Phil, a native of Houston, was an AMIGOS Volunteer in Paraguay in 1972 and a Project Supervisor in 1973. In 1974 he served as Assistant Project Director in Guatemala. His experiences with AMIGOS set him on a course of interest in international studies and business that has led to opportunities to work and live in many different parts of the world.

Phil graduated from Oberlin College with a degree in Japanese Language and History, but also included music and Spanish literature in his studies. He spent his junior year on an exchange program at Doshisha University in Kyoto and lived with a Japanese family.

Phil returned to Houston after college and worked for a Japanese trading company before enrolling in the Graduate School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin. He specialized in international business and finance and added Chinese to his language studies. Before graduating with an MBA, he spent a summer in China studying Chinese at Nankai University in Tianjin. It was a privilege to be among the first group of U.S. students who were allowed to study in China after the Cultural Revolution.

Phil worked for Diamond Shamrock Petroleum in the areas of audit, finance and treasury in Dallas and The Hague, Netherlands.  He joined the HJ Heinz Company in 1988 and has held positions in audit, accounting and finance.  His business travel has taken him to Latin America, Europe, Africa, East Asia and Australasia and he has had opportunities to live in the UK, Italy, China and Japan on foreign assignments with Heinz. He currently ensures the integrity and accuracy of Heinz’ financial reporting at its worldwide affiliates.

Phil enjoys choral singing and has sung with the Houston Symphony Chorus and Pittsburgh Mendelssohn Choir. He also serves on the Board of Directors of Music in World Cultures (MIWC), a faith-based organization dedicated to advancing music as a tool to develop cross-cultural relationships. MIWC partners with academic and religious organizations in Ukraine and former Soviet Bloc countries to teach workshops and train musicians and community leaders.