Our "big city feel" and small town attitudes help make Milwaukee a more close-knit and genuine city. The seven degrees of typical separation in Milwaukee is often times reduced to two or less. So, it's no wonder that every now and then we conduct a "Milwaukee Talks" with one of our friends. Beth Nicols, head cheerleader and executive director at Milwaukee Downtown, Business Improvement District #21, is one of these friends. More than a friend, Milwaukee Downtown is a strategic partner, advertiser, web design client and advocate of OnMilwaukee.com.

Nicols' spirit and collaborative style have helped transform downtown from its depths in the later 1990's to its current renewal -- just take a trip down Wells Street, through the Historic Third Ward or to the Milwaukee Art Museum and you'll see the re-birth happening. Nicols and her crew are just a few of the many people that make downtown happen each and every day. Here's her story. Enjoy our "Milwaukee Talks" with Beth Nicols.

OMC: Please give us the "Beth Nicols story."

Beth Nicols: I was raised in the city of Milwaukee. I just finished enjoying my 30s (Nicols turned 40 on May 6, 2003). I have two children who are the most wonderful things that have ever happened to me. Shawna is going into her junior year at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She is there on a basketball scholarship, phenomenal human being. My son Justin, 17, will be a senior at Pius XI High School and another great person. My kids have been such a blessing in my life because they really help me focus on my direction and goals -- they have been an inspiration to me. My grandmother was another truly inspirational person in my life.

OMC: How about your up bringing?

BN: I went to private grade school and public high school. I am a graduate of Solomon Juneau High School and attended the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. I started my family at a very young age. My early work experience, as a kid, was dry cleaning, waitressing, bartending, cashiering and my interest in politics started with political involvement because of my grandfather. I worked for the Common Council for eight years to start my career -- worked for the president of the Common Council for four of those eight years, who was John Kalwitz at the time.

OMC: What was next?

BN: When I left the City of Milwaukee, I started my own company -- a company called "At Your Service" and I did fundraising and consulting. I also did some work for private business in terms of media, PR, employee handbook establishment and dealing with purveyors. As part of my fundraising efforts, I got hooked up with State Senator Barbara Ulichny and did some work with her. I did that for about one year and then there was an opening at the Department of City Development (DCD) in Economic Development working out of the commissioner's office so I went over there for a year. Next, I was the executive director of The Westown Association for five years, and now at Milwaukee Downtown.

OMC: Did you know what you wanted to do when you were a kid?

BN: Well in sixth grade I thought for sure I was going be a nun. I was pretty certain about that. And when I hit high school I really, really thought I wanted to get involved in business but, then I became more interested in education when I worked with learning disabled children. I went from wanting to be a nun to wanting to be a teacher and then recognized as I got older that I definitely wanted to have a family and roots and I knew that I wanted a job working with the general public.

I always thought it would be so great to be able to get a grant to be able to just people-watch and see how they interact on city sidewalks. To research what makes people stop and walk into a store or what makes them stop at a corner to talk and feel comfortable. I knew I needed to be in a position where I was working with people and helping to make my "little corner" of the world a better place to be in.

OMC: Now your "little corner" of the world is downtown Milwaukee. Can you explain for someone who has no background knowledge of your organization what it is all about?

BN: Milwaukee Downtown Business Improvement District 21 represents 120 square blocks in downtown Milwaukee that has 400 property owners and several thousand businesses. This is an initiative that was started by local property owners to enhance the quality of life in downtown Milwaukee and make downtown more competitive as a destination for people to live, work, learn and play. We provide quality of life services -- public services ambassadors, clean sweep ambassadors, graffiti removal, landscaping, and work on parking and transportation issues. We work through collaboration -- working with all the other downtown groups -- in order to achieve our goals to make Milwaukee a true destination. We also do the Holiday Lights Festival and put on, in conjunction with other partners, the Downtown Open House and Expo.

OMC: What do you say to someone who hasn't been downtown in five years?

BN: I know through market research and studying the six county area that more and more people are coming downtown. There are a lot of reasons people like to come downtown -- to shop and to dine, for recreation purposes and sporting events, arts, culture, they love the built environment. That includes the historic preservation of the buildings that we've done. It includes the river, it includes the lakefront, it includes the parks in downtown Milwaukee, but, also the reality is that you have to look at what you can do to improve your environment and to provide better customer service.

Some of the critical issues that have been identified that we know we have to be focused on are parking, transportation, accessibility and the additional need for more retail. And of course, with the huge housing movement that is occurring in downtown Milwaukee, I am happy to say that more affordable housing is going to be available in downtown Milwaukee very soon.