Amber Olsen

Chief Fundraising Officer of the United MSD Foundation

Amber Olsen is the mother of three daughters. In 2016, her youngest daughter Willow was diagnosed with Multiple Sulfatase Deficiency(MSD), an ultra-rare, terminal genetic condition. Since the diagnosis, Amber formed the United MSD Foundation (501c3), assisted in forming an independent Scientific Advisory Board of experts, joined together with three global sister organizations, and is pushing forward the first-ever Phase I Clinical trial for MSD slated to begin early 2020. Olsen is the chief fundraising officer for the organization and will not stop until every child with MSD has an opportunity to live a healthy life without limitations. Amber and her husband, Tom Cannan, have resided in the beautiful and giving community of South Mississippi for the last 18 years with their three wonderful daughters, Kylee (16), Jenna (12), and Willow (5).

In her professional career, Amber founded Nextaff Gulf Coast in Ocean Springs, MS in 2007 to offer recruiting services for businesses in South Mississippi. Amber is certified by the Human Resource Certification Institute as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR).  Amber is originally from Missoula, Montana where she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Business in 1998 from University of Montana. Amber has held various community leadership positions, including most recently as a member of the board of Directors of the Mississippi Center for Medical Fragile Children, a collaborative initiative with First Lady of Mississippi, Deborah Bryant.