Mesa, AZ June 2025

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THE ISSUE GENTLEMAN'S

Of Men and Moments

My love for the outdoors didn’t begin with a glossy brochure or a weekend getaway. It began with my dad. Long before I understood what it meant to be capable, he made me feel that I already was. We’d hike for hours, my legs aching, the summit always “just over the next hill,” he’d say. It rarely was. But I kept going—because he did, and because those words planted something deeper than determination. They grew into a quiet compass I still carry as I navigate life’s tougher climbs.

This  Gentleman’s Issue is a tribute to men like him: fathers, brothers, uncles, mentors, and friends. The ones who guide, protect, lead, and remind us that strength doesn’t always make noise. Sometimes, it looks like consistency. Sometimes, it’s knowing when to light a fire, literally or metaphorically, when the moment calls for it.

Inside, we spotlight men bringing heart, heritage, and purpose to all they do. We explore the timeless pull of water through a feature on boating and how it brings families—whether by blood or bond—closer together. We head west to Montana, where a “So You Want to Be a Cowboy” adventure stirs the spirit of exploration. And we share the story of Bill Stevens, whose journey from would-be sports agent to financial advisor reflects a deeper mission: to help everyday people build meaningful, lasting success.

So here’s to the gents: the classic, the evolving, the rugged, the refined. This one’s for you.

Peace and love,

June 2025

PUBLISHER

Michaela Hetherington michaela.hetherington@citylifestyle.com

SALES DIRECTOR

Adam Hetherington

adam.hetherington@citylifestyle.com

EDITOR

Ashleigh Underwood

ashleigh.underwood@citylifestyle.com

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Sonja Stafford

SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR

Molly Zahn & B-Real Media

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Ashley Blake Photography

Corporate Team

CEO Steven Schowengerdt

COO Matthew Perry

CRO Jamie Pentz

VP OF OPERATIONS Janeane Thompson

VP OF SALES Andrew Leaders

AD DESIGNER Rachel Kolich

LAYOUT DESIGNER Lillian Gibbs

QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Brandy Thomas

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WHERE NEIGHBORS CAN SEE AND BE SEEN

1-7: The Mesa community celebrates Mesa at the Celebrate Mesa event at Pioneer Park. Photos provided by Mesa Parks and Rec.

business monthly

ROUNDUP OF

Bahme Law Sponsorship

Korey Bahme spent some time out on the golf course as her law firm sponsored a hole in the Timm Huff Pro Bono Golf Classic. This golf tournament benefits the Maricopa County Bar Foundation and Volunteer Lawyers Program.

First Impression Ironworks on The Home Hunter!

First Impression Ironworks was featured on ABC 15's "The Home Hunter TV," where their Customer Care Director, Shannon Peterson, shared insights about First Impression Ironworks’s 30-year legacy of craftsmanship and the differences between Iron Security Doors and Iron Entry Doors.

Rayhons Financial— New Service

Wealth and abundance are all around us — and they start with you. Rayhons Financial is excited to introduce a new self-guided study created to help you build lasting wealth, purpose, and financial freedom. Discover how your habits, discipline, relationships, and values can shape your financial future — and what it truly means to live an abundant life. Want to learn more? Connect with one of our advisors today!

Q: WHAT INSPIRED YOUR LOVE OF BOATS? WAS THIS ALWAYS THE CHOSEN CAREER PATH? WHAT WAS THE PATH THAT LED YOU TO TAYLOR’S BOATS?

When I was attending college at BYU in Provo, Utah, I was struggling trying to find my career path and what I would do the rest of my life to provide for my family. One day my wife and I were driving down the street and we saw a boat dealership. I mentioned that I had never been in a boat dealership before so we stopped.

CREATINGFAM ILY MEMORIES

I will never forget opening the front door to that dealership, looking in the showroom and seeing all of those beautiful boats. I thought to myself— people actually do this for a living and make money at it?  I decided right there and then I was going to get in the boat business and have our own boat dealership. That was the beginning of the path that put us where we are today.  Within

We chatted with Taylor of Taylor's Boats to learn about his company, boating, and family memories.
ARTICLE BY

PROVIDED BY TAYLOR'S BOATS

a year of that experience I left college and went to work at a boat dealership which eventually led to us owning our own dealership.

Q: WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MEMORY ON A BOAT?

I have so many favorite memories on boats. The best memories have been with my family as our children were growing up. Any time we spend at the lake, watching our children play on the beach, learn how to kneeboard, ski, wakeboard or just ride around in the tube have been the best family memories. We love sitting by a fire and watching the stars in the evening and playing UNO before they would all go to bed. Those are the times that brought our family together and kept us close. I love that today even though our children are grown, married, busy and we have grandchildren they all love coming to the lake to spend time together. Anytime at the lake with our family is the best!

Q: WHAT IS SOMETHING YOU WISH MORE PEOPLE KNEW ABOUT BOATING/TAYLOR’S BOATS?

Over the 38 years I have been in the boat business I’ve heard the same thing from customers: nothing has brought their families closer and kept them together more than boating. I recently had a customer share his story—he bought his first boat in 2004 and buying that first boat was life changing. He got emotional as he shared how boating was the best thing they did for their family.

A Wake-N-Grill is used to grill up steaks without having to leave the water

SO YOU WANT TO BE A COWBOY

DISCOVER THE WHIMSY OF THE WEST AT PAWS UP MONTANA

Favorably referred to as the “Last Best Place” and the “Treasure State,” Montana has captured the hearts of cinematic cowboys like Taylor Sheridan and Harrison Ford and inspired the television series “Yellowstone” and its prequels, “1883” and “1923.” Though fictional, they’ve reminded America of its deeply-rooted spirit for adventure and the simple yet rugged way of life that we all crave. Whether it’s the backdrop of jagged, snowcapped peaks or the endless golden pastures that are peppered with livestock, this Rocky Mountain soil is a breeding ground for dreamers and doers, and the people who call it home are no strangers to the ritual of ranch life.

So, you want to be a cowboy? Slipping on some leather and having a little hide in your hat are good ways to start, but visiting a resort that brings the best of this life to the forefront, while also embracing modern luxury, is the experience of a lifetime.

Paws Up Montana sprawls the distance of 37,000 private acres of historic estateland, which houses a working ranch and 10 miles of Blackfoot River. Personalization is key—a divine selection of cuisine for the foodies, awe-inspiring activities for the adrenaline seekers, and world-class lodging that tickles every fancy from stargazing glamping, to timber-style family dwellings, to the uniquely designed Green O hauses that invite the outside world in.

CHELSEA LYN AGRO PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED

WHAT TO DO

To change your attitude, you need a change in altitude. Gain some speed or turn up the adrenaline level with ATV tours, electric biking, mountain biking, go-karts, paintball, rappelling down Lookout Rock or whitewater rafting down the Blackfoot River. Indulge in the western art of living with archery, fly-fishing, hiking or sporting clays. For those who want to immerse themselves in the language of horses, there are horse-related adventures such as lessons, grooming or feeding, horse-whispering workshops or organized trail rides. Riders can also enjoy cattle drives that bring you back to yesteryear—driving a herd of cattle across the famed landscape—and bear witness to Mustang gentling, where the Equestrian Manager communicates with a wild horse through body language and tone of voice. Skyline Aerial Adventure Park is another notable warm-weather activity, taking guests on two high-ropes courses.

WHERE TO STAY

Luxury Homes are categorized into preference-based properties that boast the thrill of wilderness living. For larger families and multigenerational groups, consider the Wilderness Estates. At 3,250-squarefeet, these estates sleep up to eight guests and feature three large suites with private baths. The Big Timber Homes are available in one-to-three bedroom options and come ornamented with fireplaces and private decks. The Meadow Homes are 1,100-square-foot single-story homes that sleep up to four guests, situated amid a pastoral and treed setting. For an extra nod of perfection, choose one of the luxury homes that comes equipped with a private tent—ideal for anyone traveling with children (or adults who beckon back their childhood!).

For a more primitive experience, Glamping Homes offer the right amount of canvas to create a close-to-nature experience. Available mid-May through mid-October, choose from river settings to creeksides, bluffs or cliffs. Each tent is adorned with something unique—a copper tub, a picturesque view of Lewis and Clark’s famous Lookout Rock and Western-chic furniture throughout. Zip down the windows to allow for the cool nightly breeze, yet enjoy the modern convenience of electricity. Each campsite has a dining pavilion. And don’t miss the s’mores boards around the communal fire pit, offered by your own s’moresologist—yes, you read that right, and yea, it’s a thing.

Lastly, but certainly not least, are the state-of-theart accommodations of the Green O hauses. This portion of the property is completely curated for those 21 years of age and older. It’s a resort within a resort, a hidden pearl in an oyster of experience. The Tree Haus is elevated 23 feet in the air and offers unparalleled forest views. The Green Haus includes a skylight above the bed for an unmatched view of pluck-emfrom-the-sky stars. The Round Haus has curved, floor-to-ceiling windows that offer 180-degree panoramic views. Both the Green and Round Hauses are dog friendly, too, so Fido can rest in the lap of luxury. The Light Haus is illuminated by skylights and unique glass design.

DRINK & DINE

Montana’s best kept secret? Our hideaway chefs, making waves from the Montana wilderness. Chef Brandon Cunningham, Executive Chef at the Green O, is a James Beard Award finalist whose creations at the Social Haus are highly curated through an 8-course tasting menu. Other highly trained and talented chefs like Chef Brett Edlund, Chef Ben Scott, Executive Pastry Chef Krystle Swenson, and Sunny Jin, the General Manager of Food and Beverage, are part of the intricate patchwork of the culinary experience at Pomp, Trough, Shed, Camp and the notable Chuck Wagon—a summertime treat where guests can ride a hay wagon along the banks of the Blackfoot River for an Old West-inspired chuck wagon dinner. The menu ranges from all-natural chicken and Tomahawk ribeye to fresh vegetables grilled over an open flame campfire.

HOW TO GET HERE

Airport: Missoula Montana Airport (MSO) Airport transfers from Missoula are complimentary for guests and all luxury home and Green O accommodations come with a Lexus luxury SUV for transportation use on property.

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OPTIMUMWLC.COM | (480) 590-6245 10720 E SOTHERN AVE 112A MESA, AZ 85209

A GENTLEMAN'S PASSION

I went to college wanting to make an impact on the world around me. Majoring in Political Science with a minor in Economics was the route I chose. Because of my love of sports, I wanted to find a way to combine my passion for helping people with sports. My initial thought was to become a sports agent. I wanted to be Jerry Maquire… before Jerry Maquire. I thought that by serving professional athletes and helping them gain financial success, it would trickle down to everyone having the ability to enjoy seeing their favorite athletes. Over time I realized that wasn’t the best way to impact people’s lives, rather, helping people gain financial success was a better aspiration.

I spent the first five years out of college as a financial advisor, learning the business. At the time I didn’t really understand the value of marketing or networking. Rather, I did things the old fashion way, cold calling on businesses and people who just purchased homes. It was a brutal way to start but it helped me build a strong work ethic and a belief structure in the value that someone should bring to their clients.

After some brief success as an advisor, I was recruited into a corporate position with a large mutual life insurance company. With my growing family, it was

“I REALLY TAKE A VERY simple APPROACH; I help PEOPLE MAKE smart FINANCIAL DECISIONS. IT HAS BECOME more THAN JUST MY tag line — IT HAS BECOME MY PASSION, MY mission .”

nice to gain a position that allowed me to continue to build a business while also receiving a salary for the work I did in the corporate setting. Over time, as I moved up the ranks into leadership roles, I had to give up my clients to focus more on corporate business. While I no longer worked directly with clients—my influence on recruiting, training and developing advisors and frontline leaders gave me a greater reach at helping more people. While I personally could only help maybe fifty people a year as an advisor, by influencing two to three thousand advisors and leaders I could expand that reach to over one hundred and fifty thousand people.

During this time, I was given the opportunity to excel at various roles. I developed and adopted best practices for helping individual and business clients and gained tremendous insight on running a business. I also found that I really enjoyed helping others gain success. Whether it be a new advisor that I helped develop or a business owner where we were able to formulate a strategy that contributed to their financial success, I learned that to better serve people you need to have an effective process. Something that would bring consistency to your efforts while allowing you to customize solutions based on the individual goals and desires of each client.

After spending over thirty years in various leadership roles with two Fortune 500 organizations and a smaller international firm, which I ultimately helped divest their US businesses, I decided to semi-retire. I was offered a leadership position with another large Fortune 500 firm just prior to COVID in 2019. While a fantastic opportunity, the new role meant moving from our home in New York to the Midwest, and it wasn’t something me or my family wanted to do. I thought I had enough and would just relax, enjoy my free time, maybe even do some consulting. After a short time, I found that I missed the energy and excitement of

“THEY provide UNPARALLELED SUPPORT, STRUCTURE AND resources FOR ME
TO BE ABLE TO DO WHAT I love .”

the business world. I really missed having an impact on other people’s lives.

After speaking with longtime friend and colleague, Nash Subotic, CEO and Founder of WestPac Wealth Partners, I realized that getting back to doing what I started doing out of college was what I needed to do to feed my soul. I always loved sitting across from someone, listening to their goals, concerns, fears and challenges; and helping them come up with solutions. I loved helping businesses and business owners succeed and grow.

Aligning with WestPac Wealth Partners has been a dream come true. Over my career I have worked with, and for, some of the best financial firms in the world. I have been part of industry organizations and study groups to help develop best practices in planning as well as organizational development, and I have found no other firm like WestPac. They provide unparalleled support, structure and resources for me to be able to do what I love – help people make smart financial decisions.

Unlike many other advisors and firms who push products or investments,

Westpac takes a more consultative approach. Really getting to know their clients, what they want and ultimately working together with them, and their other advisors, to reach their goals. Many advisors use the buzz words ‘holistic planning’ but we truly do take an integrated and holistic approach to planning. We discuss all aspects of someone’s beliefs, values and goals as well as their finances to help them achieve optimal results, no matter what economic fluctuations occur. It’s not a one and done event, but rather ongoing consultation, helping clients make progress towards reaching their goals. We not only help people get financially organized, but we help them mitigate risks, reduce debt and taxes, save more, and become efficient wealth managers. Our plans are stress tested to make sure that they are optimal in all economic conditions.

Moving to Scottsdale has always been a dream of ours. So, when the opportunity and location came together, my wife and I jumped in with two feet! We moved here almost four years ago and wish we had twenty years sooner. We love the weather, entertainment and recreational activities available. We love to hike, work out and stay fit. I enjoy the great golf courses in the valley. I’m starting to get into pickleball.  While I have spent much of my time networking and getting to know people and businesses to build my business, we have filled our free time with exploring, meeting new people, checking out the art scene, and trying a variety of great restaurants throughout the valley. It’s funny that we hear so many people talk about their ‘fifteen-minute bubble,’ where they primarily stay within fifteen minutes of their home. We haven’t adopted that approach. We like to see all that the valley has to offer.

My wife Marie and I have been married for thirty-seven years. We have two dogs, Abbey and Stella, three children

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Book your event in May, June, July, or August 2025, and get 10% off your total invoice. Just place your deposit during these months to secure the discount!

“...HELPING CLIENTS MAKE progress TOWARDS REACHING their goals. WE NOT ONLY HELP PEOPLE GET FINANCIALLY ORGANIZED, BUT WE HELP THEM MITIGATE RISKS, reduce debt AND TAXES, SAVE MORE, AND become EFFICIENT WEALTH MANAGERS.

and six grandchildren. I am so proud of my family. They are all in professions that serve others. My wife is a retired registered nurse, teacher and administrator; my oldest son is in law enforcement and is a Chaplain in the Army Reserves. My other son is Army Special Forces, and my daughter is a Special Education teacher.

Six months ago, our oldest son, daughter-in-law and his four children made the move west. It is nice having family here now, and my wife is slowly dripping on my other two children and their families to make the move. We will see what the future brings, but even if they don’t—we have become the vacation destination for our family to visit.

Registered Representative and Financial Advisor of Park Avenue Securities LLC (PAS). OSJ: 5280 CARROLL CANYON ROAD, SUITE 300, SAN DIEGO CA, 92121, 619-6846400. Securities products and advisory services offered through PAS, member FINRA, SIPC. Financial Representative of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America® (Guardian), New York, NY. PAS is a wholly owned subsidiary of Guardian. WestPac Wealth Partners LLC is not an affiliate or subsidiary of PAS or Guardian. Insurance products offered through WestPac Wealth Partners and Insurance Services, LLC, a DBA of WestPac Wealth Partners, LLC. CA Insurance License Number - 4130762. | 7866487.1 Exp. 04/27

There is no time like the present to start a conversation with someone advancing in age. You can approach the conversation with a recent experience, “Mom, a friend had to take much time off work recently because her mom fell and was in the hospital. She had to go to rehab before she was able to return home, but still needs some help. Can we begin talking about how you would want to handle that situation if something like that happened to you? I want to respect your wishes and understand what you would expect of me before we are faced with a stressful situation.”

realty report

This data is a sampling of sold properties from April 2025. Source: IRES MLS system.

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Red light therapy might seem to be the new fad, but red light saunas go beyond the fad and brings science backed results

MEET YOUR NEW HEALTH HABIT— SAUNAS

This is the health supplement you’ve been missing! We had the chance to sit down with Chandler and Staci Herdt, owners of Perspire Sauna Studios to learn everything we could about Perspire.

Q: WHAT ARE THE SCIENCE-BACKED BENEFITS OF USING A SAUNA?

The use of heat therapy to improve aspects of mental and physical health is supported by decades of peer reviewed research. When educating about the health benefits of infrared sauna, I encourage Perspire Sauna Studio members to think about the benefits in two categories: acute (how you’ll feel after one session) and chronic adaptations (how you’ll feel when you commit to heat therapy longer-term). Short-term— saunas can improve mood, promote feelings of relaxation and improve sleep.  Long-term—better heart health— heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, people are looking for preventive solutions. Adapting to the stress of heat therapy, like infrared sauna, is associated with a host

of heart-health related benefits. For example, cohort data from Finland suggests that regular sauna use can improve blood pressure, vascular health, and even cardiorespiratory fitness levels. Most impressively, evidence suggests that adults who self-reported using the sauna regularly for years were ~30% less likely to die from cardiovascular-disease related deaths than those who did not report using the sauna regularly. There are also studies that show saunas can lower risk for cognitive diseases like Alzheimer’s and Dementia.

Q: WHAT MAKES PERSPIRE SAUNA DIFFERENT FROM THE SAUNA WE FIND IN OUR GYM?

The saunas in the gym use an external heat source, it heats the air in the room. Perspire Sauna uses red infrared lights that heat your body directly. This infrared technology started in Japan in the 1980s and there are studies that have been done to prove the benefits. Using Perspire also has the unique experience of “therapy stacking.” First, in the sauna with medical grade

infrared heat that is specially designed to go throughout the whole sauna, giving full body coverage. Second, Inferred ChromoThreapy, which is a fancy word for color light therapy. Light can affect our moods, blue is calming, green is relaxing, yellow and oranges are energizing. You pick the color therapy you have in your sauna. Then, Contrast Therapy which is a forty-five

“THINK ABOUT THE BENEFITS IN TWO CATEGORIES: ACUTE (HOW YOU’LL FEEL AFTER ONE SESSION) AND CHRONIC ADAPTATIONS (HOW YOU’LL FEEL WHEN YOU COMMIT TO HEAT THERAPY LONGER-TERM).

PERSPIRE

SAUNA HAS BENEFITS ACROSS

THE BOARD.”

degree water shower for forty-five seconds. This shower shuts the blood flow which triggers an antioxidant flush. The whole experience opens up the blood vessels and closes them, using heat and cold and our body’ s natural response to both.

Q: HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU USE A SAUNA?

Given their short- and longer-term health benefits, infrared saunas can be an integral part of a wellness routine that also includes eating right, regular exercise, quality sleep, and maintaining social connections. Heat therapy isn’t without risks, so I recommend that anyone seeking to invest in sauna therapy to speak with a healthcare provider about individualized risk factors.

With heat therapy, and with most health behaviors, safety and ‘dosing’ are relative to the person, their health status, and their goals. Generally speaking, the hotter the temperature, the shorter the amount of time you can safely stay in the sauna. Infrared saunas— which heat the body directly—can theoretically run at a much lower tempera ture and still elevate core body temperature effectively. As you use heat therapy more often, your body adapts and is able to more efficiently manage the heat! If you are newer to the sauna, I recommend that you start ‘low and slow,’ staying in for no longer than 15-20 minutes at a lower temperature and monitoring how you feel. You can gradually increase duration and/or temperature over time and with practice.

Inspired Design Enduring Craftsmanship

JUNE 2025

events

A SELECTION OF UPCOMING LOCAL EVENTS

JUNE 12TH

Queen & Bowie: Tribute Concert

Hale Center Theatre | 7:30 PM

How do you celebrate two of rock royalty’s biggest icons? We’ve gathered a wildly versatile, energetic, and compelling group of vocalists and musicians to bring the spirit of these artists to life.  Concerts run Thursday-Saturday starting on June 12th. Tickets start at $45. For more information, see the Hale Theatre website.

JUNE 14TH

Pine Strawberry Festival

Pine Strawberry Community Center, 3886 N Highway 87, Pine, AZ | 8:00 AM

First Impression Ironworks is headed to Northern Arizona for the Pine Strawberry Festival, a beloved summer tradition! Join us at the Pine Strawberry Community Center on June 14th and 15th to explore our custom ironwork up close, connect with our team, and experience craftsmanship we’re known for.

JUNE 15TH

Father’s Day Brunch

4725 E. Mayo Blvd., Phoenix, AZ 85050 | 11:00 AM

Come to Cafe Allegro located inside the Musical Instrument Museum for a special Father’s Day brunch, including a specialized menu. Reservations are not required and brunch is $48/ per person.

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