Phil's Biography
Phil Anderson is a successful business executive with 35 years of finance and operational experience. Phil is also active in the Winter Park community where he served as City Commissioner from 2008-2011.
Phil and his wife Jennifer are patrons and supporters of several local organizations including the Boys & Girls Club of Eatonville, the Albin Polasek Museum and Gardens, and the Winter Park History Museum. They enjoy spending time with their blended family of four grown children. They enjoy water sports, camping, and sidewalk dining in Winter Park.
A Winter Park resident since 1998, Phil served as a Winter Park City Commissioner during the financial crisis. As Commissioner, he worked side-by-side with City staff to save the City millions of dollars when the utility bonds required financing. Known as a problem-solver, Phil worked with City staff to develop long-term financial planning systems which helped restore the City to a strong financial footing, setting the stage for rebuilding the City’s reserves to the levels we enjoy today.
Phil’s business acumen led to the successful creation of several businesses and teams over the past 35 years. Those businesses have made over $10 billion of investments in over 300 communities across the country. His appreciation for small business challenges began with his brother in their small, family-owned business, giving him the experience needed to understand the unique challenges of Winter Park’s merchants, particularly in uncertain times.
Most recently, Phil co-founded Bridge Seniors Housing Fund Manager in Orlando where he serves as Chief Investment Officer. Prior to joining Bridge, Phil served as Chief Operating Officer of CNL Retirement Properties. Before moving to Winter Park to join CNL, Phil helped start and then served as Senior VP with Classic Residence by Hyatt in Chicago.
Phil is an active volunteer with several community organizations. His strong belief in the value of parks, trees, and open spaces led him to serve as the founding treasurer of the Winter Park Land Trust. Phil is a member of the board of directors of Legacy Pointe at UCF, a non-profit retirement community. He also served as a finance board member of Westminster Retirement Communities (which includes the WP Towers/Westminster WP).
Phil earned a B.S. with honors in Civil Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech). Phil’s first job was working for Georgia Power Company as a co-op student to pay for college. After college, he continued his work constructing power plants for GPC, valuable experience to help him understand the complexities of the City of Winter Park utilities.
Phil looks forward to serving as Mayor. He’s eager to represent the residents of Winter Park, his adopted hometown and the City he loves dearly.