Oct 19, 2023
Bob Olsen did not show up at Sacramento Condition, but he is part of the Hornet Loved ones.
In the early 2000s, Olsen and other business pioneers had been instrumental in escalating the University’s Development Management (CM) division. Olsen co-launched and is a former president of the Sacramento Construction Management Instruction Foundations (SCMEF), a nonprofit that raises funds, gives scholarships, and supports CM.
“Sac State’s Design Management application was floundering, and we have been possessing difficulty as a community of contractors with obtaining engineers at a faculty,” he stated. “So, a couple of of us received collectively and … commenced brainstorming about what we could do.”
Currently, CM is flourishing with 100% position placement and substantial rankings in countrywide competitions. Olsen served Sac State’s plan succeed, mentoring students and serving on its accreditation committee.
For his determination and provider to Sac Condition and the bordering communities, Olsen is the receiver of this year’s Honorary Alumnus Award. He and six other people will be honored on Oct. 19 at the Distinguished Alumni Awards reception and evening meal.
The primary 10 founding customers of SCMEF have been awarded the Sac Point out President’s Medal for Distinguished Company in 2014 by then-President Alexander Gonzalez.
Now retired from his construction business, Olsen is board chair for Delight Industries, “the foremost nonprofit employer of men and women with disabilities in the nation.” Launched in Auburn in 1966, the group offers work in production, amenities administration, and similar fields.
“I joined the board in 1992. I’ve been the chairman for the past 15 yrs,” Olsen reported. “It just is the greatest thing that I think I’ve at any time done, to be in a position to assist that local community get included, and have the mothers and fathers have a area for their youngsters to endure and interact with persons.”
Olsen’s roots on the West Coast and in Sacramento are clear. In 1971, Olsen, who grew up in Oregon, graduated with bachelor’s levels in development engineering management and in business enterprise administration from Oregon State University, where by he played rugby.
Finding position possibilities to be exceptional, he moved to Sacramento and joined a mate at Continental Heller Company, wherever he worked for nine years.
Olsen subsequently assisted found two construction companies in the early 1980s, J.R. Roberts Corporation and S.D. Deacon. The two businesses later on merged to kind Deacon, a best building business in the area whose jobs incorporate Sutter Well being Park.
“You just go by your existence, do what you think is ideal,. Some of these (awards) come up, and it is been fantastic getting associated in Sac State, but it’s also been excellent to be in the community and do what I could for them.” — Bob Olsen
Olsen stated he is “not a significant award guy” but permits that becoming identified for his perform at Sac State and in the community is an honor.
“It’s anything I just was not wondering about. You know, you just go through your lifestyle, do what you believe is greatest,” Olsen said. “Some of these (awards) arrive up, and it is been terrific staying concerned in Sac Condition, but it really is also been good to be in the local community and do what I could for them.”