GREENSBORO ó Phil Kirk, a Rowan County native and former State Board of Education chairman, has accepted a position as new business development/corporate marketing leader for Brady Services Inc.’s Energy Services Group the company said in a news release Friday.
Brady Services describes itself as a comprehensive energy services company specializing in heating, air conditioning and energy-efficient buildings.
Kirk, expected to begin his new position in late July, will be based out of Brady’s Triangle office in Morrisville. Serving as a member of the management team, Kirk will represent Brady at various statewide business meetings and will work with the Brady team on business development and other related marketing roles.
“I am really excited about the background and experience that Phil brings to our organization,” said Jim Brady, president of Brady Services Inc. “We have been helping customers run their facilities more efficiently for years, yet many people don’t know that we are the ‘go to’ company in the industry for this type of service. Phil is going to help us communicate at the right level with these organizations.”
Kirk most recently served as vice president for external relations at Catawba College, his alma mater. He is also president/CEO emeritus of the North Carolina Chamber (formerly the North Carolina Citizens for Business and Industry), the largest statewide business advocacy organization in North Carolina, and is the former chairman of the North Carolina State Board of Education.
“I am energized about the opportunity to work for such a respected and successful North Carolina company as Brady,” Kirk said. “While my work has been focused on business, education and government in the past, I am looking forward to concentrating on energy solutions that not only help the bottom line of our clients, but also help the environment, which is so important for the quality of life of many North Carolinians.”
Kirk’s job at Catawba College was eliminated due to budget constraints. In an e-mail the Post, Kirk said he feels “very blessed to have received a contract for employment with Brady Services on my first day of unemployment (June 1). I considered the pros and cons of concentrating on one full-time job vs. several interesting contracts in public relations, business development, marketing, and higher education.”
Kirk wrote in the e-mail that he got to know Brady 20 years ago in his previous job as head of the state chamber.
“The Bradys are well respected in the Greensboro community and throughout North Carolina and their company has a sterling reputation,” he wrote.
“… Members of the Brady team are very civic-minded, and I will be allowed to continue my volunteer work, especially in education.”
Kirk currently serves as chairman of the Public School Forum of North Carolina and as a board member at Meredith College, UNC TV, Rowan-Cabarrus Community College Foundation, Visiting International Faculty program, and the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching.
Kirk and his wife returned to their home in Raleigh after he left Catawba College.
“We will miss Salisbury and Rowan County,” Kirk said in an e-mail to the Post. “I have resigned positions which I enjoyed very much as a member of the Salisbury-Rowan Economic Development Commission, Rowan Regional Medical Center, and the Salisbury Rotary Club.”