Leading association-management company SmithBucklin announced today that Michael S. Olson will join the company as executive vice president, effective January 12, 2004.
Olson resigned in June as president and CEO of the Washington, D.C-based American Society of Association Executives after five years at the helm. Among his achievements during his ASAE tenure was the launch of the major public awareness campaign "Associations Advance America," and the creation of partnership agreements with 56 allied societies of association executives. In his new position, he will have overall responsibility for client management and business development in SmithBucklin’s Washington, D.C. office.
SmithBucklin, headquartered in Chicago, is the country’s largest association management firm, employing 550 professionals and managing more than $170 million in client budgets. Henry S. Givay, president and CEO of the firm, praised Olson, saying "not only is he one of our community’s top thought leaders, but he is also a man of great vision, integrity, and character."