Phil Boyum Email and Phone Number

I am the Project Manager responsible for expanding GENIE (Georgia Enterprise Network for Innovation and Entrepreneurship) throughout the region and state. GENIE seeks to bring the business knowledge, analytics expertise, and entrepreneurial spirit of Georgia Southern university's BIG (Business Innovation Group) to municipalities across South and Coastal Georgia, as well as the state itself. In addition, I assist with the preparation of salary surveys, research reports, grant proposals, feasibility studies, and other similar projects for the Center for Business Analytics and Economic Research (CBAER), which is part of the Business Innovation Group (BIG) in the Parker College of Business at Georgia Southern University.BIG has been directly or indirectly responsible for more than $3 million dollars in grant money being directed into Downtown Statesboro over the past five years, while the Business Incubator component has helped start more than two dozens new companies over the same period. I am proud of the work BIG does and the impact it has on our community and our downtown.

I am the District 1 elected representative for the City of Statesboro. Since I was elected in 2013, the City has seen tremendous growth including the development of the City Campus in downtown Statesboro, winning the $1 M in the Americans Best Communities competition, and the creation of the Stormwater management division within the City of Statesboro. In the past 10 years, the City of Statesboro has seen our reserve fund grow from nearly 0% to almost 40% of our annual budget, allowing the City to weather the natural ups and downs of a dynamic economy. My leadership in community development efforts has resulted in the city being awarded three Community Development Block Grants totally nearly $3 M in the last 5 years, resulting in $5 M worth of redevelopment projects that transformed some of the most disadvantaged areas of town. Our ongoing Blue Mile efforts have borne fruit and soon our South Main corridor into downtown will undergo a multi-million-dollar streetscape and stormwater project. The passing of TSPLOST in our community has resulted in more road repaving and sidewalk construction in the last three years than was done in the 50 years prior. And my efforts to pass the Georgia Redevelopment Powers Law in the city has resulted in unprecedented investment and growth in our community – including the new West District in downtown Statesboro and the future development of Tormenta FC Stadium – home to South Georgia’s only professional soccer team.Statesboro is going places and I am proud to represent the citizens from District 1 who have entrusted me with their local government. Nothing makes me prouder than being a good father and serving our great community.

General Manager of the Springhill Suites by Marriott in Statesboro, GA. After an nationwide search for a replacement was conducted, I was promoted internally from the Sales Manager position at the same location, where I grew the hotel's sales performance by more than 10% annually. During my time as GM, I oversaw a $1.2 M refresh/renovation of all 113 rooms, as well as the public space, lobby and fitness area - all while increasing overall revenue and ADR year over year at the same time. And one of my sustainability initiatives resulted in an annual savings of more than $15K per year in utilities and ongoing maintenance costs.

As Director of Sales for the SpringHill Suites Statesboro, I handled corporate sales and group bookings in addition to handling special events at the Southern Hospitality Center - a 3,800+ square foot multi-purpose meeting and reception facility. Over a two-year period, grew conference center bookings to over $100K in annual gross revenue while increasing the number of contracted corporate clients, resulting in annual year-to-year growth of more than 10%. Despite a transfer of ownership and being out of the DOS position for nearly five years, many of the corporate relationships I established continue to generate revenue for the hotel.

As the host of Mornings UnPHILtered, I managed a mid-morning, weekday, local talk radio program that focused on state, local and regional issues that affected our local cities, towns and all of South Georgia. In addition, I was the news director and webmaster for a website that registered over 300,000 unique visitors per month, which grew from scratch over a seven-month period. I also built a stable portfolio of about 40 clients that generated approximately $250K annually for the station group. I was the first person in the State of Georgia to host a radio program that worked in cooperation with the local newspaper to broadcast a news, information, and entertainment program in the community.

Produced programming in a variety of formats - recorded video, live webstreaming, live radio broadcast & streaming simulcast - as well as writing award-winning news and opinion pieces alike. Winner of the 2009 Georgia AP Story of the Year Award. Other award include 1st Place awards for Humorous Column, Serious Column, News Writing and Beat Reporting, and other awards for reporting and feature writing. Started the first live-streamed high school football program in the state - Friday Night Live - which will be enjoying its 12th consecutive season this fall. Lastly, I started the first-ever simulcast of a live radio talk show from the newsroom of the Statesboro Herald. Mornings UnPHILtered was unique in that it was broadcast both on live radio and online. In addition, the Herald had a beat reporter who would condense the main interview from the day before into a story for the paper. Truly a collaboration between media outlets that had not been done before.

Started a construction company while completing my degree at The University of Texas at Austin. Over the course of five years, grew the operating from a one-man drywalling operation to a company that redeveloped more than 40 properties over a five-year span. Handled most administration and project management responsibilities for the company. Eventually sold off the operation before relocating to Statesboro - located in South Georgia.