Tom Olson graduated from University of Wisconsin and UW Law School. He served as a corporate lawyer and Chief Staff Officer of an international insurance company in Madison and ran its international operations. He also served as a Judge Advocate General Officer in the Army Reserve for 10 years. 

A co-founder of the Van Vliet Lake Association, Tom and others work closely with the Wisconsin DNR to develop the Van Vliet Hemlocks as a State Natural Area and co-founded the Friends of Van Vliet Hemlocks. Tom has served on the Board of Directors for the Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin since 2003. He co-founded the Last Wilderness Alliance and serves on its Board of Directors currently. Tom cares deeply about the Discovery Center's role in providing environmental education and naturalist experiences both on the property of the Discovery Center, but also in and around the forested areas and lakes of the region.