About - History
The Foundation for Success
1956
John E. Olsson establishes John E. Olsson Professional
Engineering in Lincoln, Nebraska's Sharp Building, with
him as the sole employee. The company's first project
is a plat of a cemetery for J. Township in Seward County
for a fee of $56. Gross income that first year is $4,000.
1958
Max Burroughs joins the firm, adding structural and
architectural expertise to the service offerings. Olsson
& Burroughs relocates to the fourth floor of the
Sharp Building.
1960
Charles Thomsen joins the firm, which becomes Olsson, Burroughs & Thomsen and adds mechanical and electrical engineering services to the mix.
1962
Olsson, Burroughs & Thomsen merges with Clark & Enersen Architects to form Enersen, Olsson, Burroughs & Thomsen. The firm now employs 30 and offers architectural, civil, sanitary, mechanical, structural, and municipal engineering services.
1970
Enersen, Olsson, Burroughs & Thomsen's civil and municipal engineering departments leave the group to form John E. Olsson & Associates with 90 projects and eight employees. The new firm establishes headquarters on the 17th floor of the First National Bank Building in downtown Lincoln, Nebraska.
The firm teamed with Black & Veatch on the Theresa Street wastewater treatment plant project in Lincoln.
Becoming Olsson Associates
 Carl and John1973
John E. Olsson & Associates becomes Olsson Associates with 22 employees.
1976
Carl Bodensteiner named President.
1980
Corporate headquarters moves to the 6th floor of the NBC Center in downtown Lincoln, Nebraska. Olsson Associates now employs 34.
1984
Olsson Associates opens an office in Grand Island, Nebraska.
Electrical and mechanical engineering services are added and the firm grows to 47 employees and 419 projects. The firm was selected for the Ashland water treatment plant project.
1986
Olsson Associates begins the 4.5-day work week. Both computers are networked.
1990
Roger Severin named President. Another regional office opens in Holdrege, Nebraska. Computers in the Lincoln office are networked. Olsson Associates now employs 75 and services 467 projects.
1994
Olsson Associates' headquarters relocates to 1111 Lincoln Mall in Lincoln, Nebraska, and establishes Olsson Environmental Sciences. The firm boasts 734 projects and 105 employees.
1996
For the first time, Olsson makes Engineering News Record’s Top 500 design firms listing. The firm celebrates 40 years with 135 employees and offices in Lincoln, Grand Island, and Holdrege. John E. Olsson is honored with UNL College of Engineering and Technology’s Outstanding Alumnus Award.
1997
Olsson Associates opens an office in Omaha, Nebraska. Antelope Valley MIS project won in Lincoln, marking the firm's largest project to date.
1998
At 152 employees, Olsson Associates opens an office
in Kansas City, Missouri.
Acquisitions and Growth
1999
Olsson opens an office in Phoenix, Arizona. The Kansas City office doubles in size with the addition of BES and new staff members. Olsson Associates and Olsson Environmental Sciences open the holding company, OEI, Inc. The firm grows to 214 employees and is recognized as the fastest growing company in the city of Lincoln.
2000
Olsson adds SEC to start Denver operations. Olsson employs 271 and handles 973 projects.
2001
Olsson opens Siouxland office in South Sioux City, Nebraska. The Glendale West Area Regional Center project in Arizona is won. The firm establishes an Employee Stock Ownership Program.
2002
UNL’s College of Engineering and Technology recognizes Olsson Associates with the Distinguished Corporate Service Award for its service to the college. This includes hiring students as interns and employees, speaking to classes, sponsoring career fairs and E-Week activities, and providing financial support for the college’s Student Resource Center and the John E. Olsson Scholarship fund.
2003
Olsson opens a Scottsbluff, Nebraska office and services 1,360 projects firmwide. Regional Management System created with four regions, 368 employees and 29 teams. Olsson is recognized by CE News as a best place to work.
2004
Olsson opens a Minneapolis-area office and expands to 415 employees. Olsson moves up 40 places on the Engineering News Record's Top 500 to #232.
2005
Patty McManus named President, and Fortune Small Business named her to its best bosses list.
2006
Olsson Associates celebrates its 50th year. Olsson moves to #193 on Engineering News-Record's Top 500 and employs more than 600.
2007
Chip Corcoran named Chief Operating Officer. Firm wins the Sunflower project, a significant multi-discipline, multi-geographic project in Kansas. Olsson has four regions with 17 offices, 47 teams, and 700 employees.
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