Peter J. Olsen, Williamsville East High School, Class of 1990   (Inducted 2017)           

Peter Olsen is a Senior Vice President in the Commercial Banking division at M&T Bank where he has worked for 20 years.  Mr. Olsen manages the Commercial Planning & Analytics group, and supports the division’s strategic initiatives, forecasting, and regulatory efforts.  He also serves as co-chair for the bank’s Sponsorship Committee and participated in M&T’s Senior Leadership Development Program at Columbia University.  Prior to M&T, Mr. Olsen worked for Bank of America in Chicago, and Dean Witter Reynolds. 

Following graduation from Williamsville East High School, Mr. Olsen attended Miami University (Ohio) where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Finance and Accounting in 1994.   He later received an MBA from the Simon School of Business at the University of Rochester.   Mr. Olsen is a founding member of Miami’s Buffalo Alumni Chapter and participates in the Miami Alumni Recruiting Network. In 2001, he was awarded the distinguished Miami Alumni Award for his exemplary service to the University’s alumni association.

Mr. Olsen was an avid soccer player throughout his youth, including at East where the team reached the sectional finals three times, winning twice. He began coaching youth soccer after graduating from college and holds a U.S. Soccer Federation B License. He served as a staff coach in the Olympic Development program for seven years and has coached several club teams to the New York Western State Final Four, winning the State championship in 2010. 

An Eagle Scout, Mr. Olsen is dedicated to supporting the youth of his community and was a Big Brother in the Be-A-Friend Program. He is also an active member of his church, Holy Cross Lutheran in Clarence, where he serves as Chair of the Board of Elders and coordinates the youth group. He and his family remain connected to Williamsville East by working with the PTSA to award the annual Johannes I. Olsen Scholarships, named after his late father who was the high school’s first principal.

Mr. Olsen resides in East Amherst with his wife Amy, and their two daughters.  Madeline is a sophomore at East, and Helene is an eighth grader at Transit Middle.