The Remarkable Men of Venice
Welcome to Venice City Lifestyle’s annual “Gentlemen’s Issue.”
Each June, we turn our focus to the men of Venice—their pursuits, their craftsmanship, and the ways they stay connected to one another and the community. With Father’s Day here, it’s also a time to recognize the fathers, mentors, and role models who shape our lives in ways both big and small.
In these pages, you’ll meet men who are active, engaged, and continually evolving. In Leisure, Legacy, and Gentlemanly Connection , we explore how pursuits like pickleball, golf, and boating do more than pass the time—they build friendships, support health, and connect generations.
In Craft & Purpose, several local artists and craftsmen share how working with their hands—whether in wood, paint, or clay—offers not just a pastime, but meaning. The common thread is clear: the act of making is its own reward.
We’re also proud to introduce this year’s “Remarkable Man,” Peter M. Casamento, whose leadership with the Laurel Civic Association is expanding opportunities for families across South Sarasota County. His work is a reminder of what can happen when vision meets action, backed by a strong community.
There’s also a wonderful excerpt from episode 6 of of Share the Lifestyle, a City Lifestyle podcast, featuring Mike Johnson creator of the OSHUN skincare line.
As summer begins, we return to one of the season’s simplest pleasures—cooking outdoors. Where Fire Meets Flavor highlights Venice Olive Oil Co.’s wood-fired approach to bold, unfussy grilling, complete with a recipe to try at home.
As always, thank you for spending part of your summer with us. We’re proud to share the stories, people, and ideas that make Venice such a special place to live.
June 2026
PUBLISHER
Charmaine Tincher | charmaine.tincher@citylifestyle.com
EDITOR
Emily Leinfuss | emily.leinfuss@citylifestyle.com
ACCOUNT MANAGER
Matthew Day | matthew.day@citylifestyle.com
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Jessie Marie Glantz, Marci Weidmiller, Emily Leinfuss
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Brian Glantz-1st Glantz Media, Mikenna Bowers, Gene Schiavone, Frank Atura, Whitney Browne, Jessie Marie Glantz, Emily Leinfuss, Brittany Dawn Short
Corporate Team
CEO Steven Schowengerdt
President Matthew Perry
COO David Stetler
CRO Jamie Pentz
CoS Janeane Thompson
AD DESIGNER Jenna Crawford
LAYOUT DESIGNER Antanette Ray
QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Anna Minnick
inside the issue
JUNE 2026 | GENTLEMEN’S
Public service leader Peter M. Casamento works
Recreational
Different
APRIL 8, 2026
APRIL 20, 2026
MAY 19, 2026
JUNE 1, 2026 FOUR
city scene
WHERE NEIGHBORS CAN SEE AND BE SEEN
1: Sarasota Ballet Co. Director Iain Webb previews the 2026-27 Season at an event at The Ritz-Carlton. 2: Sarasota Ballet dancers Annie Wilson, Paige Younge, Gabrielle Schultze and Ricki Bertoni. 3: Dee Greer (l) with Sarasota Ballet’s Maya Collins and Margaret Barbieri, and Helene and Philip Tucker. 4: Artsbeat.org founder Jay Handelman with Executive Director Joseph Volpe and board member Frank Martucci. 5: Sarasota Ballet Advisory Council member Karen Lichtig with Warren and Marie Colbert. 6: Julie Swanger with Emily Joslin of the Gulf Coast Community Foundation at the Ritz-Carlton season preview. 7: Linda and Bill Mitchell of the Bill & Linda Mitchell Foundation. Photography by Mikenna Bowers
JUNE 2026
business monthly
A ROUNDUP OF NEWS FROM LOCAL BUSINESSES
Venice Earns 'Tree City USA' Status for 16th Consecutive Year
The Arbor Day Foundation has named the City of Venice a 2025 Tree City USA, marking its 16th year receiving the designation. The honor recognizes the city’s commitment to urban forestry through standards including a tree ordinance, dedicated funding, and Arbor Day observance. “The Tree City USA designation demonstrates the City’s commitment to protecting and improving the community’s air and water quality,” said City Arborist/Tree Program Administrator Jim Yelverton. VeniceGov.com
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Venice Nokomis Women’s Club Earns “Best of Venice” Finalist Recognition Honor
The Venice Nokomis Women’s Club was named a finalist in the Social Club category of the Venice Gondolier’s 2025 “Best of Venice” awards. The honor comes as the organization celebrates its 100th anniversary. Pictured are Amanda Young of Sun Coast Media (l) and outgoing 2025 President Joan Brinton with the award, alongside a poster of VNWC founder Louella Albee. Venice-NokomisWomansClub.org.
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Wellen Park Wins Top Honors in Regional Parade of Homes
Wellen Park was named best overall development in Sarasota and Manatee counties at the 2026 Suncoast Builders Association Parade of Homes. Its Brightmore 55+ neighborhood also earned top community honors, while 11 model homes won in their price categories. “The Parade of Homes highlights the quality and variety of homes offered across Wellen Park,” noted Christine Masney, vice president of marketing for Wellen Park. WellenPark.com
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Photography by City of Venice
Photography Provided by Tricia Cook
VCL’s 2026 Remarkable Man
Public service leader
Peter M. Casamento focuses on prevention, structure, and partnerships to transform lives across South Sarasota County
With a career in public service, Peter M. Casamento, M.A., has long been driven to make a difference. After retiring as a law enforcement captain and teaching at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, he recognized that many challenges begin long before a crisis. That insight shaped his path. Today, he focuses on proactive, community-centered work that stabilizes lives and strengthens families—earning recognition as Venice City Lifestyle’s 2026 Remarkable Man.
Q. What brought you to the Laurel Civic Association, and what were your first priorities when you arrived?
A. I was drawn by the opportunity to build something meaningful in a community that needed it. Laurel Civic had a strong foundation and history, but also real potential for greater impact. Early on, it was clear the biggest need was structure—both organizationally and programmatically. By introducing clear expectations, accountability, and measurable goals, especially in youth programs, we shifted from simply providing services to
delivering consistent, outcomes-driven results that can truly change lives in South Sarasota County.
Q. How does your focus on structure shape your programs—and help young people build confidence?
A. Structure is everything. Young people thrive when expectations are clear and consistent, so we build our programs around discipline, routine, and strong support academically, behaviorally, and through mentorship. It’s not complicated, but it does require consistency. Confidence follows success, and success comes from that structure. As students begin to achieve—improving grades, strengthening skills—they start to see themselves differently. With daily encouragement from teachers and mentors, that belief grows, and it can change everything.
Q. How do you approach supporting the whole child and family beyond academics?
A. If a child is hungry, worried about home, or lacks stability, academics alone
Peter M. Casamento is President & CEO of the Laurel Civic Association.
won’t be enough. We focus on the full picture—providing meals, transportation, and family support—so those barriers are removed. Only then can real progress happen.
Q. Many people describe your work as transformative—what do you consider your most meaningful accomplishments so far?
A. The most meaningful accomplishment is the measurable change in the lives of the people we serve. Seeing students go from struggling to achieving above-average grades, and families move from instability to sustainability—that’s what matters. Those outcomes are real, and they last.
Q. You’re planning a Center for Community Empowerment, but plans have shifted—what’s happening now, and what gap are you working to fill?
A. The vision hasn't changed, the need has. Our Afterschool Academic Program is growing fast, enrollment is up 56 percent in just one year, and we currently have 175 students enrolled, and we're at the point where we don't have enough space. We now have a waiting list for elementary students, and when we can't accommodate them, we're turning children away. That's not acceptable to us.
Originally, we planned to build a new facility, but as that process continues, we're also exploring more immediate solutions to our space challenges. One avenue we're pursuing is our current leased space. We're also in discussions with other community partners and stakeholders to explore additional opportunities to help our program reach more children. Those conversations have been productive.
Our priority is simple. We need space now. The program is established, it's producing great results, and we are exploring opportunities to expand into areas of greatest need, including North Port. But none of that is possible without the capacity to serve more students.
The gap we're filling hasn't changed. There is still no dedicated facility in South Sarasota County that brings together academic support, youth development, Kids Cafe, and essential services to consistently improve outcomes for our children and families. We are excited
“The most meaningful accomplishment is the measurable change in the lives of the people we serve. Students go from struggling to achieving above-average grades, and families move from instability to sustainability.”
about these challenges because every day we see the tremendous impact this program has on the children and families we serve, and that drives us to keep growing and finding solutions.
Q. As you look to expand the program—whether in your current space or a future location—what will that growth make possible that you simply can’t do now??
A. Additional space would allow us to add dedicated STEM classrooms—two rooms focused on science, technology, engineering, and math—along with art studios, sensory spaces, and areas for dance and music. The sensory rooms are especially important, offering a calming environment for students who need support with focus and regulation. We would also expand Kid’s Café, because if a child is hungry, they are not focused. It’s that simple. Our Teen Empowerment program would have room to grow, and we could offer more arts and enrichment opportunities—something we simply can’t do at scale now.
Q. Looking ahead, what impact do you hope this expanded facility will have on children, families, and the broader community?
A. The long-term goal is to break generational poverty, and we do that through a two-generation approach, working with both the child and the family at the same time. We start as early as possible. Our program serves students from kindergarten through 12th grade, with a strong focus on K-8th grade—that’s where the foundation is built. We want children to believe in themselves early and understand there is nothing they cannot achieve. They may need support, and that’s exactly why we are here.
If we can guide students to graduate high school with A’s and B’s and beyond, then they have real options. They can choose their path—college, a trade, public service, or the military. The key is that they are choosing their future, not being limited by their circumstances.
For families, the impact is stability. When you look at ALICE families—Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed—you see households one setback away from crisis. Our role is to keep
families stable, keep them in their homes, and prevent homelessness by providing food, resources, and support.
For the community, the impact is long-term and measurable: fewer families in crisis, more young people succeeding, and a stronger, more stable community overall.
Q. Your programs seem to create not just services, but a sense of family—why is that piece so critical to the work you do?
A. Because people need more than services, they need connection. When individuals feel supported and valued, they engage more deeply and stay committed to the process. That sense of family builds trust, and trust is what allows real change to happen.
Q. Your work relies on a strong network— who are the people and partnerships helping drive your mission, and how do they shape its success?
A. No organization can do this work alone. Our staff and board are at the core, providing daily commitment, leadership, and accountability. Beyond that, partnerships are essential—they bring resources, credibility, and shared purpose, allowing our impact to grow. Support from community partners like Plantation Golf & Country Club, and so many other companies, organizations and foundations in the community, plays a meaningful role in advancing our mission.
I’m also deeply involved in service through the Laurel Nokomis Lions Club, where I serve as president, as well as Rotary and Sertoma, and we collaborate with organizations like the Red Cross and COAD. When a community invests in a shared mission, the impact multiplies—and that collaboration is what makes lasting, meaningful change possible.
Q. What grounds you in your life and work?
A. My faith is at the center of everything—it shapes how I lead and serve. I believe that to whom much is given, much is required, and it’s a privilege to use my gifts to help others. As an ordained permanent deacon at Our Lady of Lourdes since 2003, that calling to serve guides me every day.
Dr. Frank Lewicki
Dr. Brent Beyer
Dr. Charles Davis
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Leisure, Legacy, and Gentlemanly Connection
Recreational activities such as pickleball, golf, and boating unite generations of men in Venice
Whether they’re serving a winning pickleball shot, teeing up on the greens, or sailing on the Gulf or the Bay, generations of Venice’s gentlemen are finding connection and fulfillment through recreational sports and activities. Plantation Golf & Country Club’s pickleball courts provide fun, accessible games that build connection across age groups, while local tournaments such as Wellen Park’s Inaugural Brightmore Pickleball Invitational offer competitive matches that gather talented, dedicated players. Likewise, generations of golfers engage in light-hearted competition at Lake Venice Golf Club among old friends; and new friendships emerge over a shared love of boating at the Venice Yacht Club.
“Pickleball [is a sport] that anybody at any age can play,” said Dan Talbott, Director of Racquets at Plantation Golf & Country Club. Talbott noted that spring break is the time of year younger and older players commonly team up on the club’s six pickleball courts. “A lot of younger kids [come] out to play, and they maybe just have a sibling with them, or a cousin, or a friend … but they don’t have [enough] people to … get a game going,”
ARTICLE BY JESSIE MARIE GLANTZ
PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRIAN GLANTZ-1ST GLANTZ MEDIA
said Talbott. As a solution, younger players are introduced to older, often retired, members. “They just get in and start playing together,” said Talbott, “pickleball is very accommodating to all levels … even if you’ve never done it before.”
Although pickleball can be played with ease, its health benefits are substantial. In terms of children, “you’re creating hand-eye coordination, motor skills, [and] muscle development,” said Talbott. “Even with older adults who are now retired from their jobs, they’re now able to pick up a paddle, grab a friend, and get an easy workout,” he explained. “Plus [it’s just] fun joking around with your buddies, too … the social [aspect] is always good” he added.
Talbott also mentioned the rise in the inclusion of pickleball courts among neighborhood amenities—a trend local recreational
A lively game of pickleball at Plantation Golf & Country Club.
pickleball player Mike Fusco appreciates. “One of the great things about the Wellen Park area is that all of the communities have their own pickleball courts,” said Fusco, “I have been blessed to meet so many incredible people that invite me to play with them at their courts.” Fusco, who has been playing pickleball for a little more than four years, was drawn to the sport as a source of entertainment, exercise, and community-building.
“Playing pickleball has introduced me to countless connections, not just within my Renaissance community, but across a half dozen other communities within Wellen Park,” he said, noting that he has made several close friendships with men across different age groups. “I’m not alone in this either,” he said, adding that he knows of others who have formed similar bonds. Fusco, 54, finds inspiration in playing with men who may be decades older or younger than himself. Passionate and skilled players in their 60s and 70s have demonstrated to him the longevity of the game and, “as for the 20-year-olds, it’s fun watching how much court they can cover and how fast they are, getting to your best drop shot while making it look easy. Can’t help but bring a smile to my face,” he admitted, “as a social activity, there’s not much better.”
Fusco returns a shot.
Teamwork between Mike Fusco and his pickleball partner at the Inaugural Brightmore Pickleball Invitational at Wellen Park.
Fusco met another pickleball enthusiast at a friend’s event just before the Inaugural Brightmore Pickleball Invitational, and the two quickly paired up for the competition. “I took some fantastic memories from the experience,” said Fusco, “including playing with a new partner, meeting several new players, and getting to play on the stadium court in the finals against two friends from my community.” Despite winning gold in the tournament, he noted that one doesn’t have to be a pickleball pro to enjoy the game. “Pickleball is about having fun, meeting people, and getting exercise. Anybody, any age, any skill level, can achieve all three of those goals,” Fusco said. “But be careful,” he warned, “before you know it, you’re looking to play every day.”
In addition to playing pickleball, Fusco regularly makes time to golf with his father. “I do try to take a day off from work each month or two to play a round of golf with my dad and his group,” he said. “That is a very special connection for me as it reminds me of my youth, when I would golf with my dad after school or on weekends.” Numerous gentlemen of Venice have similar attachments to golf, which, in many cases, has remained a staple activity in their lives since childhood.
Ralph Adrian, retired Venice Police Department officer, now 69, has been playing golf at Lake Venice Golf Club since he was 12 years old. “It’s part of Venice,” said Adrian of the course, which opened in 1959. Adrian plays skins games every Wednesday and Saturday with men he has known since he was a child and young adult. Married 49 years, Adrian laughed that his wife “knows not to schedule anything those two mornings.” Bill Davies, who currently runs the skins games, noted that they have been operating for over 20 years. “[In season,] I usually bring anywhere from 60 to 70 golfers in here [and sometimes when I introduce people] they go, ‘wow I knew that guy one time!’” said Davies. Lake Venice Golf Club General Manager Rod Parry stated that hundreds of people a day visit the course in season, and that the club sees “tremendous repeat business.”
Adrian said that he shares the course with players as old as 92—and noted that “there’s some young guns” as well. Of the wide age range of the golfers, he said, “I think it’s a good combination … you get both younger and older [players], they both can get into it.” “I’ve got a grandson who’s 10 who has his own golf clubs, [and I have] a son who’s 49 who plays all the time,” shared Adrian. On the health benefits of golf, he recognized that the game challenges the mind and keeps the body moving. He also enjoys the social aspect: “It’s a great way to develop friendships,” he said.
“Pickleball is about having fun, meeting people, and getting exercise. Anybody, any age, any skill level, can achieve all three of those goals,” Fusco said. “But be careful,” he warned, “before you know it, you’re looking to play every day.”
Dr. Chris Roberts, 38, and Jim Boldt, 71, found friendship to be one of the biggest takeaways of their shared time at the Venice Yacht Club (VYC). Roberts, orthopedics and sports medicine surgeon and current physician for Venice High School’s varsity football team, and Boldt, City Council member and mayoral candidate, met at the Yacht Club through their wives. It was only after they met that they realized they already attended the same church and were part of similar social circles. “Next thing you know, we’re all hanging out and having dinners,” said Roberts. Boldt, who has been a member of the club for 20 years, and Roberts, for three years, have since established a relationship built on guidance, trust, and mutual support. “I wouldn’t have [an issue] calling up Chris and saying, ‘hey, I [have] a problem … what do you think?’” said Boldt. “He’s a mentor,” said Roberts, “when you call, he’s going to give you the truth—no matter what it is,” he laughed.
As the VYC reaches its 75th anniversary, its spirit of mentorship and involvement holds strong. “I love how this is a generational club,” said Roberts, “I know I can go to Jim, I can go to my generation [which] has the dads, and then there’s … the younger kids, too, that you can mentor.” Boldt himself is
a third-generation member, and his wife began frequenting the VYC at just 11 years old. “It’s very welcoming,” said Roberts, “[no matter what] stage of life you’re in, you’re [going to find] what you’re looking for in a place like this.”
Roberts has found value in the simplicity of experiencing sunshine and water, and Boldt appreciates the freedom, independence, and thrill of being out at sea. “Every once in a while, you see a little tiger shark or a lemon shark and it’s pretty fascinating,” said Boldt of his boating adventures. He also enjoys the VYC’s cruiser group, which allows access to 35 other clubs in the Florida Council of Yacht Clubs they reciprocate with. “We have plenty of places we can go, we have a great cruiser group [at the VYC] and every month we take a trip to [another club],” said Boldt.
Like many gentlemen of Venice, Roberts takes pride in the sense of community he has found, and hopes to share it with generations to come: “When my kids come back from college [someday] and [return to Venice, I want them to be] proud to come here … proud to bring friends here, proud to bring our [relatives] here.”
A golfer takes a swing at Lake Venice Golf Club. (Photo by Jessie Marie Glantz)
Boldt and Roberts engage in a friendly fist-bump while lounging at the Venice Yacht Club.
A view of the driving range at Lake Venice Golf Club. (Photo by Jessie Marie Glantz)
Jim Boldt and Dr. Chris Roberts stand on the dock at the Venice Yacht Club.
Art, Craft & Purpose
Different lives, same instinct: to create, to solve, and to stay engaged through meaningful work
ARTICLE BY EMILY LEINFUSS PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRIAN GLANTZ-1ST GLANTZ MEDIA
Don McCauley, artist and inventor.
No matter the age or stage of life, many men find themselves drawn back—again and again—to making something with their hands. Whether it’s shaping clay, building furniture, assembling a collage, painting on a canvas, or designing something entirely new, the impulse is often less about the finished product and more about the act itself.
“It’s all in the practice,” said artist Keith Losh. “If you’re not doing the work, you’re not going to be inspired.”
Artist and inventor Don McCauley describes it as a process of discovery. “You have to let the work develop and see where it goes.”
For Calvin Powell, ceramicist and instructor, it’s simpler. “If you love what you’re doing, it doesn’t feel like work,” he said. “You’re just having fun.”
And for Peter Servis, lifelong woodworker, the reward is immediate: “There’s a real satisfaction in creating something with your hands.”
Across generations, their perspectives converge. For these men, art and craftsmanship are not just creative outlets—they’re ways of staying engaged,
Calvin Powell works the potter’s wheel.
Peter Servis, lifelong woodworker.
(Photo by E. Leinfuss)
Peter Servis in the woodshop at VOTI.
(Photo by E. Leinfuss)
solving problems, building identity, and sometimes working through life’s more difficult chapters.
Calvin Powell represents the youngest of the group—a hands-on maker building both a craft and a livelihood.
Now based in South Venice, Powell moved to the area about a year ago with his wife and two children. His career path has varied—custom knife making, construction, personal training—but creativity has always been the throughline.
During COVID, that instinct found a new outlet. After watching The Great British Pottery Throw Down , Powell decided to try pottery. What started as a hobby quickly became something more.
Working under the name Plunder Pottery, Powell creates functional ceramics—mugs, bowls, espresso cups—balancing artistry with what sells. His wife, Jaclyn, supports both the creative and business sides. “I’m more of an artist than a salesman,” he noted.
Powell leans into the process, experimenting, refining, and teaching others along the way. In his classes at Venice's Artistic Flair Studio, he encourages beginners to “embrace the wonkiness”—to see imperfection not as a flaw, but as the point.
For Don McCauley, creativity has always meant crossing boundaries.
Originally from upstate New York and now based in Venice, McCauley’s work spans illustration, photography, graphic design, and 3D modeling. With a B.F.A. from Ringling College of Art & Design, his influences also range from classical art to emerging digital tools, shaping an approach that is both technical and exploratory.
Through his business, he takes on a wide range of projects, often saying yes to challenges others might avoid. “My approach is figuring out what something is—and then pushing it beyond that,” he said.
Whether it's imagining an illustrated children’s book or building a large-scale installation, his work is driven by curiosity—an ongoing effort to see what’s possible.
“It’s all in the practice,” said Keith Losh.
“If you’re not doing the work, you’re not going to be inspired.”
For Peter Servis, woodworking has been a constant for more than 60 years.
A resident at Venice's Village On The Isle, Servis learned the craft from his father as a teenager and has returned to it throughout his life. Today, he spends much of his time in the community woodshop—building, repairing, and mentoring others.
“I hate to see things thrown away that can be fixed,” he said.
While he has built furniture of all kinds, much of his work now involves restoring meaningful items for fellow residents—chairs, tables, heirlooms— bringing them back into use.
After the loss of his wife, the workshop has taken on deeper meaning. “It’s like going to church,” he said. “It gives you purpose.”
Keith Losh offers a perspective shaped by stepping away—and returning—to his artwork.
A fifth-generation Floridian, Losh earned a B.A. in Fine Arts from New College in the early 1980s and has spent decades immersed in the field. He has
worked as an art handler for The Ringling, collaborated with renowned artist John Chamberlain, and run his own company. Losh also worked with Jimmy Ernst—the artist son of Max Ernst—whose images first sparked his artistic vision at age 12.
Later, Losh pivoted into drafting for engineering firms for more than two decades. “I didn’t walk away completely,” he said. “But I put it down.”
As retirement approached, he returned to his art with intention. “I felt like I still had something to say.”
His process begins with collage—drawing from images he’s collected over the years—before translating them into oil paintings. He has also reengaged with Sarasota’s arts community. “Being part of that reminds you you’re not alone,” he said.
That recommitment has already paid off: he’s been tapped for a solo exhibition at 502 Gallery in downtown Sarasota this November.
Different materials. Different generations. Different paths. But the throughline is clear.
For these men, creating is a way to stay connected—to themselves, to others, and to the world around them. It’s a steady, grounding practice that doesn’t require perfection, only participation.
In the end, it’s not just about what they make. It’s about the act itself—the focus, the persistence, and the quiet satisfaction of doing the work.
In the end, it’s not just about what they make. It’s about the act itself—the focus, the persistence, and the quiet satisfaction of doing the work.
"No Flower" by Keith Losh.
Keith Losh in his collaging studio.
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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
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Grilled Ribeye Steaks With Espresso Balsamic Mushrooms
Grilled ribeye steaks with espresso balsamic mushrooms is a delicious, rich and savory recipe that’s one of Venice Olive Oil's customer favorites! Perfect for dazzling company or enjoying a quiet dinner for two.
Ingredients:
• 1/4 cup garlic olive oil
• 3 tablespoons espresso balsamic vinegar
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon VOOC porcini sea salt
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 2 ribeye steaks
• 2 cups cremini mushrooms
• 1/2 cup shallots, minced
Directions:
1. In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, garlic, porcini sea salt, and black pepper until well combined.
2. Place the steaks and marinade in a resealable bag. Refrigerate for 4 to 24 hours.
3. One hour before grilling, remove the steaks from the refrigerator and transfer to a platter to come to room temperature.
4. Pour the marinade into a saucepan and bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat.
5. Add the mushrooms and shallots. Simmer for 5 minutes, stirring frequently.
6. Reduce heat to low and keep warm until ready to serve.
7. Grill the steaks to your desired doneness. Serve topped with the espresso balsamic mushrooms.
Venice Olive Oil Co.’s wood-fired take on bold, simple cooking
Grilled ribeye steaks with espresso balsamic mushrooms.
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