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The PDI Difference
- Practical
- Dynamic
- Interactive
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Bill Olsen, Senior Manager
 Bill Olsen is a Senior Manager with Leadership Strategies Institute, the Facilitation Company, which specializes in providing and teaching facilitation and management excellence. Mr. Olsen represents Leadership Strategies’ services in the greater Washington DC region, providing his services locally, Nationwide and internationally.
As a Senior Manager, Bill is a facilitator, trainer and consultant. Since joining Leadership Strategies in 2004 he has supported government agencies including EPA, FDA, DOT, NIH, DOD, NOAA, the government of Jamaica and County agencies, corporations including Coca Cola, Nokia, CEA, DiversityInc, Stearns & Wheler plus numerous non-profit Organizations. In addition, Bill has led conferences and summits through training and coordination of multiple table facilitators.
As a US Navy Commander, Bill was already experienced in managing complex programs when introduced to Creative Problem Solving. Using these tools as a manager-facilitator, his Navy program gained unparallel successes and was recognized with the Nation’s Silver Hammer Award for Reinventing Government. While in uniform, he facilitated high-risk programs in the Army, Navy, Air Force and NASA, and as a Defense University professor, his Creative Problem Solving course was formally recognized as “the most popular elective in the university’s history”.
Bill Olsen is now a full-time professional facilitator and trainer, providing creative, interactive and yet practical workshops. He continues to use creative problem solving for projects that demand innovation, team building or accelerated results. In addition to his Leadership Strategies work, he also leads his own courses, has keynoted at several conferences, presented workshops internationally and was recognized for leading the most highly-attended workshop at three different conferences, all with creative facilitation as its central theme. His own clients include:
- Corporations: Procter & Gamble, Anteon, Camber, Farm Credit Services, National Trade Productions, North Eastern Supply, EMCOR, two hospitals & multiple small businesses.
- Government: FAA, NASA, VA, Energy Dept & all Defense Dept. military branches, including security-classified military programs.
- Other: National associations, Universities, School Districts, non-profits & start-ups.
A disabled veteran himself, Bill is adept at working with unique clients and diverse organizations, requiring sensitivity to their culture, issues and special needs. These include:
- DiversityInc, a National Summit focused on learning and understanding the management of diversity amongst industry leaders, conducted with a diverse team of facilitators.
- Parkinson’s Foundation, where all Board members either had, or were spouses of those who had Parkinson’s disease, requiring special accommodations during a 3-day offsite.
- Jamaica Tomorrow, where as co-facilitator & trainer, Bill worked with 200+ government and business leaders, including the Prime Minister, in developing their strategic plan.
- Gay, Lesbian & Transgender, where Bill facilitated the grass-roots planning and the National Summit to form a new national advocacy policy focused on equality.
- Youth Groups, providing events for Churches, Boy/Girl/venture Scouts and the YMCA.
A Certified Professional Facilitator (CPF), Mr. Olsen is an active member of the International Association of Facilitators (IAF) and the Mid Atlantic Facilitator’s Network (MAFN). Bill is a Lifetime Member of the Creative Education Foundation (CEF) where he serves in an Advisory Committee. He is a regular presenter in international conferences focused on Creativity and Facilitation, in which he has been recognized with five different awards. Listed in the National Facilitator Data Base, Bill he has been consistently listed in its “Top 20 Facilitators” since its inception. Bill Olsen and his family make their home in Springfield VA. |
