Nicole Speece Laiho

"Teamwork makes the dream work isn't just a trite saying to me, it's a way of life."

There’s a phrase for Indiana natives: “Hoosier by birth, Boilermaker by the grace of God.” Nicole Laiho, however, is a Boilermaker by birth.

Nicole’s parents met at Purdue University. Her maternal great-grandmother was related to David Ross (of Ross-Ade stadium). Her paternal grandmother’s family were brick masons who immigrated to Lafayette, Indiana in the 1860s. Her father’s family actually built buildings on Purdue’s campus brick by brick.

Nicole grew up in Muncie, Indiana, working as cheap labor for her parents — the original DIY weekend warriors. Once she could hold a hammer, she was involved in construction projects. She turned that love of building and her aptitude for math and science toward engineering and designing buildings.

Nicole graduated from Purdue with both a BSCE (1997) and an MSCE (1999). She graduated top of her class and was selected to speak at graduation. During her undergrad, Nicole participated in the Co-Op program and worked for a structural firm in Noblesville, Indiana.

After graduation, Nicole took a position with SA Miro in Denver, Colorado. Miro was known for working on high-profile projects like the main terminal at Denver International Airport and the Denver Aquarium. Nicole worked on various projects from office buildings to ski resorts.

In 2003, Nicole was looking for a change. After meeting with Peak Engineering’s founder — another Purdue graduate — she knew she found her home. She became a 10 percent owner of the firm in 2018. In 2022, she became 50 percent owner and was named Chief Operating Officer.

Nicole is responsible for the company’s marketing strategy, business development and client relations. She is known for her knowledge of tilt-up construction. She is an active member of the Tilt-up Concrete Association and has been named to their Top 50 World’s Most Influential Tilt-up Professionals list since 2020.

Nicole lives in Louisville, Colorado, where she relishes her role as soccer and volleyball mom. She has been able to travel the world with her two children, Hannah and Logan, allowing them to experience all types of cultures. Her kids have traveled to four continents and over 25 countries.

In 2019, she took on the task of getting scuba certified so her daughter could swim with sharks. Nicole always says she’ll do anything for her kids except ski moguls.