Ben Olson

"I grew up going to a former cow-pasture that my grandparents let return to wild on the banks of the Kettle River. Over the last 50 years our family has watched the Birch and Poplars grow to their full height and be slowly replaced by Oaks and Firs. Next, with a little help from us, we’ll watch the Red and White pines push through the landscape as it returns to the forest's original form. Observing the resilience, beauty, and power of Nature fuels my advocacy for the environment we all share."

Ben comes to us from the University of Southern California, where he spent the past five years working in advancement communications on sustainability initiatives. Prior to his time at USC, Ben was a well-established lobbyist in Minnesota with over a decade of experience serving clients including the MN Film and TV Board, Delta Dental, Educators4Excellence, The Minnesota Comprehensive Health Association, Planned Parenthood and many more. During his time lobbying the Minnesota Legislature, Ben was a central figure in the passage of the waste paint extended producer responsibility (EPR) law that has become a model for other product stewardship initiatives including carpet, packaging, and electronic waste. He was a founding board member of The Minneapolis Bicycle Coalition and organized the first 12 Open Streets MPLS events.