David C. Olson, 57, longtime president of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, died July 16, 2014, after an 18-month fight with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

He is widely credited for the chamber being recognized as the state’s premier business advocacy organization and respected for his uncanny ability and art of bringing people together for setting strategy and solving problems.

“David’s deep commitment to improving the state’s economy and the lives of Minnesotans carried throughout his career,” said Bill Blazar, senior vice president of public affairs and business development at the Minnesota Chamber. “He loved our state. He worked every day to make it better and loved being engaged in anything and everything that would make our economy stronger.”

Olson was named president of the Minnesota Chamber in 1991. The organization represents more than 2,300 Minnesota companies, 130 local chambers and 65 business trade associations at the Minnesota Legislature on a variety of issues that impact the growth and development of the state’s economy.