James M. Phillips
Chief Executive Officer
Mr. Phillips is credited with playing a key role in launching the PDA, the Cable Modem, PCS Digital Cellular, Fixed Wireless Local Loop Cellular, Time Magazine's Medical Invention of the Year- the VeinViewer, and iPix, at the time, the world's largest provider of digital imaging infrastructure for the internet, in e-commerce areas as online real estate, hospitality, aviation, auction listings, and classified ads.
Mr. Phillips currently serves as Managing Partner/CEO of Pinnacle Enterprises, a private equity investment firm. He also is Chairman of the Board of NanoMech Inc., (www.Nanomech.biz), an international award-winning technology company focused on the development and manufacturing of patented and proprietary application-specific nanomaterials, nanoparticle-based coatings and coating deposition systems, and nano-enabled products.
Throughout his business career, Jim has held numerous prominent positions and founded and co-founded many successful corporations. He was formerly Vice President of Nortel Networks; President & Co-Founder of SkyTel - the nation’s largest messaging company; President & Vice Chairman of Telular Corp.; Corporate Vice President and General Manager of Motorola, PCS and Multimedia divisions, where he and his team were the first to commercialize the the cable modem to the cable industry. Mr. Phillips received the Motorola Patent Disclosure Award.
Mr. Phillips served as Senior Vice-President of Mobilecomm, the second largest provider of cellular and paging services in the U.S.
As President and co-founder of SkyTel, Mr. Phillips oversaw the launch of the first advanced nationwide messaging system, and deployment of the first nationwide two-way wireless messaging network, leading to the revolution in instant messaging (SMS) and PDA's.
As President and Vice-Chairman of Telular Corporation (WRLS) Jim took the company public (NASDAQ) and was a leader in the development of the wireless local loop; cellular voice and data telephone (wireless dialtone); pioneering machine to machine communications (M2M) for wireless telemetry applications around the world in energy, transportation and agriculture; and wireless security alarm systems protecting hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses across the U.S.
Jim also Co-Founded iPIX Corporation where he served as Chairman and CEO. During his tenure with iPIX, he led the company to become what Forbes called “the Kodak of the Internet.” The company revolutionized imaging across the internet, inventing immersive virtual tours that are a staple on real estate, hotel & entertainment websites and the only 360x360 security camera system used by the White House and many government agencies and corporations. In addition, through the acquisition of Bamboo.com and Picture Works, Jim oversaw the development of the popular image submission process utilized by millions of e-Bay users everyday.
Mobilecomm Corporation was sold to BellSouth Corporation, SkyTel Corporation was sold to MCI Worldcomm, and iPIX was sold to Sony Corporation.
While furthering his management career in the financial sector, Mr. Phillips served as CEO in Residence and Special Advisor to the Private Equity and Investment Banking Groups at Morgan Keegan & Co.
As Founding Chairman and Executive Director of the FedEx Institute of Technology (FIT), he helped establish this leading research park on the campus at the University of Memphis. Information Week called FIT “the technology industry’s newest center for innovation” and WIRED Magazine compared it to the Media Lab at MIT.
In 2004, Jim was named one of Information Week’s Innovators of the Year. That same year, he became Chairman and CEO of Luminetx Corporation and led the development and commercialization of a breakthrough medical device called the “VeinViewer” Time Magazine named this milestone the “coolest medical invention of year” and Red Herring Magazine featured Luminetx Corporation at the top of the list of North America’s 100 Best Technology Startups in 2006.
Jim also founded and served as Chairman and CEO of Snowflake Corporation - a leader in biometric identification awarded the 2009 Frost & Sullivan Innovation of the Year Award in the biometrics market.
Among his many honors and awards, Jim received the CLIO Award, was named Tennessee Businessman of the Year in 1999 by the United States Small Business Administration. In 2006, he was inducted into the Memphis Entrepreneurial Society.
His innovative contributions and business leadership have been chronicled in many national publications including: Forbes, Fortune, Business Week, The Standard, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and USA Today. He has made numerous appearances on Fox News, CNN, CNNfn, CNBC, the BBC and CBS Morning News. His business affiliations include:
- Board Member U.S. Council on Competition (Exec. Committee)
- Trustee of National Health Museum (Exec. Committee)
- Board Member Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee
- Member U.S. Technology Leadership & Strategy Council
- U.S. Manufacturing Competitive Initiative CEO Steering Committee
- Trustee University of Memphis
- Trustee Memphis Music Foundation
- Board Member Memphis Bioworks Foundation.
- Board Member Herff College of Engineering
- Board Member Fogelman School of Business
- Member, Memphis Entrepreneurial Society
- Vice Chairman - Memphis Chamber of Commerce
- Tennessee Technology Development Corporation (Exec Committee)
- Director-EmergeMemphis
Mr. Phillips also serves as Chairman/CEO of Crowntech Corporation (www.ZipHat.com).
Jim holds BBA and MBA degrees from the University of Memphis, graduating with academic honors. As a student, he was President of the Tennessee Student Association, Cadet Commander of the largest ROTC Detachment in the U.S. and Vice President of the SGA. He was commissioned as a Lieutenant and attended Jet Pilot Training at Webb AFB. He was honored with the Professor of Aerospace Studies Award and the United States Air Force Distinguished Military Graduate Award.
Jim and Barbara Phillips (his wife of 33 years) have three sons, Parker, Preston & Palmer and reside in Memphis, Tennessee and Rogers, Arkansas.
He can be reached at jim@pinnaclenwa.com.
