He has a bachelor's and master's of business administration from the University of Nevada, Reno, where he also taught for five years as a full-time lecturer. Phil has been a court-appointed bankruptcy overseer, CFO for a public mining biotechnology company and trustee for several community bank start ups. His experience is important because it enables him to teach accounting from the industry point of view, rather than as an academic. Phil attended the University of Nevada on a golf scholarship and for many years competed in local, state and regional tournaments. He is an avid motorcyclist and participates in many track days. Phil was born and raised in Reno.