About Canvas - Make your mark.

Canvas - Make your mark, was founded in 2008 by Anita Kalin.

Anita is currently Chief People Officer at Jokake Construction. She has worked in the field of organizational and leadership development, strategic planning, training and human resources for seven years. Anita has expertise in the construction, manufacturing and hospitality industries and is passionate about creating great places to work.

She has been passionate about education for years and believes in giving the next generation the mentoring they need to make a difference and live with purpose. Anita founded Canvas to create a mentoring system for students to identify their strengths, focus their talents and make the most of their educational experiences.

Anita holds a Bacholor of Science in Nutritional Science and Chemistry from University of Arizona, and Masters of Arts in Organizational Management from University of Phoenix. She is a certified instructor in numerous programs (i.e. Franklin Covey’s Focus, Four Disciplines of Execution, Leadership Foundations, 7 Habits for Managers, National Training & Curriculum Institute Matrix Colors Program) and teaches these courses to Jokake employees and community partners.

Anita is a committee member of the Spirit of Enterprise Center for the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University where she helps small and emerging businesses access community resources. She is also an advisor and speaker to the APS AAAME (Academy for the Advancement of Small, Minority and Women-owned Enterprises) program. Anita volunteers for a variety of philanthropic organizations, including the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, where she was awarded the 2002 Woman of the Year Award, Esperanca, Teach for America and Phoenix Boys Choir (Board Member). She also facilitates for the Executive Leadership Forum which is a twelve month program to help senior executives become stronger in their leadership, management and communication skills.

Anita has been a faculty member at the University of Phoenix since 2006, facilitating undergraduate and graduate human resource and leadership courses.