Debbie Phillips is a real estate professional with over 30 years of experience with diverse property types. As an entrepreneur, Debbie has a multi-faceted career including developing world class leadership programs and talent management strategies. Debbie serves as an industry expert, keynote speaker and nationally acclaimed author. She was named Certified Property Manager (CPM®)  of the year by the Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM®)  in 2015 and received the 2013 Outstanding Educator Award by the National Apartment Association’s Education Institute. Debbie was also recognized as one of the top 75 professional women changing the face of real estate in 2013 by the Institute of Real Estate Management.

In addition to her private consulting, Debbie recently formed the Real Estate Career Academy, a non-profit organization that promotes career awareness in real estate and prepares high potential talent for a wide spectrum of opportunities. For more than 14 years, Debbie served as President for the Georgia Apartment Industry Education Foundation. She has served as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Georgia, Piedmont Technical College and Georgia Perimeter College. Currently Debbie is a distant learning specialist and an Adjunct Professor for the New School of Architecture and Design in San Diego, California and Realtor University in Chicago, Illinois. Debbie is actively involved in industry organizations and serves in advisory roles.

Debbie completed her Ph.D. from Georgia Tech, where her research focused on Resident Satisfaction and Employee Engagement as she developed an Employee Engagement Model for the Multifamily Housing Industry. Debbie also holds a Master of Science degree in Housing & Consumer Economics, with an emphasis in Senior Housing, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Consumer Journalism, both from the University of Georgia.

Debbie believes in the philosophy, "You can dream, build and create the most beautiful place in the world, but it takes PEOPLE to make the dream a reality." Debbie’s passion is developing top tier talent that adds value to an organization through increased employee engagement.