Born and raised in Hemlock, Philip graduated from Lake Superior State University with degrees in Business Administration, Public Relations, and Personal Computer Specialist as a Senator Philip A. Hart Scholar. He earned numerous awards and honors as well served as Student Respondent speaker at graduation. 

Philip then attended Central Michigan University on a full scholarship where he earned his Master of Business Administration (MBA). While at CMU, Philip worked on a federally-funded grant that helped small and medium-sized businesses with export awareness and capacity in partnership with various economic development agencies in Michigan. 

Following graduate school, Philip attended Michigan State University College of Law where he focused on business and corporate law, municipal law, and federal court practice. He served as Co-Editor in Chief of the prestigious Journal of Business & Securities Law. He was also an extern at the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Michigan. 

While in law school, one of Philip's law school papers, Silver Sliver: The Softwood Lumber Agreement of 2006, was accepted and presented at the Midwest Political Science Association's National Conference in Chicago. This paper was second in a two-part series which included substantial research from a massive federal Freedom of Information (FOIA) request. 

Prior to law school, Philip operated Quagmire Solutions, LLC, a web design and communications firm. He served a variety of clients including various local merchants, Internet service companies, and a major regional newspaper owned by an international outfit. Philip has also previously been an adjunct professor of business management at a community college in Mid-Michigan.