[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 8 (Tuesday, January 16, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Page S573]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO WILLIAM K. PHILLIPS

  Mr. GREGG. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize William K. 
Phillips, the longtime Director for the Small Business Administration's 
New Hampshire district office. Since 1981, Bill has led the agency 
through economic booms and slumps while demonstrating a sharp 
commitment to the business community in this state. On March 2 of this 
year, Bill will be retiring. His leadership will be missed, and I want 
to offer him my deepest thanks for not only the advice he has given me 
throughout the years but for everything he has done to make this State 
a better place to live.
  Because of his unique professional resume, there are few people in 
the region who better understand the critical role small businesses 
play in a healthy economy and who know what entrepreneurs need to 
expand and thrive. Bill founded Benchmark Industries, a leader in 
resistance welding technology. He worked as senior vice-president of 
the Bank of New Hampshire, was the president of the former Londonderry 
Bank and Trust, and served on the board of directors of First NH Banks, 
which is now Citizens Bank of New Hampshire.
  For the past two and half decades, Bill has been directing the SBA's 
operations in New Hampshire. It was in this role he made his name as a 
champion for small businesses. His dedication was most obvious during 
the banking and real estate crisis our State experienced during the 
early 1990s. Fortunately, Bill and his team at the SBA were here to 
meet this difficult challenge. Using their expertise and resources, the 
New Hampshire SBA under Bill Phillips relieved much of the anxiety 
business and homeowners were feeling and helped the State recover. New 
Hampshire today is a great place to work and start a company, and Bill 
can certainly feel proud of his role in strengthening our state's 
excellent reputation.
  The definition of a vibrant economy goes beyond just a bunch of 
numbers and figures on a graph. What it really means is that people are 
working, improving the communities in which they live, building wealth, 
providing a better quality of life for their families and, in some 
cases, realizing life long dreams. Bill has been successful because he 
knows this and has always remembered that people, not statistics, are 
what matter. His experience and insights have served him well in the 
position of district director but, more importantly, they have 
benefitted New Hampshire. There are many businesses here, both small 
and large, which can be described as success stories because Bill took 
an interest in their future. Thank you, Bill. You have earned a long 
and healthy retirement.

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