[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 10108-10109]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




             RECOGNIZING THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF BILL PHILLIPS

                                  _____
                                 

                           HON. ALAN GRAYSON

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 12, 2014

  Mr. GRAYSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Lesbian, Gay, 
Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Pride Month, to recognize Bill 
Phillips. Bill believes that success is driven by effectively creating 
a synergy of strategy and execution in communication and delivery.

[[Page 10109]]

  Bill has a unique professional background and is fearless about 
tackling challenges. He began his professional career in the financial 
services sector, primarily focused on relationship development and 
sales management. He has worked for Fortune 500 corporations including 
Bank of America, Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley, and Citigroup.
  For a brief time in 2004, Bill was a candidate for an open U.S. 
Senate seat in Florida. While unsuccessful in this endeavor, Bill 
traveled extensively throughout Florida, meeting voters and discussing 
their issues and expectations. Through this experience he gained an 
insight into politics and built a network of contacts that he now 
utilizes to provide political advice to clients. Since 2007, Bill 
Phillips has been a leader in reshaping Florida's Democratic/
Progressive political capacity.
  During Bill's tenure as the Communications Director for the Florida 
Education Association (FEA), he created a highly successful, nationally 
recognized campaign: Make Our Schools A Priority. This resulted in a 
revitalized FEA brand that energized the membership and elevated the 
profile for FEA and its leadership team. The campaign positioned FEA in 
an aggressive posture that enabled it to drive its message to key 
audiences, utilizing web, email, social networking, and television. The 
campaign reestablished FEA as a political force.
  From the success of Bill's tenure at FEA, he founded Defero Advisory 
Services in early 2010, where he immediately began working to build a 
network of Florida-based, progressive donors that could work 
collaboratively.
  The centerpiece of the organization's early efforts was a ballot 
initiative campaign designed to provide guidelines for the 
reapportionment of Congressional and Legislative districts. These 
initiatives, collectively known as Fair Districts, were passed by an 
overwhelming majority of voters.
  Bill has helped to create several of Florida's leading progressive 
groups, including Florida Watch Action, Inc. and Project New America/
The Florida Project. He also serves on the Senior Advisory Board of 
Progress Florida. Bill is active in the movement for LGBT equality, 
serving as Board Chairman of Florida Together/Florida Together 
Federation in 2011.
  Bill is also nationally respected as a donor advisor aligned with the 
Democracy Alliance, a network committed to a stronger democracy and a 
more progressive America.
  I am happy to honor Bill Phillips, during LGBT Pride Month, for his 
work as a progressive champion in Central Florida and nationwide.

                          ____________________