Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/1093876
11 11 she decided to "make conversations about compliance as pleasant as possible." Olson had a passion, even a flair, for reliable customer service, and she aimed to be the "go-to person" who would search for an answer if she didn't already have one. "I made sure to help everyone who asked for it," Olson said — that level of service is her proudest achievement from her career at ABC. And the industry felt the love. "She was very supportive and quick to respond to questions," said Mel Machado, ABC Board member and director of Member Relations. "She really cared about what she did." "Her character and work ethic is in her DNA," said Lori Coburn, marketing director at Hughson Nut. "Sue's commitment to making it right and to the betterment of this industry has gone far beyond her delegated job role. We are very thankful to her for the many hours and years that she has spent on behalf of the California almond industry." Olson's resume is filled with two decades worth of accolades, but three achievements are particularly close to her heart. Perhaps her most visible accomplishment is the Position Report. Published monthly, this report is a culmination of crop receipts, handler shipments and other data that keeps industry members hovering over their computers on the release date, anxious to see that month's numbers. Mark Looker, communications consultant for the Almond Board, was there in July 1993 when ABC published its first Position Report from Modesto. "Sue treated it like her very own child, painstakingly going over every number and rechecking endlessly before publication," Looker said. Olson also helped create the Handler Portal, an online system that allows handlers to submit their marketing order forms electronically. "This tool changed the game," Olson said, as previously all forms had to be physically mailed. Beyond sole almond industry recognition, Olson played an instrumental role in developing the PEC program, which provides an aflatoxin sampling plan with equivalency to that being used by the European Union (EU). In 2008, ABC's Julie Adams joined Olson at USDA's Honor Awards in Washington, D.C., where the pair received the Group Honor Award for Excellence in recognition of the PEC program. During Olson's years at the Almond Board of California she saw the crop grow from 300 million pounds to 2 billion — "It's been quite a ride," she said. In retirement, while Olson looks forward to a more relaxed pace, she knows exactly how she'll spend her time: "making my famous pickles, canning jam, and quilting and sewing for my great nieces and nephews." "Sue is always willing to pitch in and help," said Toni Arellano, a long-time coworker of Olson's. Arellano (second row, middle) joined Olson and other ABC staff in participating in the 2017 Stanislaus Heart Walk.