Doug Olsen joined the Small Nation team in August 2021. He serves as the Leadership Trust Advisor. His primary roles with the company are to lead Small Nation’s strategy for real estate growth, including their investment portfolio, strategic partnerships, investment opportunities, and the internal real estate team. Doug also oversees the leasing and marketing of available real estate in Small Nation’s portfolio and the company’s property management group.
Doug joins the Small Nation team after many years growing and developing personal real estate projects. He has successfully renovated six historic buildings with a residential over retail focus as well as commercial components. There are over 80 rental units in his personal portfolio. He is also co-owner of Walking Distance Brewing Co. in Marysville, Ohio.
Doug is a licensed realtor and is currently a member of Columbus Realtors, the Ohio Craft Brewers Association and the Union County Chamber of Commerce.
He lives in Bellefontaine with his wife Emily, their young sons Briggs and Ozzy, Cassius the dog and Juno the cat, who is currently in her 8th life. He and his family love to travel, and few people know that what he really wants to be is a Chicago Bears season ticket holder.
In Doug’s words:
What was your first job?
Peeling potatoes and getting paid by the pound at Rip’s Tavern — an Illinois small-town favorite.
What motivates you? Why do you get up every day to do this kind of work?
Envisioning my future self. Every day I strive for small improvements for my family, relationships, business, and personal health.
What are 3 personal beliefs or values you hold strong to and act in support of?
1. A gem cannot be polished without friction, nor a man perfected without trials.
2. Easy choices, hard life. Hard choices, easy life.
3. You become what you give attention to.
What do you know for sure?
You get out of life what you put into it.
What is your personal motto?
It’s very easy to judge and even more difficult to understand. Never place judgment without first trying to understand.
What are you Surprisingly good at?
Finding 4-leaf clovers.