Olson Group
Olson Group, Ltd. (OGL) is a founder-owned emergency management and homeland security consulting firm founded in 2005, providing HSEEP-compliant exercises, all-hazards planning, and surge staffing to federal, state, and local government agencies across the United States.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2005
- HeadquartersAlexandru Vlahuta, Romania
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Olson Group does
Olson Group, Ltd. (OGL) is a privately held, founder-owned consulting firm founded in September 2005 by Kyle Olson to support Hurricane Katrina recovery operations, now headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia. The firm specializes in homeland security and emergency management consulting, delivering three interconnected service lines: Exercises and Training (HSEEP-compliant seminars, workshops, tabletops, functional and full-scale exercises with simulation enhancements such as virtual news networks, social media simulation, moulage, and pyrotechnics), Planning and Analysis (THIRA, security and cybersecurity assessments, CEMP/EOP/COOP/evacuation plans, gap analysis, hazard mitigation, and after-action reports), and Staffing and Surge Support (qualified emergency management personnel for EOC staffing, debris management, patient tracking, damage assessment, and logistics). All work is grounded in federal methodology frameworks — HSEEP, NIMS/ICS, CPG-101, NRF, NPDP, and EMAP — and is delivered by credentialed practitioners including Certified Master Exercise Practitioners, Certified Emergency Managers, former state EM directors, and retired military veterans.
The company operates exclusively as a business-to-government (B2G) professional services firm, generating revenue primarily through competitive government contracts at federal, state, and local levels. Customer segments are dominated by federal, state, and local government homeland security, emergency management, and public safety agencies, with secondary exposure to higher education institutions, healthcare/public health organizations, and private-sector clients. Pricing is not publicly disclosed but is structured around professional services contracts and task orders, with staff compensation for exercise practitioners in the $75,000–$125,000 salary range. Go-to-market relies on pre-qualified contracting vehicles (GSA Multiple Award Schedule, VDEM, Delaware, HGACBuy, Washington Metropolitan COG, Palm Beach County, Anaheim-Santa Ana Urban Area, pending HRPDC) rather than traditional marketing, supplemented by LinkedIn presence, industry conferences, and professional association activity (IAEM).
OGL is ISO 9001:2015 certified and holds a Virginia SWaM certification. The firm is led by President and Founder Kyle Olson alongside SVP of Operations Wendy Shane and a leadership team of VPs and Senior Associates, with no disclosed external institutional investment, parent company, or subsidiaries. Notable customer relationships include the Virginia Department of Emergency Management (since 2014), Virginia Department of Health, New York Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, Arlington County, Nevada Division of Emergency Management, NCTCOG, the U.S. Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency, Vermont Division of Emergency Management, the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness, GSA, Delaware Emergency Management Agency, DC HSEMA, and Miami Beach Office of Emergency Management.
Olson Group firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Olson Group
- Legal name
- Olson Group, Ltd.
- Website
- https://olsongroupltd.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2005
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Olson Group, Ltd. (OGL) is a founder-owned emergency management and homeland security consulting firm founded in 2005, providing HSEEP-compliant exercises, all-hazards planning, and surge staffing to federal, state, and local government agencies across the United States.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Olson Group industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Emergency Management Consulting
- SIC
- Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Executive/Board Security Advisory & Risk Briefings (BPAKADAK)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) Advisory (BPAHAFAA)
Keywords
Where Olson Group is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Alexandru Vlahuta
- HQ country
- Romania
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices5 records
Markets served
Olson Group business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Government Consulting Contracts: OGL generates revenue primarily through professional services contracts with government agencies at federal, state, and local levels. Services include exercises and training, planning and analysis, and staffing/surge support. Contracts are typically awarded through competitive government contracting vehicles.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Staff Position - Exercise Practitioner |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels7 records
Marketing channels4 records
Olson Group product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Olson Group, Ltd. (OGL) is a homeland security and emergency management consulting firm that delivers HSEEP-compliant exercise design and execution, comprehensive emergency management planning and analysis (THIRA, COOP, EOPs, hazard mitigation, after-action reports), and qualified personnel for EOC surge staffing and incident support. Services are acquired primarily by federal, state, and local government agencies through multiple contract vehicles including the GSA Schedule, state master contracts, and cooperative purchasing.
Product overview
Olson Group, Ltd. (OGL) is an emergency management consulting firm offering a unified portfolio of services centered on preparedness, response, and recovery. The core offerings consist of three interconnected service lines: Exercises and Training (HSEEP-compliant exercise design and execution with simulation enhancements), Planning and Analysis (comprehensive emergency management plans, assessments, and after-action reports), and Staffing/Surge Support (qualified personnel for incident support and EOC staffing). These services work together to provide government agencies, educational institutions, and private sector clients with end-to-end emergency management solutions, from proactive planning and training through real-world response support.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Exercises and Training HSEEP-compliant exercise design and execution covering seminars, workshops, tabletops, functional, and full-scale exercises addressing incident types including active threat, business continuity, cybersecurity, evacuation, and public health response. Delivered primarily to government agencies at federal, state, and local levels, with senior practitioners credentialed as Master Exercise Practitioners and Certified Emergency Managers.
- Planning and Analysis Comprehensive emergency management planning services including assessments, after-action reports, THIRA, security and cybersecurity assessments, gap analysis, hazard mitigation plans, response and recovery planning, and continuity of operations plans, executed in compliance with CPG-101, NIMS/ICS, NRF, NPDP, FEMA Continuity Guidance, EMAP, and NIST standards. Targeted at government agencies, higher education, healthcare, and private sector organizations.
- Staffing and Surge Support Personnel staffing services providing qualified emergency management professionals for incident support, including EOC staffing, debris management, patient tracking, damage assessment, community outreach, volunteer management, logistics, and administrative support on short notice. Deployed for federal, state, and local government agencies during activations, including COVID-19 surge support.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 100 projects completed serving government, private, healthcare, and academic sectors nationwide
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Olson Group
Customer profileNamed customers13 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Olson Group technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Olson Group partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and regional.
- U.S. General Services Administration (GSA)coreOGL was awarded a GSA Schedule contract to provide services across the nation. The GSA Schedule is a competitive, governmentwide contract that provides access to products and services at fair and reasonable prices. In addition to Federal support, GSA facilitates streamlined purchasing for State, local, tribal governments, and educational institutions through Cooperative Purchasing, Disaster Purchasing, and 1122 Program.
- Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM)coreVDEM holds multiple contracts with OGL including the Homeland Security Exercise and Education Program (HSEEP) Contract and Emergency Management Consulting Services Contract. OGL has been supporting VDEM since 2014 in various capacities including EOC staffing during hurricanes and other disasters.
- State of Delaware / Delaware Emergency Management AgencycoreDelaware has awarded OGL contracts for the All Hazards Exercise Program and Emergency Management Consulting Services. OGL supports Delaware's statewide exercise program including projects for Delaware Emergency Management Agency and Delaware Division of Energy.
- HGACBuymajorOGL is awarded a contract under HGACBuy for All Hazards Preparedness, Planning, Consulting, and Recovery Services. HGACBuy serves as a purchasing cooperative for government entities.
- COG Homeland Security & Emergency ManagementmajorOGL provides Training & Exercise Services under Contract 26-003 for the Washington Metropolitan Council of Governments homeland security and emergency management programs.
- Palm Beach CountyregionalOGL holds Contract No. F25011 with Palm Beach County for emergency management services.
- Anaheim-Santa Ana Urban ArearegionalOGL provides Training Courses and Exercises under Contract No. A-2020-238-07 for the Anaheim-Santa Ana Urban Area.
- Hampton Roads Planning District Commission (HRPDC)regionalOGL is pending award of On-Call Services Contract No. CON2610 with HRPDC for emergency management support services.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Olson Group competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Hagerty Consulting: Specialized emergency management and homeland security consulting firm serving federal, state, and local governments. Directly comparable to OGL in service mix (planning, exercises, training, surge staffing) and customer base.
- Witt O'Brien's: Emergency management, disaster response, and security consulting firm with deep federal agency relationships. Highly comparable to OGL's planning, exercise, and surge support offerings to government clients.
- CALIBRE Systems: Government management consulting firm with homeland security and emergency management capabilities serving federal and defense clients. Comparable in its focus on government-only professional services.
- Countermeasures Assessment & Security Experts (CASES): Specialized security, preparedness, and emergency management consultancy supporting federal, state, and local agencies with planning, exercises, and assessments. Overlaps directly with OGL's HSEEP exercise and THIRA work.
- LMI: Not-for-profit government consulting firm serving federal agencies in logistics, readiness, and emergency management-adjacent programs. Comparable in its federal-only focus and homeland security / preparedness practice.
Broad incumbents
- Booz Allen Hamilton: Large federal consulting prime with a dedicated homeland security and emergency management practice. Competes with OGL on FEMA, DHS, and DOD work but as one of many service lines rather than a specialty.
- ICF International: Major government and commercial consulting firm with substantial emergency management, climate resilience, and disaster recovery practices. Overlaps with OGL on FEMA-adjacent work and state government contracts.
- Leidos: Large federal contractor with homeland security, emergency management, and preparedness services within its Civil and Defense portfolios. Competes with OGL on larger federal emergency preparedness task orders.
- AECOM: Global engineering and consulting firm with an emergency management and disaster recovery practice supporting FEMA and state agencies. Comparable to OGL on planning and post-disaster recovery work.
- Tetra Tech: Engineering and consulting services firm with emergency management, hazard mitigation, and disaster recovery practices supporting federal and state clients. Adjacent competitor on planning and mitigation planning work.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Olson Group social profiles
Digital presenceOlson Group compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Olson Group financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Olson Group leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles16 records
Olson Group funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Olson Group M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Olson Group
What does Olson Group do?
Olson Group, Ltd. (OGL) is a homeland security and emergency management consulting firm that delivers HSEEP-compliant exercise design and execution, comprehensive emergency management planning and analysis (THIRA, COOP, EOPs, hazard mitigation, after-action reports), and qualified personnel for EOC surge staffing and incident support. Services are acquired primarily by federal, state, and local government agencies through multiple contract vehicles including the GSA Schedule, state master contracts, and cooperative purchasing.
Is Olson Group a public or private company?
Olson Group is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Olson Group founded?
Olson Group was founded in 2005. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Olson Group based?
Olson Group is headquartered in Alexandru Vlahuta, Romania, in the Europe region.
How does Olson Group make money?
One revenue line is on record: government Consulting Contracts.
Who are Olson Group's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Hagerty Consulting, Witt O'Brien's, CALIBRE Systems, Countermeasures Assessment & Security Experts (CASES) and LMI. Broad incumbents are Booz Allen Hamilton, ICF International, Leidos, AECOM and Tetra Tech.
Does Olson Group have an API?
No public API is recorded for Olson Group.
What industry is Olson Group in?
Olson Group's product category is Emergency Management Consulting. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAKADAK, Executive/Board Security Advisory & Risk Briefings, with a secondary code of BPAHAFAA, Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) Advisory. Its SIC code is 8742.