1. URBAN PLANNER/ DESIGNER-57150-28575 John W. Olson 2070 Morningview Lane • Castle Rock, Colorado 80109 Cell# (605) 929-6486 • JhnOlsn79@gmail.com www.Johnwolson.net ________________________________________________________________________________________ SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS: Dual Master’s degrees in Urban Planning and Architecture. Planning and Urban Design – 5 years of experience. Architectural and Graphic Design – 4 years of experience. Public Sector Planning in the fastest growing city in the state of Colorado and 15th fastest in the nation – 3 years of experience. EDUCATION: Master of Urban Planning September 2004-May 2006 University of Kansas Lawrence, KS Concentration: physical development and land-use, including coursework in historic preservation and urban design implementation. Master of Architecture September 2002-May 2003 Montana State University Bozeman, MT Concentration: urban design and thesis research. Thesis title: “Architecture as a regional response to landscape”. The study included a proposal for the Badlands Fossil Research and Education Center in Badlands National Park, SD. Bachelor of Environmental Design September 1998-May 2002 Montana State University Bozeman, MT PROFESSIONAL WORK EXPERIENCE: Planner August 2009- October 2009 City of North Miami, FL North Miami, FL As part of a temporary consultancy, I contributed research to develop the City of North Miami’s first Historic Preservation Program. This involved identifying potential sites of historic significance, mapping the structures in GIS, and making recommendations of grant funding and best practices for historic preservation. Long-range Planner/Planner I July 2006-May 2009 Town of Castle Rock, CO Castle Rock, CO Current Planning: Project managed various forms of land-use applications including preliminary project applications (PPAs), commercial planned development site plans, general site plans, construction documents, preliminary plats, final plats, replats, use by special reviews, annexations, Planned Development (PD) amendments and rezonings. Prepared staff reports and presented planning items to Town Council and other Boards and Commissions. Facilitated public meetings, including community meetings, visioning exercises, character preference surveys and design charrettes. Conducted plan and design review on general site plans and PD site plans in accordance with Town codes and guidelines. As planner of the day, responded to phone calls and customer inquires at the front counter. Created ran and implemented a design assistance program and local restoration grant program for historic preservation projects. Produced 2 and 3D graphics, maps, and brochures for Town projects and staff reports Long-range Planning: Collaborated in the development of the Castle Rock Downtown Plan, Historic Preservation Plan, and the Southwest Quadrant (sub-area) Plan, including public outreach, formatting, graphic design and implementation. John W. Olson (Pg. 2) ________________________________________________________________________________________ Served as project manager to amend the Historic Preservation Ordinance. Produced road section drawings for the Town’s form-based code initiative. Lead staff member to the Historic Preservation Board, which included managing, processing and presenting various land-use applications including design review, landmark designation requests, landmark alteration certificates, demolition review, tax credits, local grants and structure relocation. Junior Planner September 2004-May 2006 Kansas Land Trust Lawrence, KS Created maps using ArcView GIS 9.0, conducted field studies and presented findings for various land use and conservation projects in Eastern Kansas. Architectural Intern September 2003-February 2004 Koch, Hazard Architects Sioux Falls, SD Developed designs and master plans for projects in Eastern South Dakota. Projects included the Dakota State Master Plan with Chemistry and Pharmacy addition at the University of South Dakota and University of Sioux Falls Master Plan. My experience also included extensive work with AutoCAD and Photoshop to complete site and architectural plans. Study Abroad Architectural Intern January 2002 – March 2002 City of Cuenca, Ecuador Cuenca, Ecuador Worked on designs to revitalize plazas. The projects included designing appropriate benches, lighting, landscaping, playgrounds and pathways. Historic Preservation Intern June 2000-August 2000 City of Sioux Falls Sioux Falls, SD Completed 150 surveys of historic homes. This work helped create a new historic district that was designated in 2004. JOB SKILLS: Design: Urban, commercial, residential and pedestrian including design review, site planning, site analysis, programming, schematics and presentations as well as experience in creating design guidelines and standards. Computer: ArcView GIS 9.1, AutoCAD, Word, Powerpoint, Dreamweaver, Excel, Sketch-Up Pro 6, Publisher and Adobe CS2 (Photoshop, Indesign, Illustrator, Go-live and Bridge). Graphics: Graphic design skills with the ability to create hand drawn or 2 or 3D computer renderings as well as an ability to create maps using ArcView GIS or other software. Photography: Knowledge of SLR digital cameras and digital photo editing. Communication: Proven communicator through public speaking, writing and visual presentations. ACTIVITIES AND AWARDS; APA Member: 2004 to present. Urban Land Institute member: 2007 to present. High School Journalism Advisor: Advised five high school students at conventions in San Diego (Spring 2004) and Seattle (Spring 2005). Urban Design project in New York City: As a student, I contributed work on a proposal to redevelop the Midtown “El” in New York City, Fall 2002. Foreign Study in Peru and Ecuador: Spent a summer abroad for design work and extensive study at Machu Picchu and the Amazonian rain forest, Winter 2002. Graduate of the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS): Spent a month backpacking in the New Mexico and Arizona wilderness to learn outdoor survival and leadership skills.