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.