Earl Norfleet Phillips

Earl Norfleet Phillips, Jr. was born in High Point, North Carolina.[8][9] He graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and received an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.[8][9]

In 1972, he co-founded First Factors Corporation, a financial services business.[8][9] He was also a partner in a real estate development company.[8][9] From 1988 to 1998, he served on the Board of Wachovia. From 1984 to 1992, he served on the North Carolina Economic Development Board.[8] From 1990 to 1992, he served on the National Advisory Council of the Small Business Administration in Washington, D.C..[8] From 1999 to 2000, he served as Chairman of North Carolina Citizens for Business and Industry.[8][9] He was also Co-Chair of North Carolinians for Educational Opportunity 2000.[8]

From 2002 to 2003, he served as Ambassador of the United States to Barbados, Dominica, St Lucia, Antigua, St. Vincent, and St. Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla.

He was a trustee at the UNC at Chapel Hill and at the Asian Institute of Technology in Bangkok, Thailand.[8][9] He has received the Global Leadership Award from Kenan-Flagler Business School.[8][9] He is a member of the Council of American Ambassadors.[8]