Phil Kirk has his own consulting and public speaking business and is currently the Community Relations Advisor for NCICU (North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities).

Previously, he served as Director of Business and Leadership Development at Brady. Prior to that, Kirk was Vice President for External Relations at his alma mater, Catawba College in Salisbury, in addition to serving as a consultant with the Yadkin Valley Winegrowers Association, National Search & Education Consulting, and Shelco, Inc.

Kirk was recently appointed to the East Carolina University Board of Visitors for a four-year term. He also serves on the board of North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching Foundation and Participate Learning (formerly known as VIF International Education).

In 2019, he was appointed to the Council of Advisors, North Carolina Baptist Children’s Homes to advise Dr. Michael Blackwell and senior staff in new ways to make a difference in the lives of others—hurting children, broken families, the elderly, and adults with intellectual and developing disabilities.

He is an active member of the Kiwanis Club of Raleigh and served as President during the club’s Centennial Year where he earned the “Distinguished President” honor from Kiwanis International. He is Chairman Emeritus of the State Board of Education where he served for more than six years and visited 750 schools in all 115 school districts.

Kirk also served as Vice Chairman of the State Board of Community Colleges, the Board of Trustees at Catawba College as well as Meredith College, the UNC Tomorrow Commission and the UNC-TV Board of Trustees.

He chaired the working committees for the two largest successful bond issues in North Carolina history–$2.75 billion in bonds for schools and roads and $3.1 billion for UNC System, community colleges, and UNC-TV.