| Marilyn Carlson Nelson | |
| Birth Name: | Marilyn Carlson |
| Birth Date: | 19 August 1939 |
| Nationality: | American |
| Alma Mater: | Smith College |
| Known For: | co-owner, former chairman and CEO of Carlson |
| Boards: | Carlson |
| Spouse: | Glen Nelson (d. 2016) |
| Children: | 4 |
| Parents: | Curt Carlson |
Marilyn Carlson Nelson (born August 19, 1939) is an American businesswoman, the co-owner and former chairman and CEO of Carlson.[1] She shares ownership of the company with her sister, Barbara Carlson Gage.[1]
Nelson was born on August 19, 1939,[2] the daughter of Curt Carlson, who founded Carlson in 1938.[1] She received a bachelor's degree from Smith College in 1961.[3]
Nelson joined the board of directors of Carlson in 1973.[4] After her father's death in 1999, she took over as CEO.[1] Her daughter, Diana Nelson, succeeded her as chair in 2013.[1] Nelson has been a member of the board of directors of Qwest Communications (1975-2002), First Bank System (1978-97), and Exxon Mobil (1991-2006 or later).[2] She was awarded the Oslo Business for Peace Award in 2014.[5]
Nelson resides in Long Lake, Minnesota. She had three children with her husband Glen Nelson, who died in 2016.[1] [4] A daughter, Juliet, died in a car crash in 1985.