Having grown up an Army brat, Anita Ancel has lived a life of change. She was born in France and raised in Illinois, Wisconsin, Maryland and Iowa before moving to Colorado for her first professional job in journalism. Her travels would take her back to the Midwest before settling in Vermont.

That background, in addition to her travels to Europe and Cuba, has given her an understanding of how environment and culture influence people’s decisions, attitudes and behavior. It also has given her an appreciation of risk and helped her develop a keen ability to see the whole and parts of situations, organizations and individuals.

Anita's work is supported with a wealth of experience in the trenches. Prior to becoming a consultant and coach, Anita was an operating executive at newspapers in the Midwest and New England. She motivated her teams to do financial turnarounds, launch new products, create efficiencies and substantial cost savings, as well as embrace extensive organizational restructuring.

Anita has helped management teams as well as frontline employees. She has worked with individuals, groups within a department, across departments and across divisions. She has led strategic planning sessions and conducted training in leadership, decision-making, team building, communications and sales.

Combining straight talk with having fun, Anita takes a holistic approach to tearing down walls and eliminating bureaucracy.

Anita studied organizational behavior and journalism at the University of Iowa, and attended the Advanced Executive Program at Northwestern University. She has been recognized for journalism excellence, creativity and leadership. In 1996, she was named one of two Outstanding Working Women of Illinois. And she received the Community Service Award from the Central Vermont Economic Development Corporation in 2007.

Her leadership roles continue to extend to the community, as she served and continues to serve on many non-profit boards. She currently serves on the boards of Central Vermont Economic Development Corp., Central Vermont Workforce Investment Board, Montpelier Downtown Community Association, Barre Partnership and Capital City Concerts.

Here's what others have said about Anita's work:

You’ve proven yourself to be both a strong leader and dreamer for taking on the task of turning us into stewards. You have been very honest and up front about how difficult of a process it is.  It feels literally like being transformed and molded in a whole different direction at times. That is an advantage, making us grow. Thanks for the inspiration and for pushing me to go a little further.  It’s been frustrating, fun, meaningful and messy, but most of all worthwhile.  -- Janel

Anita was a real leader in her industry. Her impact on me was far reaching. She cared about the entire business and saw all the employees as a team partnership.  I learned a great deal from Anita.             -- Melissa

Thanks to your focusing on what’s ahead, I think we’ll be better prepared for the “new days” than most businesses will be.      -- Mike

Thank you for so very many things: for believing in me;  for guiding me; for being patient; for teaching me all the great lessons; for demonstrating strength and wisdom.  -- Janice

The opportunity for my personal growth and development has flourished under Anita’s direction.  She listens to every idea I’ve had with true interest and gives me a few pointers then says “Just do it.”  … she always takes the time to listen and hear the voices and concerns of people around her.   -- Anna

You have been a great leader, mentor and friend and I want to thank you for all you have done for me.  -- David

People call Anita a good team builder, and she is, but most of all, I think she is good at building team members. She always finds the strengths in people and helps them to develop those strengths. She also notices the weaknesses in people, but she never condemns or criticizes them.  She helps people overcome and correct those weaknesses. She is the most encouraging person I have ever known. I have developed more self-confidence in the few years I have known Anita than in anyother time in my life.   -- Amy

Anita has always lived the dream of drawing out  the best in everyone. She fosters an atmosphere of learning and encouragement for all of us. Sometimes there have been growing pains.  But the results have proven that we are capable of flying to new heights, if we only believe.  -- Janice