Michel Anderson

Management consultant Michel Anderson was born on February 24, 1953 in Cincinnati, Ohio to Florida and Randall Anderson. In 1971, he graduated from Walnut Hills High School in Cincinnati, Ohio. He was awarded a scholarship at The Ohio State University. In 1974, he transferred to the University of Cincinnati where he earned his B.A. degree in political science in 1976. Anderson then attended the University of San Diego and obtained his M.B.A. degree in 1983.

In 1978, Anderson was hired as an assistant to the president of Shappell Industries of San Diego, Inc., a home building company, where he obtained government approval on housing projects. In 1982, Anderson worked on the Private Sector Survey on Cost Control, commonly referred to as “The Grace Commission.” In this role, he led a team that evaluated the Department of Defense Military Housing Program’s cost effectiveness. That same year, Anderson served as a chief confidant to the City of San Diego mayor, Roger Hedgecock, where he worked on business and economic development in the city until 1985. From 1983 to 1984, Anderson was selected to be the San Diego representative on the Governor’s Infrastructure Task Force, which evaluated the needs and revenues of California public facilities. In 1985, Anderson founded and became principal of Michel Anderson Associates, a business and land use consulting firm. Anderson has operated his firm for over forty years. He also worked as a senior project manager at P&D Technologies, Inc. from 1986 to 1988.

Anderson served as a member of the board of the California Southern Small Business Development Corporation, Housing Opportunities, Inc., World Affairs Council, Lincoln Club, Partners for Livable Places, and the American Cancer Society. He was also chairman of the San Diego Parks Foundation, the Comprehensive Adult Student Assessment Corporation, and the San Diego County Capital Asset Leasing Corporation, which he joined 1986. Anderson served as treasurer of the Salvation Army Ray & Joan Kroc Corps Community Center and the Keiller Leadership Academy.

Anderson resides in San Diego, California. He has one adult son, Marshall Anderson.

Michel Anderson was interviewed by The HistoryMakers on June 30, 2024.