Olsen&Associates

Marlene Olsen - President

There's a quote colorfully splashed across the wall of the Olsen & Associates creative lounge that reads, "Man's mind, once stretched by a new idea, never regains its original dimension." The author was Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. The subject may well have been Marlene Olsen, for it's within her to learn as much as she can and to challenge the company to do things differently and more creatively. Some people start the day with a cup of coffee; Marlene prefers a blank slate, along with her tea. She is constantly pushing herself and her employees to stretch themselves, to shake things up, to come up with solutions that go beyond the traditional boundaries of marketing and public relations.

On the business end, Marlene has represented such clients as Truckee Meadows Water Authority, Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Altmann Constrtuciton, Granite Construction, Reno Municipal Band, Reno Rodeo, Nevada State Brownfields Program, the Commission on Economic Development, Reno Downtown Improvement Association, Regional Transportation Commission, State of Nevada, and various grassroots initiatives. She helped found Northern Nevada Business Weekly--from the business plan to a fully profitable company. She has also manned the helm of The Great Reno Balloon Race, one of the area's top attractions.

Before starting Olsen & Associates, Marlene - who earned her journalism degree from the University of Nevada, Reno -- was News Bureau Director at the Reno-Sparks Chamber of Commerce, a partner in Olsen & Zadra Marketing Group, and founder/partner of Marketing Synergists, Inc.

Marlene's passions include guest lecturing at special events and at journalism classes at the University of Nevada, Reno and Truckee Meadows Community College. She's also religious about brisk walks around the office, most often in the company of clients and co-workers.

In 2005 Marlene received the Professional Achievement Award from the Alumni Association at the University of Nevada Reno. She was also inducted into the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Hall of Fame in 2003 and was selected for outstanding contributions to the public relations profession and to the community. In 2006 Marlene was approved for the PRSA's Counselor's Academy. Her company is a perennial force at the PRSA Silver Spike Awards, often winning Best of Show.

Marlene currently serves on the Professional Advisory Board for the Reynolds School of Journalism at the University of Nevada, Reno, the University Alumni Council and Board of Directors for the Reno Rotary Club. Among her prior contributions are Chairman and founder of the Sierra Nevada Handicapped Riding Association, Chairman for Washoe County Parks Commission, Board of Directors for Reno Rotary Foundation, and other charity and organizations.

Aside from her passion for improving and growing her own business, Marlene also belongs to Vistage/The Executive Committee an international business organization where 15 business owners gather monthly to discuss methods for improving their effectiveness as CEOs.