As a girl growing up in Knoxville, Iowa, I remember my parents preparing to build the house that would become the home to which I still occasionally return. Mostly I remember somewhat boring drives into the country to look at a piece of property and evenings spent playing with the daughters of the architect while my parents talked about construction, architecture, design, and engineering.

Those four words—construction, architecture, design, and engineering—affect us all, from visible ways such as a sought-after Gustav Stickley chair to the not-so-visible ways like the foundation of a house. This issue brings you articles about the building industry.

The main feature is about how Omaha became a big town for engineering. We also feature the New North Makerhood District, a 20-block area north of Cuming Street that covers 30 acres of land with 16 buildings.

Omaha Municipal Land Bank is giving the city a face-lift. City Council President Ben Gray, our leader this month, was instrumental in starting the organization.

One reason my parents built their house where they did is because Knoxville is known as the Sprint Car Capital of the World. My parents’ house is in the opposite direction of the track. I myself did not attend the races until I was in college.

Our How I Roll subject, John Klabunde, is acquainted with Knoxville. He owns a sprint car, and has traveled to my hometown several times to watch, and participate in, races.

There are many enjoyable articles in this issue, and I hope you take the time to read them all.

This letter was printed in the June/July 2019 edition of B2B Magazine.