Anita Ford Saunders, APR

Anita Ford Saunders, APR, a veteran in the communication and public relations profession, has over 30 years experience creating and implementing strategic communications plans for corporate and community-based organizations. A seasoned writer, producer and broadcast professional, who launched AFS Communications in 2002, with a focus on mission-related strategic public relations.

Previously, Anita served as Director of Marketing Communications at United Way of Central and Northeastern CT, Communications Manager, Yankee Gas, Senior Communications Officer and later Senior Communications Consultant for the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving. Prior to this position, Anita served as VP of Corporate Communications for Connecticut Public Television & Radio where she was responsible for the management of an award-winning staff who created and implemented promotional strategies and campaigns for the state-wide PBS network. This included the premier of UConn Women's Basketball on CPTV, which won a Connecticut Innovation Award in its second year. In addition to her work at CPTV, Anita perfected her craft at WFSB-TV 3, WVIT-NBC 30 and television stations in Washington, DC, Michigan, and Massachusetts.

Her collaborative work earned her Gold and Silver Mercury Awards from the CT Valley Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America. She has won three Emmys and in May 2001, Anita received a first place award for excellence in journalism from the Society for Professional Journalists. In addition to a BA in Communications and MS in Organizational & Managerial Communications, she earned the designation of APR, Accredited in Public Relations, from the Universal Accreditation Board of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA).