Anne Delaney, owner and principal trainer at Excelsior English, founded the company in 2007. She has an extensive background in English language teaching, training and coaching. Beginning her career teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) to international scientists at the University of Pittsburgh, she found the world of linguistics to be fascinating and challenging. In 1999, she received her Masters Degree at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, CA; has lived in China; and for the past two years has been working and traveling around the world.
For many years, Anne taught at the University of California, San Diego, at its English Language Institute, and co-managed and redesigned the English language program for an international Fellows program at the Global Leadership Institute in the School for International Relations and Pacific Studies (irps.ucsd.edu/gli). She also ran the TiE chapter in Chicago for a number of years.
In the corporate arena, past and current clients comprise mobilecomm, biotech, neurotech and engineering companies, as well as international relations & diplomacy, healthcare, and academics. Anne and her experienced team provide enthusiastic, engaging and useful training customized for the specific needs of each group or individual.
How did you choose the name "Excelsior"?
The word "Excelsior" (from the Latin, meaning ever higher) is very meaningful to Anne. Her grandfather, Bill Cotter, was a warm and magical person who had a deep belief that the spoken word was sacred. Very close to Anne, her grandfather would include "EXCELSIOR!" at the bottom of each of his letters.
Bill's reverence toward the spoken word profoundly impacted Anne throughout her life, and actually helped guide her career path. One night, several years after Bill had passed away, Anne had a vivid dream in which he visited her and exclaimed, "Excelsior!," and she awoke with a name and a vision for her business. Shortly thereafter, Excelsior English was created.
"Excelsior" is far more than just a word: it is a connection to family, language and a positive outlook on life that is both infectious and magical. Anyone who knows Anne on a personal or professional level knows that she is the physical embodiment of everything that Excelsior represents. Her deep respect for the spoken word and her sunny disposition (along with her rather impressive chops as an instructor) have led to the creation of a company unlike any other that you have encountered. Once you work with Excelsior, you will understand how the program lives up to its name.
So…why all the dragonflies?
Dragonflies are representative of dispelling illusion, which is exactly what the Excelsior program does for its clients. A dragonfly's wings contain all the colors of the rainbow at once, yet those colors are hidden or shown depending on your viewpoint. In the same way, the customers who experience Excelsior English programs are all intelligent individuals with wonderful ideas that they would like to communicate with success. Excelsior English works with these individuals to help them address any language or intercultural challenges that limit their ability to comfortably express their ideas. We work hard to ensure that all clients are positioned in a way that makes expressing their unique and individual qualities with ease and confidence.