Thomas L. Phillips is Chairman of Phillips International. In January of 1974, he launched the company with two newsletters, three employees and a $1,000 investment. From that entrepreneurial start-up, the company has grown into a leading independent newsletter publisher and one of the largest periodical publishers in the world. Tom earned a BA in Political Science from Dartmouth College and an MA in Journalism from The American University. He then held positions with two large national advertising agencies and a Washington, D.C., publishing firm. Tom was one of the founding members of the Newsletter Publishers Association in 1977. He served as NPA President in the early 1980's, and in 1989 was honored as NPA "Publisher of the Year." Five years later, Tom was elected as the first member of the Newsletter Publishers Hall of Fame. As Tom said when named Publisher of the Year, he believes people are the main key to the company's success. It was his idea to take all Phillips employees and their families 1,300 in all to Walt Disney World in the fall of 1993 to celebrate the company's 20th anniversary and first $100 million sales year. It was a grand celebration bringing together Phillips colleagues from across the globe. Ten years later, Tom took the entire Phillips team on a Disney cruise in honor of the company's 30th anniversary.Tom is a former member of the Young Presidents' Organization and a current member of the World Presidents' Organization. He helped to launch two successful banks in the Maryland suburbs. He is a member of The Republican National Committee's Regents Program. Tom has always been a vigorous supporter of youth. He was active on the Parents Council of Georgetown's School of Business, and is former chairman of The Board of Visitors of The Institute on Political Journalism. Tom serves as Chairman of the Board of Governors for the National Journalism Center. He also serves on the Board of Junior Achievement of Metropolitan Washington and the Board of the National Capital Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America.