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ABOUT ME

My name is Robert Olson, and my friends call me Bob

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WHERE I COME FROM

I was raised in Price and graduated from Carbon High. I graduated from Utah State with a degree in Political Science and Spanish, then attended Arizona State and earned a law degree.  I have been involved in real estate since 1986, and worked as a commercial and residential appraiser for private firms, banks, and government agencies.

A THRIVING CAREER

I started in real estate as a commercial researcher.  This led to a position as a commercial appraiser, and I performed appraisals of offices, retail, industrial, and apartment buidings.  I earned my commercial appraisal certification as a Certified General Real Estate Appraiser in 1991, after five years of experience.  I learned a great deal during this time in my career about income properties, including analysis of capitalization rates, expenses, and gross/net income. 

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I then accepted an opportunity to become a luxury home expert, at Norris Property Consultants in Phoenix, appraising many multi-million dollar homes and apartments.  I became a very seasoned residential appraiser.  Having expertise in both residential and commercial is uncommon and rare for appraisers.  This background opened up a world of opportunities for me.  I owned a very successful appraisal business in Mesa, Arizona for 10 years.  In 2012 I moved back to my home of Carbon county, and became the residential appraisal review officer for Zions Bank headquarters in Salt Lake.  This position required me to manage the work of over 100 approved appraisers, and resolve many complicated appraisal issues.  From there, I became Vice President of Appraisals at Fortis Private Bank, a $1 billion Denver-based bank, and wrote the extensive bank appraisal policy, handled all appraisal issues, training, and management.  I reported directly to the bank's Credit Manager.  These banking positions and responsibilities honed and refined my interpersonal and communication skills further.

My Qualifications for Assessor

I am 100% prepared to be the Carbon County Assessor.  I am now stepping out of the business world, into the world of government service, because I want to help our county recover from a very mismanaged assessor's office.  I am stepping up to the plate and I will knock it out of the park!  Please look at my credentials and decide for yourself whether I am the better candidate for the job.  I want your vote because I am the only qualified candidate for assessor, and I will do the best job!  

Blue Skies and Yellow Fields

Formal Education

Juris Doctorate (JD) Law
Arizona  State University

I received the Graduate Tuition scholarship to attend ASU.  I received the "Best Brief" award as a first-year (1L) law student.  I was selected as a writing instructor as a third-year (3L) law student, and taught legal research and writing.  I was a teaching assistant to Professor Fernando Teson from Argentina.  I specialized in real estate related courses such as Zoning, Land Use Planning, Real Estate Taxation, Property 1 and 2, and Contracts.

Bachelors of Arts (BA)
Utah State University

I was the Department of Languages Honor Scholarship Recipient.  I was a teaching assistant to Professor Grant Reese.  I graduated Cum Laude, with a double major in Political Science and Spanish.  I received the Outstanding Graduate award from the Languages Department. I was selected to be in the Phi Kappa Phi honor fraternity.

Utah State University Eastern

I studied general education preparing to attend Utah State University in Logan.  I was a member of the college wrestling team, in the 190 lb weight class, and placed 3rd at the Conference tournament in Rangely, Colorado.  I then competed at the Regional tournament in Mesa, Arizona. I also served as the freshman  class Vice President.

Appraisal Credentials and Experience

I have worked in the real estate appraisal industry since 1986.  I have worked for government agencies, banks, and private appraisal companies.  I have owned and operated two appraisal companies.  I have appraised commercial and residential real estate.   This extensive background will serve the residents of Carbon County by giving me the ability and skills necessary to be a competent and credible assessor.  Credibility is of utmost importance in this field, so I firmly believe that I am the only qualified candidate for assessor.  Please review all of my credentials and real estate appraisal experience below:

My Credentials

  • Utah Certified General Appraiser #5476124-CG00  -  The highest of the three levels of appraisal licensing, allows an appraiser to legally appraise all properties including commercial, industrial, residential, and farmland. 

  • Senior Residential Appraiser (SRA) Designation - Appraisal Institute, Chicago, Illinois.  The SRA designation is the highest residential designation and demonstrates high proficiency and skill in single family and apartment properties.

My Experience

  • Vice President of Appraisals at Fortis Private Bank in Denver and Salt Lake City.  I served six years managing the appraisal department.  This included writing the commercial and residential appraisal policy, managing the approved appraisers, resolving all appraisal issues, resolving audit issues, and reporting to the Chief  Credit Officer.

  • Residential Appraisal Review Manager at Zions Bank in Salt Lake City.  I served four years as a bank officer in the Appraisal Review Department reviewing all multi-million dollar residential appraisals for the bank, including all appraisals throughout Utah and Idaho.  I also managed the 100+ approved appraisers, resolved all residential appraisal issues, and completed many commercial appraisal reviews.

  • Commercial Review Appraiser at the Resolution Trust Corporation in Phoenix.  This government agency handled the disposition of assets of Southwest Savings and Loan.  I reviewed commercial office buildings, retail centers, apartments, etc.

  • Commercial Appraiser at Appraisal Associates Inc. in Salt Lake City.  I worked as part of a team managed by LeRoy Pia, MAI, to provide re-assessments of Uintah and Millard counties, which included site inspections, measurements, and research.

  • Owner of Olson Consulting LLC, and Balance Rock Appraisal in Helper.  I manage all of the accounts, marketing, quality control, and production of single family residential and apartment appraisals. 

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Blue Skies

Real Estate and Banking Classes

College and Continuing Ed

A.S.U. Law School

  • Property 1 and 2

  • ​Zoning and Land Use Planning

  • Real Estate Taxation

Appraisal Institute

  • Principles of Real Estate

  • Residential Property Valuation

  • Capitalization Theory & Tech. A

  • Capitalization Theory & Tech. B

  • USPAP: Uniform Standards

  • Standards of Professional Practice

  • Cash Equivalency

  • ​HUD Update on Valuation

  • Business Practices & Ethics

  • Quantitative & Qualitative Analysis

  • Comparative Analysis

  • Residential Applications Excel

  • Residential Highest & Best Use

  • Review Theory: Residential

  • Thinking Outside the Form

  • Advanced Residential Case Study

  • Advanced Residential Report Writing 1 & 2

  • Res & Comm.Valuation of Solar

  • Residential Site Valuation & Cost Approach

  • Practical Applications of Residential Sales Comparison Approach

A.S.U. Extended Campus

  • Americans with Disabilities Act

  • Contract Law Principles

  • Income Tax and Real Estate

  • Disclosure Responsibilities

  • Fair Housing

  • 1031 Tax Free Exchanges

  • Broker Management Clinic

  • Agency Law Principles

Arizona School of Real Estate and Business

  • Standards of Professional Practice

  • New Arizona Land Market

  • Realtor Licensing Course

  • Hewlett-Packard 12-C Keystrokes

  • Land Planning and Zoning

  • Intro to Contract Writing

  • Foreclosures/Forfeitures

  • Real Property Valuation

McKissock School

  • USPAP Uniform Standards

  • Appraising the Oddball

  • Appraising FHA Today

  • Even Odder More Oddball Appr.

  • Mortgage Fraud Protect Yourself

  • Construction Details and Trends

  • Intro to Expert Witness Testimony

  • Uniform Appraisal Dataset

  • Evolution of Finance and the Mortgage Market

  • Foundations of Sustainability

  • Greening the Real Estate and Appraisal Industries

  • Nuts & Bolts of Green Building

Various Appraisal Schools

  • Representation

  • Red Flags

  • Property Management

  • Legal Limits

  • Equal Treatment

  • Code of Ethics

  • Agreements

  • Is this gun loaded - Contracts

  • Agency and the code

  • Legalistically Speaking

  • Tell them right now - Disclosure

  • Arizona Contract Law

  • Agency Law

  • Fair Housing

  • ​Modern Principles & Standards

  • Using Search Engines

  • Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives​

American Bankers Association

  • Business of Banking Program

  • Basics of Quality Assurance in Residential Appraisal

Zions Bank Learning & Devel.

  • Communicating with Impact

  • Navigating Beyond Conflict

  • Fundamentals of Mortgage Lending

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MY VISION AND GOAL IS:

To make the Carbon county assessor's office professional again

I have had a good, fulfilling appraisal career the past few decades, which includes banking, government and the private sector. I really did not plan on running for assessor.  But when I discovered the serious unresolved issues facing our county, I felt a call to duty, a strong need to actually step forward, and use my experience to do something about it.  After discussing my feelings with family and friends, and getting their blessing, I decided to run for assessor.  As the only Certified General Appraisal living in the county, I am the only one who can solve these huge problems. I believe that this is my opportunity to give back to the community, by helping to resolve the assessor problem.  I have the training and expertise to correct the serious issues facing our assessor's office.  All I need is an opportunity to do it.  Addressing and resolving these issues will be a monumental task, and could take one to two years.  But by tackling the problems head on, and setting a new course, I promise I will make things right.

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The reason I deserve your vote is because I am the best one for the job.  Period.  I want to serve our county, and make this a better place for my family.  I believe with all of my heart that I can solve the issues faced by the assessor's office, and provide a streamlined solution to each and every problem.  I will serve everyone in the county equally, regardless of party affiliation.  I love living here and plan to always make Carbon County my home.  I believe that I am the best choice for assessor because of my high standards, exceptional work ethic, and experience.  My background as a commercial and residential appraiser makes me the right choice.  Please support my goals to provide fair assessments by bringing professionalism back to the assessor's office.  Vote for change!  Please support my campaign and give me your vote for assessor this 2024 election!  Thank you very much!

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