Born and raised in Chicago, Phyllis is a product of the Westside and finds it glaringly clear that the youth in this underserved and resource deprived environment need attention and advocacy. 

Phyllis worked as an Operations Manager for a major airline in Chicago before retiring with 23 years of service. In that role, she developed and oversaw summer and winter programs for high school students to introduce them to future airline employment as a career, assisted in financial offset for those attending college, and provided travel opportunities never imagined, opening an entirely new realm of opportunities for those students.

Phyllis is hopeful about the possibilities for future generations when they are given the attention, resources, support, and advocacy needed to make informed choices. Since retiring, she has found purpose and satisfaction in continuing to support youth focused efforts. She bring with her to FTK an unmatched dedication that has immediately translated into positive results and higher confidence for the young people FTK serves.