Elling Olson, director of business development and marketing, Sambatek
Elling Olson is pursuing growth opportunities including those in renewable energy as director of business development and marketing at Sambatek, a Minnetonka-based engineering, surveying, planning and environmental services firm.
Olson, who has two decades of experience in commercial and retail construction and in renewable energy, is developing a strategic plan that will include expanding Sambatek's work in energy projects.
"Over the last 10 years I've been instrumental in developing strategies and new market opportunities for Mortenson's Renewable Energy Groups," Olson said. "We went from 36 wind power plants to over 150 in that time. To have the opportunity to do that with an entrepreneurial company like Sambatek is exciting."
Focusing on market analysis and market forecasting and understanding customer needs have helped him capture new business at Mortenson, Olson said.
Olson said he brings both an entrepreneurial and a lean management approach to projects. That latter, he said, helps in understanding "constructability of a project and incorporating solutions that not only mitigate your risk but reduce the cost of construction and maybe even reduce the footprint so it's better for the environment and the community."
Sambatek's goal is to go from 100 employees today to 350 to 450 over the next few years.
Formerly MFRA, Sambatek was founded in 1966 and acquired by President and CEO Sirish Samba in 2009.
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