Olson Hires Cousins to Head BrandLab

Minneapolis-based advertising agency Olson has hired Jim Cousins as executive director of BrandLab, a non-profit project that exposes inner-city high school students to the marketing profession.

BrandLab puts ad executives in the classrooms of public schools. Participating students create print and radio ads, websites and other marketing tools. BrandLab students are paired with mentors, and upon completing the program are eligible to apply for internships and scholarships.

Formerly with the now-defunct Chuck Ruhr, Cousins also has worked at Minneapolis’ Kruskopf Coontz and North Woods, and New Zealand’s Scoop Media.

Olson creates advertising for clients such as Sallie Mae, 3M, Country Inns & Suites, General Mills, Lee Jeans, and Target.