Jeff Olson was named president/CEO of the Credit Union Association of the Dakotas Aug. 24.

Olson, who has served as the executive vice president of government affairs for the association since 2008, also served as the interim president/CEO since mid-July when the former president/CEO Robbie Thompson resigned to become executive director of the Professional Liability Underwriters Society in Minneapolis.

“Everyone at CUAD and our members across the Dakotas are excited that Jeff Olson will be leading our professional credit union association,” Travis Kasten, board chair of the Dakotas association and president/CEO of the $139 million Service First Federal Credit Union in Sioux Falls, S.D., said. “As our government advocacy leader for the last several years, Jeff certainly has a handle on the complex issues facing our industry today. More importantly, he has the experience and leadership skills to continue moving our association forward in a positive direction.”

Olson holds nearly 30 years of experience in government affairs, advocacy and strategic communications.

He previously advocated for higher education, homebuilders, the developmentally disabled and smoke-free issues, according to the league. Olson also worked in the North Dakota Governor's office as director of constituent services and served as a political strategist and consultant for legislative campaigns throughout North Dakota.

Prior to joining CUAD, he was a partner in an advertising and marketing firm.

Olson also worked in radio and television as an on-air personality and news anchor/reporter at several broadcast stations in North Dakota and northern Minnesota.

“I am very excited about the opportunity to lead the association,” Olson said. “The financial cooperative model today faces many challenges; however, there is a unique opportunity to collectively collaborate and successfully strengthen our operating environment while promoting credit unions as a financial alternative to traditional banking. I'm looking forward to working collaboratively with the board and staff in serving and meeting our members' expectations.”

The Credit Union Association of the Dakotas serves 79 credit unions that manage an excess of $6.2 billion in assets.

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