Maria Olson

Maria Gonzalez Olson is senior vice president of the American Cancer Society’s recently formed California Guam Hawaii (CGH) Division. She serves as the CGH Division’s senior-most staff executive, responsible for driving development and implementation of the division and enterprise development strategies, while engaging corporate executives, high-level donors, and leadership volunteers in furthering our vision to end cancer as we know it, for everyone.

Maria joined the American Cancer Society in January 2023 and is an experienced executive with a successful track record of inspiring individual giving, major gifts, C-Suite corporate engagement, and designing experiential events in both nonprofit and corporate settings. She previously served as region senior vice president, Development and Community Health, for the American Heart Association (AHA), where she was recognized nationally as the top-producing SVP for eight consecutive years.

A strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion is also a part of Maria’s leadership DNA, as demonstrated by her prior involvement serving as a lead of AHA’s Western States DEI Council, CEO Diversity Advisory Council, and as an executive sponsor of its Somos Corazón employee resource group. Earlier in her career, Maria served as executive director for other nonprofit organizations and held senior executive leadership positions in marketing, branding, and communications for global companies.

A graduate of Michigan State University, Maria has made California her home for more than 26 years and currently resides in Truckee, a mountain town located just north of Lake Tahoe.