Mark Olsen is HMI's Board Member of the Year for 2009!

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Board Chairman, Creston M. Owen recognized long time community volunteer, Mark Olsen, by presenting a plaque to him this week in Old Town Manassas, to recognize his countess efforts to make Manassas a better place to live. Mark Olsen is a name that many people from Manassas know. Owner of Olde Town Landscaping, Inc, Mr. Olsen has been involved with Manassas since growing up here as a child. A 1979 graduate of Osbourn High School, Mark started his community service as a volunteer with the Manassas Volunteer Rescue Squad in 1974, where his father was a founding member.

In 1976 he continued his efforts for the community service with the Lake Jackson Volunteer Fire Department, where in 1979 was selected Prince William County Fire Fighter of the Year. Becoming a career firefighter in 1980, Mark stayed involved in the Manassas community as a volunteer. Past community involvement includes service on the Manassas Beatification Committee, City of Manassas Parks & Recreation Board, and working with the Greater Manassas Christmas Parade for the last 12 years. Mr. Olsen also served on the Board Of Directors for Historic Manassas Inc. in 2004 and 2005, where he was elected President of the Board in 2005. Mark returned to the Board in 2007 and was elected Secretary of the Board and has served in that capacity for the 2008-2009. He was reelected by the Board to serve a second term for 2009-2010.

All of this only goes to support the City Of Manassas selecting Mr. Olsen three (3) times of “Manassas Volunteer of the Year”

Board Chairman Creston Owen has the following remarks, “Manassas is a better place due to people like Mark. His tremendous commitment of time and resources to the events in Old Town Manassas cannot be overlooked. Without Mark, our events would not have been as successful as they have. Volunteers like Mark, and staff people like Steve Urry, (Historic Manassas, Events Coordinator), working together, have made a wonderful formula of success, all for the benefit of Manassas, and specially the Old Town area.”

Board Member John Collier, Chief Deputy of the Prince William County Sherriff’s Department, had the following to say, “Mark Olsen has a deep commitment to the events that make the city of Manassas a great place to live and play. Outside of his many hours coordinating such events as the Christmas parade, he devotes a great deal of his personal time as a board member of HMI to building a sustainable vision for the economic development of Old Town Manassas.”

When asked about the recognition as Board Member of The Year, Mr. Olsen had the following remarks, “It is a team effort. HMI successes have been due to the support of City Council, our staff, our board, and our volunteers. Together we work the mission to make Manassas and Old Town a better place. I look forward to working with our current board, our officers, and our revitalized staff to make the events in Old Town even better in 2010. I am looking forward to making the 2010 Railway Festival, to be held in early June, the biggest and best Railway Festival we have ever had. ”

When asked specifically about the award, Mr. Olsen replied, “I am honored.”