Guam EPA’s Karl Olson Retires After 22 Years of Service
Guam EPA’s Karl Olson Retires After 22 Years of Service
May 4, 2018 (Tiyan, Guam) — Guam EPA Environmental Health Specialist III Karl Olson has retired from service with the agency’s Pesticides Enforcement Program. In recognition and celebration of his retirement, a ceremony was held to honor Mr. Olson and to wish him a happy retirement. Mr. Olson received a legislative resolution from Senator Frank Blas Aguon Jr. and Vice Speaker Therese Terlaje. In addition, Mr. Olson also received special recognition from the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the Environmental Stewardship Award from Guam EPA. The special recognition and environmental stewardship award was presented by Mr. Bob Perron, Chairman of the Guam EPA Board of Directors.
The agency’s Administrator, Walter S. Leon Guerrero, and Deputy Administrator, Yvette L.G. Cruz conveyed the following to Mr. Olson at the retirement ceremony: “English author Douglas Adams once said, ‘To give real service you must add something which cannot be bought or measured with money, and that is sincerity and integrity.’ These words truly echo the character of anyone who engages in public service, most especially within a regulatory agency. Mr. Karl Olson’s distinguished career with the Guam Environmental Protection Agency began in 1996 as an Environmental Technician. Mr. Olson would go on to progress through the agency rungs as an Inspector I and Inspector II in the agency’s Water Resources Program and then ultimately as an Environmental Health Specialist in the agency’s Pesticides Enforcement Program. Mr. Olson’s career has been marked by acclamations from the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s Region IX Office and the Government of Guam as a recipient of the MagPro Customer Service Team Excellence award in 2012 and as Environmental Health Division Employee of the Year for in 2014. While Mr. Olson’s knowledge, work ethic and positive demeanor will be missed in the agency, we remain beholden to the knowledge he has shared with us, and his efforts in effectuating meaningful changes with inspection protocols, pesticide enforcement policy, safety, and training and overall program development. On behalf of our agency, we are honored to wish Mr. Olson the very best of luck in the future, with all of the fruitful blessings that God can bestow upon him and his family. Un dångkolu na si Yu’us Ma’åse for 22 years of service to our island!”