Susanne Nicholls

I miss the long hot summer days of my childhood, those carefree days without cell phones, without personal computers, without 800 channels beckoning people to stay inside. Perhaps it's the quietness that still shrouds the small Midwestern-farm town where I grew-up or the fact that time seemed to move so slowly then, but the days seemed long and there was plenty of time to explore and chat endlessly with friends.

Running through sprinklers, eating homemade ice cream with strawberries picked that morning, "camping out" in the back yard, playing whiffle ball in the street, and catching fireflies - everyday felt like an adventure! I would go out on my bike for hours to explore old barns, small graveyards, and cornfields. There was so much to do and see; I never tired of exploring with friends.

After graduating from UNL, my college sweetheart and I both moved to the East Coast for a few years, one of us in DC, the other near Philadelphia. While we loved the historical sights, the art museums, and the big city amenities, we both longed for the quiet serenity of the Midwest - the ability to drive to the country and be at one with nature. After we were married, we selected Denver to be our new home. We spent 10 years in the mile-high paradise, skiing, hiking, biking and starting our family, and enjoying the quiet beauty of the mountains. That is when we weren't working or spending an hour to drive the 13 miles between our home and our respective offices. Yes, the terrible traffic was a primary factor in our return home to Omaha. We have been back for 12 years now.

In both Denver and Omaha I have been fortunate to work with engineers, architects and attorneys that create places or things that make our community better or helped people solve problems. That sense of enriching the communities where we live, helping others, respect for the environment, optimism about the future, and the belief that each of us has the power to drive positive change are the ideals behind my work and my life.

My favorite thing to do any day or night of the week is still to get on my bike and ride as far as time allows. These days I tend to have my Canon Rebel with me, along with my iPhone to track my speed, distance and route and keep me going strong with my favorite workout mix. I also still love ice cream, and tend to indulge when I return from a ride, especially if its 95 degrees!