Phil Kirk currently serves as vice president for external relations at Catawba College in Salisbury and also has a consulting/professional speaking business. He is a member of the UNC Tomorrow Commission, Meredith College Board of Trustees, North Carolina Economic Development Board, North Carolina Baptist Hospital board, Rowan Regional Medical Center board, Salisbury-Rowan Economic Development Commission, North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching Foundation board, Blue Ribbon Commission on Charter Schools and is chair-elect of the Public School Forum board. Kirk is chairman emeritus of the State Board of Education, president emeritus of North Carolina Citizens for Business and Industry, and former vice chair of the State Board of Community Colleges. He is a former North Carolina State Senator and chief of staff for Governors Jim Holshouser and Jim Martin and U.S. Senator Jim Broyhill.