. How do we make sure they have access to these services at no cost? That takes a lot of funding and volunteers.”
The foundation is working toward a $30 million goal to support access and expand programming.
To learn more about the center or to support the goal, visit kirkgibsonfoundation.org to get involved. Donations and partnerships bring hope, movement, education and connection to everyone living with Parkinson’s.
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.
Have our Picture Ta en with a
Troy Community ove Family Trade Show Sunday, une 21st at the Boys & irls Club of Troy
! “I live and own a business in Troy! “I live and own a business in Troy! There are so many won erful people, There are so any wonderful people, events, and nonprofits!” events, and nonprofits! “ us T ar an onde f , !
ARTICLE BY TODD HAIGHT | PHOTOGRAPHY BY DARREL ELLIS
HOW ONE OF THE AREA’S FEW INDEPENDENT HVAC COMPANIES IS DOING BUSINESS DIFFERENTLY
“We think of it as taking care of people. That’s the real job.”
The HVAC industry is increasingly dominated by large, private equity-backed companies. Sul Salam of Temperature Repair is keeping it simple.
The Troy businessman is staying independent. For his customers, that means a focus on service, not price.
“When a company answers to investors, the pressure may be to grow revenue,” Sul says. “When you’re privately owned, as we are, you’re trying to fix the customer’s problem.”
Sul’s mindset: “We’re in the service business. We just happen to do heating and cooling.”
It’s why Sul has guided his crew of licensed technicians to prioritize customer service. To him, it’s about clear, upfront pricing and explaining what’s really needed.
That non-traditional approach explains the 201 reviews on Google for Temperature Repair – every one a 5.0 rating.
This success comes from a guy who didn’t take a typical path into the business. Sul grew up in Livonia after moving to the U.S. as a toddler and later played college football before shifting his interests to a career in the trades. With no clear path into a specific field, he took an internship that paid just $20 a day –and he stuck with it.
“I looked at it as a chance to learn the trade, not to get rich,” he says.
He spent years building his skills, often working long days and side jobs, focused on understanding heating and cooling systems, diagnosing problems and doing work the right way.
That approach still defines Temperature Repair today.
While many larger companies rely on sales-driven models, Sul and his team focus on fixing what actually needs to be fixed.
“There are times when systems need to be replaced,” he says. “But a lot of times, they don’t. We can do full replacements, of course, but we often find smaller issues – maybe a component or even a wire – that can solve the problem for far less.”
And when a replacement is needed, Sul is selective about what he installs.
“We stick with brands we trust, like Coleman, Bryant and American Standard,” he says. “They’ve proven themselves over time. When we put something in, we want to know it’s going to last.”
It’s not always the most profitable route. But it’s the one that builds trust. That trust shows up in real situations.
“We’re
not just working here, we’re trying to make a difference. I want to be able to look our customers in the eye when I see them in the grocery store or at the park. We’re part of this community.”
Sul recalls customers who were told they needed a full system replacement by other companies, only to have his team make repairs for a fraction of the cost.
And in more urgent moments – like families left without cooling in the middle of summer – his team steps in, sometimes without worrying about the invoice first. “You just do what’s right,” he says.
Inside the company, the culture reflects that same thinking. “We think of it as taking care of people, not just HVAC systems,” he says. “That’s the real job.”
For Sul, the work is personal. Sul and his wife both grew up in Detroit, and the company continues to serve communities across Oakland and Macomb counties, including the neighborhoods they came from.
“We’re not just working here, we’re trying to make a difference,” he says. “I want to be able to look our customers in the eye when I see them in the grocery store or at the park. We’re part of this community.”
So it’s no surprise that Sul keeps an interesting mindset for when the heat goes out or the AC stops working after hours.
“In this business, you have to offer same-day heating and cooling service,” Sul says. “You show up with your tools and you might as well be Superman.”
Every Superman needs a sidekick and, in this case, it’s his son Elijah, who is not quite two years old.
“Sometimes I pack him up and bring him along,” Sul smiles. “He loves it and so do the customers. As he grows, I’ll teach him the same principles.”
In an industry chasing scale, Temperature Repair is choosing something else: Do the right thing. Treat people fairly. Be human.
Be the company they call again.
| (248) 817-5487
If you see any of these issues with your heat or air, Sul says it may be time to call a professional:
1. AC blowing warm air or not turning on at all
2. Furnace running but not heating your home evenly
3. Sudden spikes in energy bills without explanation
4. Strange noises in your AC or furnace, burning smells or frequent system cycling
5. Hot and cold spots in different rooms of the house
After a cold winter and a wet spring, it’s finally golf season in Troy. Here are our best bets for getting ready to drive, chip and putt your way back onto the links.
UPGRADE YOUR STYLE WITH PXG DETROIT
PXG, 2830 W. Maple Road (at Coolidge), is committed to making products that improve performance. From clubs to apparel, every innovation should noticeably improve your play and elevate your enjoyment. PXG’s 7,843-square-foot facility includes spacious fitting bays with virtual simulators and topof-the-line TrackMan monitors, a practice putting green and a customer lounge. The advanced putter fitting system uses TrackMan technology for precise customization. Check out the retail showroom, offering PXG’s latest golf apparel and accessories – made with premium materials that blend style and function, on and off the course.
pxg.com | (248) 494-4794
SWING AWAY AT THE BACK NINE GOLF INDOOR SIMULATOR
Practice your swing at The Back Nine Golf, 443 E. Big Beaver Road, a premier destination for indoor golf enthusiasts in Troy. This leading-edge simulator facility provides 24/7 access, allowing members to enjoy rounds at renowned courses such as Pebble Beach and St. Andrews, regardless of the weather outside. Book hourly tee times or opt for personalized instruction with one of two in-house professional instructors. Whether you’re looking to refine your swing, play a casual round with friends or receive expert coaching, The Back Nine Golf delivers a toptier experience.
thebackninegolf.com/troy-mi | (248) 749-4874
36 HOLES OF CHAMPIONSHIP GOLF IN TROY
Troy is home to two premier local golf courses – Sanctuary Lake Golf Course and Sylvan Glen. Sanctuary presents a distinctive par-71, linksstyle layout across 190 acres of rolling terrain. The course features 80 bunkers, finely contoured bent grass greens and four sets of tees that range from 4,750 to 6,555 yards. You’ll want to test this tranquil setting marked by diverse wildlife and exceptional service. The practice facility includes 70 hitting stations, five target greens and both natural and artificial hitting surfaces. Sylvan Glen is a classic, tree-lined course with four sets of tees spanning 5,000 to 6,700 yards, providing a peaceful environment where nature takes precedence over everyday distractions. Both courses are well-suited for golfers of all skill levels.
Golftroy.com | (248) 619-7600
– Andy Appleby, Owner/CEO
