Meet Gus Olson

"Gus Olson is an experienced financial planner, fund raiser, merger and turnaround specialist.

He specializes in helping business professionals achieve breakthroughs in their business."

F. L. "Gus" Olson
Rancho Mirage, CA
GusOlson@aol.com

EDUCATION:

University of the Pacific: BA in Business
California State University: MBA (Finance)

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

AcroTek - Rancho Mirage, California
Independent Consultant, 2000 - Current
Assignments included: preparation of business plans, marketing plans, financial models, feasibility studies, international sales, agronomic consulting, valuations and mergers for Chicago Worldwide.

CenTrak - Rancho Mirage, California
Independent Consultant, June 1987 to 2000:
Clients included: CALAVO, THE GREEN HOUSE, WOOD COMPANY, SCARBOROUGH FARMS, BIO, INC., THE HEIM GROUP, US MICROBICS, CHICAGO WORLDWIDE, LUXOR CALIFORNIA TRADING, CAMDEN PARTNERS, ASSURED AMERICAN CAPITAL CORPORATION, CALIFORNIA BIO-MASS, CENTRAK, AND ZENITH FOODS. Consulting assignments include: preparation of business plans, marketing plans, marketing data bases, financial models, feasibility studies, international sales, cold storage and packing plant layout, interim farm management, agronomic consulting, labor contract negotiation, and mergers, divestitures, and acquisitions.

The Green House, Carlsbad, California
Ch. of Executive Committee and COO, August 1992 to November 1994:
A large culinary herb growing and marketing company. This company had 475 agricultural and 75 marketing, administrative, and transportation employees. Responsibilities including: labor relations, legal and public affairs, management information systems, human resources, farm management, and in house agronomic consulting. The Green House was a successful "turn around".

Earth Resource Data Corporation, Carlsbad, CA
President, CEO and CFO, March 1985 to July 1987:
A multi-spectral remote sensing company serving the agriculture and forestry industries. Raised capital from three venture capital partners that invested $3,000,000. The company was sold to a public corporation in July of 1987.

Go/Western Produce and Commodities, Inc. - Indian Wells, CA
President and CEO, June 1980 to June 1984:
Sales exceeded $20 million per year sold by the President and 3 sales representatives. Go/Western provided financial, growing, packing, and sales expertise to grower joint ventures in Mexico, California, and Arizona.

Tenneco West, Desert Division - Indian Wells, CA
Director of Operations, November 1978 to June 1980:
This entity included all farming, packing, and marketing functions in the Coachella Valley, Imperial Valley, Arizona, and Old Mexico. Sales exceeded $14 million and employment was 1,100. The Director and a staff of 4 sales persons sold the Divisions products. Tenneco West, Desert Operations was a successful "turn around".

Calagra Industries, Inc. - Sacramento, CA
President and CEO, October 1976 to November 1978:
This food processing company had sales exceeded $12 million with 175 employees. Facilities were consolidated, production facilities modernized, selling prices increased, and the thrust of the marketing effort was changed. Calagra was a successful "turn around".

OTHER BUSINESS EXPERIENCE:

Tri-Valley Growers: Tri-Valley was a cooperative cannery with sales in excess of $300 million. Member of the Board of Directors and Chairman of the Advisory Board 1973-76. Served on the audit and grower's relations committees.

Rivelco, Inc.: A grain brokerage and elevator company, this company had sales exceeding $60 million per year. Member of the Board of Directors for four years.

Union Carbide Corporation: Served as a paid part-time consultant to the Advanced Growing Systems Division. This entity developed vegetable cloning methods, seed rejuvenation, and advanced greenhouse-growing methods.

ACHIEVEMENTS and HONORS:

EXTENSIVE LATIN AMERICAN AND MIDDLE EAST BUSINESS EXPERIENCE
AGRICULTURE'S SPOKESMAN OF THE YEAR (2 CONSECUTIVE YEARS)
CALIFORNIA AGRICULTURAL LEADERSHIP - KELLOGG FELLOW
CALIFORNIA OUTSTANDING YOUNG FARMER (RUNNER-UP)
SOIL MICROBIOLOGY DEVELOPER
COMPUTER LITERATE

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