Michael J. Olsen is a communications professional with 40 years of experience spanning the corporate, public, and non-profit sectors. Old, but still kickin' it. His areas of expertise include:
- Corporate communications planning, messaging, and execution
- Public and media relations
- Crisis management
- Mergers and Acquisitions communications planning/messaging
- Communications coaching for both new and seasoned executives
- Video production
- Corporate events
- Community and government relations
- Speech writing
- Corporate philanthropy
- Spokesperson media and performance coaching
Olsen's job experience has included serving as senior vice president of corporate communications and public affairs for Otter Tail Corporation, senior vice president of corporate communications, Great Plains Software (later, Microsoft Business Solutions), vice president of corporate communications for National Car Rental, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Transportation for Public Affairs in Washington D.C. (during U.S.Transportation Secretary Elizabeth Dole's tenure), press secretary to the late U.S. Senator Mark Andrews (R-ND), and senior producer at Prairie Public Broadcasting.
Olsen serves as a member of the board of trustees for the Upper Midwest Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. He is a former board member for Churches United for the Homeless, a past commissioner for the City of Fargo, North Dakota's Arts and Culture Commission, and former chair of the board for The Arts Partnership.
Finally, Olsen thinks he's funny, and has spent his whole life trying to prove it. So far so good.