Olsen heads the daily operation of this 1,900 member non-profit association headquartered in Austin.

An Austin native, Olsen worked as a legislative assistant to U.S. Representative J.J. Pickle in Washington, D.C. from 1974 to 1978. He was Public Affairs Director for the Associated General Contractors of Texas, 1980 - 1989.

Olsen has an undergraduate degree in journalism and a master's degree in history, both from Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos. He also attended the University of Texas and the University of Americas (Mexico City). He is a veteran of the Texas Air National Guard.

His civic activities include Meals on Wheels, the Travis County Grand Jury Association, and the Texas Society of Association Executives.

He has been married for 39 years and has two sons. The Olsens are members of the Westlake Hills Presbyterian Church.