Her Story
About Anita
Anita Kromer, MBA, is a nonprofit and community-service leader based in Sandusky, Ohio, currently serving as Executive Director of Care and Share Incorporated of Erie County. In this role, she helps lead an organization that has served the Erie County community since 1971 by providing supplementary and emergency food, clothing, linens, and housewares to individuals and families in need. Her professional career spans more than two decades across nonprofit leadership, healthcare administration, health information management, revenue cycle management, education, and business. Prior to joining Care and Share, Anita held leadership positions with Fisher-Titus Medical Center and Blanchard Valley Health System and served as an adjunct faculty member at the University of Findlay and Bowling Green. She also operated believe2Bfree, an entrepreneurial venture centered on helping others.
Anita's educational background includes a Master of Business Administration from The University of Findlay and a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting, Marketing, and Hazardous Waste Management from the same institution. Her broad professional experience has allowed her to develop expertise in nonprofit leadership, healthcare administration, revenue cycle management, health information management, community outreach, grant writing, and organizational leadership. She has also completed the Leadership Enrichment and Development Sandusky program and the Ahead of the Curve: Board Development Program. Anita's approach to leadership is strongly influenced by her parents, immigrants from India who became American citizens and instilled in her a strong work ethic and enduring values. She credits their example and upbringing as fundamental to the way she approaches both her career and her service to others.
Community service is central to Anita's professional and personal life. She has been involved with Rotary, including membership in the Pathways Rotary Club, prior Rotary membership, and service as a Past President, and she is also a member of 100 Women Who Care. She has been recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow and has volunteered with Cancer Patient Services in Findlay. Through Care and Share and other community initiatives, she remains deeply engaged in supporting people experiencing hunger, homelessness, financial hardship, and other challenges. Anita describes her purpose as using the skills and talents developed throughout her diverse career to serve others. Her leadership philosophy emphasizes integrity, trust, respect, love, grace, personal accountability, and the importance of being present for the people and communities she serves.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Anita
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my parents and the upbringing they provided. They were immigrants from India who became American citizens, and I am the only member of my family who was born in America. They instilled in me a strong work ethic and a deep appreciation for values that have guided me throughout my career and life. I carry those lessons with me in how I approach my work, relationships, and service to others.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
One of the most valuable pieces of career advice I have received is to take responsibility before placing blame elsewhere. When you find yourself pointing fingers, remember that there are three fingers pointing back at you. I have learned to step back, consider whether I may be the common denominator in a problem, and honestly evaluate my own role before I can effectively work toward a solution.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I believe it is wonderful to be kind and generous, but it is equally important to protect yourself and establish healthy boundaries. In service-oriented work, it can be easy to give so much of yourself to others that you lose sight of your own needs. Learning the proper balance between caring for others and preserving your own capacity allows you to continue serving people with compassion and consistency over the long term.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in my field is having enough time to truly serve the people who need help. At the same time, I see that challenge as an opportunity to make a meaningful difference by being willing to invest that time. Community service is not always an eight-to-five responsibility. There may be evenings when someone needs help, situations that require staying late, or circumstances that call for responding to someone in crisis. The work is not always predictable or conventional, but being present for people during their most difficult moments is an important part of what makes this work meaningful.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that are most important to me are integrity, trust, respect, love, and grace. I believe in treating people with dignity, building relationships based on trust, and approaching others with respect and compassion. Having grace for one another is especially important because everyone is navigating different circumstances and challenges.
Join Influential Women and start making an impact. Register now.