Phil is originally from Stone Mountain, Georgia. He attended Duke University. He earned a master's degree at the Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. He lives in Summerhill with his wife and one child.

Phil is an Executive Director of Next Generation Men & Women, an education non-profit. He previously worked as a Director for WorkSource Atlanta. He also worked abroad as part of the Peace Corps and at CitiGroup.

This race is Phil's first entry into politics.