Nicole Neesen’s Journey From Creighton Law to Sola Salons Franchisee

Nicole Neesen, a trained attorney and current franchise owner with Sola Salons, found more than just an education at Creighton University. It was where she met her husband, Brian, whom she continues to work alongside today. The university provided her with an opportunity to mentor up-and-coming legal students and supported her deepened commitment to lifelong service.

“I met Brian at Creighton University. We fell in love, and the rest is history,” Neesen said. “When we first married, money was tight, but somehow we found a way to buy Creighton Basketball season tickets. This is our 34th consecutive year as Jaybackers.”

The Neesens’ continued involvement with the university reflects a strong connection to the values and community that shaped them both. Those same values have allowed them to change the lives of countless others through their Sola Salons franchise.

Neesen’s journey to entrepreneurship wasn’t immediate. After earning her law degree, she worked as a public defender.

“I also worked in the Creighton legal clinic,” she said. “We served low-income residents who were dealing with civil legal problems. The law students were getting experience as aspiring attorneys, and it was so fun to shepherd them through that experience.”

Neesen said that this experience aligned perfectly with her Jesuit education and taught her important lessons that have proven valuable in business ownership.

“I have a passion for serving people who need help,” she said. “But this also taught me that most things can be solved with a conversation or a letter. It’s nice to help people see that, through good, honest communication, you can solve a lot.”

Despite initially thinking, “I’ll never do it!” when it came to business ownership, Neesen eventually realized entrepreneurship was in her blood. She grew up in an entrepreneurial home, and after seeing her parents operate as business owners, she caught the “business bug.”

The Neesens’ first foray into small business was with Granite Transformations, a kitchen and bath business they operated for over a decade, working side by side while raising their kids and juggling the many responsibilities that come with family life.

“The franchise model, and the support that came with it, appealed to us immediately,” she said. “Having the support of the franchisor and a clear path to success was a great foundation.” The pair discovered they worked well together — both as life partners and business partners.

After selling their first business, the Neesens discovered Sola Salons.

“Sola was the perfect fit for me,” Neesen said. “I love helping people. Our model is to help beauty and wellness professionals. We support them in becoming entrepreneurs. If you walk down the hallways of a Sola, it’s like walking down Main Street America. There’s a barber, stylist and esthetician. We make business accessible for these people.”

Sola’s focus on micropreneurs resonated with them. Micropreneurs generally don’t have the same access to the necessary support, but when they become Solapreneurs — as they’re often called throughout the system — they gain the tools and confidence to thrive.

The values instilled during her Creighton years continue to guide Neesen’s business philosophy.

“I think Creighton gave me a real heart for service and a real empathy for people who are struggling with a host of different things,” she said. “In the beauty business, we have countless opportunities to give people second chances and support them in achieving their goals.”

The university connection also remains strong — both in her business and personal life.

“When you go to a Creighton game, it’s like a big hug,” she said. “You see so many people who you’ve crossed paths with. When we go to a game and cheer for the Jays, we’re really cheering for a university that changes lives, builds strong families and serves others.”

For Neesen, success isn’t just measured with business metrics. Her success comes in the form of helping others and maintaining the spirit of service that Creighton instilled.