36 and still Coolasvuck
The MYLO squad in Vegas at the national PPAI trade show - Cola always with the best selfies!
She’s the Real Thing: The Joy of Cola
This week, we’re cranking up the love, turning up the volume on nostalgia, grit, and gratitude—and celebrating one of the coolest humans I know: my daughter and business partner, Cola. She just turned 36, and while I’ve sung her praises before (hello, Hall of Fame status!), this time it’s personal. This is about the layers of life that shaped her—the early days, the sports mishaps, the leadership lessons, the laughs, and the legacy we’re building together through our work at MYLO.
You’ll meet the kid who wriggled out of car seats, caught volleyballs mid-match, and somehow still served up aces like a pro. You’ll learn where her name came from, why she was born to be bold, and how “Coolasvuck” accidentally became a birthday theme we’ll never forget.
If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to raise a powerhouse, work alongside your grown-up kid, or just want to be reminded that strong, smart, grounded women are out here doing it differently—read on. I promise, you’ll leave smiling.
—AngieCOOLASVUCK at 36
Celebrating 30!!!
Celebrating Cola – My Daughter, My Business Partner, My Forever Sidekick
June 15, 1989. A Thursday. Due date? June 17. But Cola, true to her nature, showed up early and ready to roll—just a little head start to a lifetime of beating expectations and living on her own terms.
From the moment she entered the world, Cola carried a light in her smile and a quiet confidence in her soul. Even as a toddler, she radiated joy with a grin that went on for days and a mind that was always a few steps ahead of the room. Her name, Nicole Anna, got shortened to Nikki for a blink, but fate intervened. A sweet niece on my sister-in-law’s side kept calling her Nicola. My dad picked up on it and ran with it: “How’s my Cola? Cola Cola?” And that was it. The nickname that stuck. And it fit. She was never meant to be a Nikki.
She was meant to be Cola.
Picking the wedding dress!!!
The Joy of Cola
Yes—there’s always been the Joy of Cola. Remember those old Coke commercials? Ba ba ba ba, ba ba ba baaa… the Joy of Cola! Well, she turned that catchy jingle into a junior high science project at LV—a full-blown cola taste test, complete with a live performance of the theme song to kick off her presentation. That’s classic Cola—unafraid, unapologetic, and always willing to put herself out there. She’s never been one to shrink back from the spotlight. From modeling gigs to 4-H speeches, belting it out in song contests, or lighting up the stage at the Dodge County Fair talent shows—she never cared what people thought. She just went for it.
She loved shorts & T-shirts over dresses. Richard Scarry counting videos over dolls. Swimming pools over tea parties. She tested me during her toddler carseat era - no matter how tight I strapped her in, I would take off driving and look in the rear view mirror and see her sly smile grinning at me as she had magically wriggled her arms through the straps and was squatting in her seat ready to get out. Regardless of the stops I made along the roadways and the times I would lose my marbles and have to scold her and try to get her to understand the importance of safety - this little girl would just look at me with a stoic face, a couple of tears and then smile her way right back into the car.
And then, she’d do it again. She loved to challenge me. She still challenges me, just not in ways that are life threatening! I swear she had to be a magician to get out of those car seats like that. She was the queen of the extended goodbye — hiding in closets, clinging to stair rails, or flat-out crying when it was time to leave a party or someone’s house. She just couldn’t stand for the fun to end. Even as a little kid, she had that ride-or-die party spirit. Living in the moment, milking every last drop of joy — and making damn sure everyone around her was doing the same.
And when our softball team needed someone brave enough to step behind the plate and catch the rocket pitches from her buddy Dani Mowinkel—when no one else would do it—Cola threw on the gear, swapped her second base glove for a catcher’s mitt, and handled it like she’d done it her whole life.
She was never the fastest runner. Not even close. But she was sharp. She could read pitchers and catchers like a book, get herself on base, and then find a way to outsmart the defense. She made it work, always. Brains beat speed every time. She could read the room—or the field or the court—like nobody else.
That instinct to lead and problem-solve carried through everything—4-H, sports, school. Whether she was on the softball field, the basketball court, or ultimately where her heart truly belonged: the volleyball court. She was destined for it. With those strong, steady hands, she could set a ball with such ease and consistency, it was like watching butter melt in mid-air. She was born for this—and it showed.
Volleyball, Values & Vision
Always smiling!
The volleyball court was her home base, and eventually her launchpad. A decorated setter, she played at a high level through high school and college, earning her way into the UNK Hall of Fame in 2024. But it wasn’t the titles that made her standout—it was the quiet, unwavering leadership.
I’ll never forget her last year of club. She was offered a spot on a top-tier team destined for Nationals. But when she told the coach she’d be missing a week of practice to go on a mission trip to Juarez, Mexico, the coach said, “Then you can’t be on this team.” Just like that.
Cola walked away.
That night, freshly showered and sitting cross-legged in bed, tears in her eyes, she asked me, “Is this what happens when you put God first?”
Yes. Sometimes it is. And sometimes it’s the beginning of something even greater. She found another team—less polished, less convenient, and much less likely to win—and helped lead them to places they didn’t know they could go.
That’s Cola. Faith over fame. Purpose over polish.
Like the time at a club volleyball tournament in Indianapolis—Cola, the most solid, consistent setter out there, caught the ball mid-rally. Caught it. Froze. Everyone froze. Her coach hollered, “Cola! You can’t CATCH the ball!” She had no idea what happened. None. The ref called a lift, she rolled the ball under the net, her teammates laughed so hard they were crying, and then—just like always—Cola bounced right back and ran the next play with grace and grit.
That’s her style. She absorbs a moment. She learns. Then she shows up even stronger.
Honeymoon with all of us in Moab riding the trails!
Mistakes are Golden Opportunities
Then there was the time she was playing for UNK at Regis University. She went back to the line for a jump serve—and let’s just say… it dribbled off her hand. The ball barely made it to the 10-foot line on her own side of the net. Her coach, Rick Squires, blinked, looked down the bench and muttered, “Dear God… what was that?” Her teammates burst out laughing and the opposing fans ran with it. Knowing full well she was one of the top setters in the league, they started chanting “Air Ball! Air Ball! Air Ball!” like it was a basketball game.
Trevor was sitting next to me in the stands, wide-eyed and mortified: “Oh my God. How embarrassing. I can’t believe my sister just did that.”
But here’s the thing about Cola. She doesn’t flinch. She doesn’t fight back. She just focuses. Next rotation, she stepped back to the line again—served four straight aces. Shut that crowd right up.
That’s her way. No theatrics. No drama. Just a calm smile, a locked-in mindset, and then—boom—magic. She never lets the ugly moment win. She climbs over it, quietly and completely, and something incredible always follows.
The Big Sister. The Realist. The Rock.
Colby, Trev & Cola celebrating a wedding.
At just five years old, she rolled down the window in a parking lot in Fremont and shouted to the heavens, “THANK YOU GOD!!!” when we told her she was going to be a big sister. She prayed for that baby. And when Trevor arrived, she stepped into her role as mini-mom and never looked back.
She helped name him. She nurtured him. And over the years, they’ve shared a bond rooted in deep mutual respect. Never competitive. Always connected. They are both straight-shooters, deep feelers, and loyal hearts who know when to hold space and when to speak truth.
They’ve made me proud beyond measure.
Jack, Tam, Ang & Cola at PPAI in Vegas 2025
Cola in the Business of Meaning
Best Buds from UNK Volleyball days. Nikki, Cola & Katlyn.
Eight years ago, we launched Soul & Swag, making a brand change the summer of 2023 to Mylo Brand Studio. And while I had years of experience in the promotional products industry, it was Cola’s energy, creativity, and entrepreneurial fire that made us take the leap—and build something different. Not just different for the sake of it. Different on purpose.
She’s got a math brain, an art brain, a heart for people, and a nose for strategy. She sees the big picture, zooms in on the details, and holds herself and everyone around her to the highest standards.
She’s a disrupter in the best way. She refuses to peddle junk. She makes decisions with purpose and precision. She believes that branded merch should be thoughtful, impactful, and well made—whether it’s a mug, a hoodie, or a full-on brand story. And she insists our clients invest wisely, not aimlessly.
And while she’s grown this business, she’s also grown her family—married a great man, raised two incredible boys (with a third baby on the way), and never missed a beat. She’s led through pregnancies, parties, pandemics, and product launches.
I get to witness her in real time—as a mother, a creative, a founder, and a friend—and I don’t take a second of it for granted.
Cola with her high school coach and one of our family’s bestest friends, JFE (Jenny Gragert).
Coolasvuck (Yes, Literally)
One of the best stories to ever come out of this life we’re living? A few teacher friends of my friend Jenny Gragert were bar hopping in Elkhorn. They ended up at Jack’s, and the waitress looked suspiciously like Cola. A little buzzed, one teacher leaned in and asked, “Hey… are you Coola Svuck?”
The waitress, confused but undeterred, simply replied, “Sure,” and walked away.
Turns out the waitress thought they were asking if she was “cool as f*#k.”
When that story landed back in our laps - we realized that Cola Svec does sound differently slurred and it does sound like “cool as f*#k.” Her name may have changed since then - but - her soul lives on as being that damn cool.
So for Cola’s 30th, we made drinkware that said Dirty, Thirty, and COOLASVUCK. Because she is. Not just cool. Not just creative. But real. Smart. Funny. Focused. Driven. Faithful. And loyal to her bones.
Legacy, Laughter & What’s Next
Thirty-six years in, and she still carries that sly little Houdini smile. Still challenges the norm. Still chooses what matters most over what glitters. And still stands beside me every day in business, in family, and in life.
We’ve been through the hard and the beautiful. The losses and the leaps. The ditch-side discipline talks and the conference room debates. And I wouldn’t trade a second of it. Cola has an incredible wit, a way about her that makes her get through any difficult situation with a happy spirit knowing you can always endure anything. She loves laughing at the wacky humor of her husband and the goofy moments with her boys.
Not every family can work together. But we can. Because we tell the truth. We hold space. We take risks. And we love this life—even the messy parts. We fill in each other’s gaps. We aren’t afraid to disagree with each other, to honor each other’s ideas, and to value each other strengths.
In the end, what can I say? Cola is a force — equal parts hilarious, brilliant, grounded, and giving. She leads with heart, sharpens every room she walks into, and somehow balances it all with grace (and the occasional eye roll). Watching her build a beautiful life, raise an incredible family, and pour her energy into everything she loves — including this wild ride of a business ——- this is the kind of gift that keeps on giving. I’m endlessly proud, completely entertained, and forever grateful to be her mom, partner, and biggest fan. And now, with baby number three on the way, the joy just keeps growing
