From Tanks to Transport
by Lynne Wachtler MSN, RN, FNP-BC, CMCS
Chad Olsen is the kind of guy who doesn’t talk about what he’s done unless you ask. His stories combine real-world experiences, humor, and the Minnesota-nice approach of "getting the job done," which is critical to entrepreneurship and building a licensed cannabis business.
Born and raised in St. Cloud, Minnesota, he moved around during his early years. He attended Roosevelt High School for part of his education and then moved to Atwater, Minnesota, where he completed his studies.
Wanting to see the world, become a man, and get away, he decided to enlist. Less than a week later, he arrived at the MEPS (Military Entrance Processing Station) in 1991.
Chad joined the Army to be a “tanker” and completed basic training at Fort Knox, Kentucky. After he arrived at Fort Cavazos in Killeen, Texas (formerly named Fort Hood during Chad’s time in the service), there was no room for him in the tanks, so he was placed in support. There, he learned how to drive, maintain, and fuel the massive, eight-wheeled HEMTT (Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck) and other vehicles. He was then stationed in Germany as a tanker and sent to Kuwait for a training exercise before being deployed to Bosnia.
Before Chad arrived, the region had destabilized following the dissolution of the Yugoslav federation, which comprised six republics: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, and Slovenia. This instability arose after the region and its people experienced the most intense fighting since the end of World War II.
Fueled by economic uncertainties, ethnic and political divisions, Slobodan Milošević, a businessman and banker, appealed directly to the people, inciting nationalism as he rose to power. By 1990, he was President of Serbia and began to push through constitutional changes. He suppressed political opponents and protesters, increasing control of the media. Conflicts escalated into ethnic cleansing, war, and genocide.
A foundational element of Milošević’s grasp of power was his control of the Serbian police, a heavily armed and large force responsible for internal security. The security forces were responsible for the human rights abuses that occurred: arbitrary arrests, disappearances, torture, beatings, and incarceration at concentration camps such as Omarska in Bosnia.
The United Nations had imposed economic sanctions, but the violence continued with millions displaced and approximately 100,000 dead. Ultimately, NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization), in collaboration with UNPROFOR (United Nations Protection Force), launched airstrikes during Operation Deliberate Force in 1995.
Diplomatic pressure continued, and Balkan leaders traveled to Ohio for peace talks. The Dayton Accords were signed in late 1995, and U.S. troops subsequently entered the region as peacekeepers. "We were there with no live rounds and, basically, we just acted as a show of force,” Chad shared.
The long hours, unpredictability, and constant state of being on edge during this deployment took a toll. Soldiers traded stories in the tanks and on long watches. Camaraderie was therapy and, for some, it was found growing wild in the form of the cannabis plant.
"The infantry guys would come back from patrols with pockets full of it. Nobody said a word."
His cannabis story didn’t start there. Chad had been curious about it since youth, but, like many, was told it was dangerous, a gateway drug. "I knew the truth was different from what we were taught.” Cannabis seemed to be easing stress.
After his tour, he returned home and signed up for the National Guard, where he served until 1997. There, he faced a different battle —bureaucracy. For nearly a year, he wasn’t paid for his National Guard service because of misplaced paperwork during the transition. He continued to get the run around, and multiple attempts to rectify the situation failed. One day, he went to Nicollet Mall to hear Senator Paul Wellstone speak. "He said, 'If there’s something we can do to help you, speak up,'" Chad recalls. "So I did."
Wellstone’s aide ushered Chad into the green bus, and Chad told him about his service, the missing pay, the red tape. A month later, at the next drill, a full colonel handed Chad a check: his back pay and an extra $500. Later, Wellstone died in a plane crash," Chad says. "I'm not really a Democrat or a Republican. I don’t know how the Universe works, but I’ll never forget that."
When a close family member was diagnosed with Crohn's disease, that was the turning point for Chad, as "it wasn’t just about getting high.” It was about the healing he witnessed firsthand as their flare-ups decreased. With his personal experiences and background as a lifelong professional driver, it makes sense that Chad is building a cannabis transport business, Green Haven Logistics..
With decades of experience in operations, commercial driving, and understanding of cannabis, he exceeds the minimum qualifications. "Transport is B2B,” he explains. "We move product securely from growers to dispensaries, following all Department of Transportation and Office of Cannabis Management rules." He understands cannabis businesses need more than passion. They need structure, compliance, and people who understand logistics and aren't afraid of hard work.
"Minnesota’s rollout hasn’t been easy," he admits. "But I’m not here to cut corners. I’m here to build something solid." Leading by example is a value he has passed on to his own three children.
He's not building Green Haven Logistics for glory. "My wife says I should tell people I drove tanks, that I served overseas, that I built this business from scratch. That’s not me,” Chad says. "I just want to do good work. I want to serve people the way I know how.”
To learn more about Chad and Green Haven Logistics visit www.greenhavenlogistics.com
To learn more about Serbia’s human rights history and recent student protests visit www.amnesty.org
