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Dean Phillips served as an international director on the SME Board of Directors from 2018-21 and was the 2016 chair of the SME Member Council. Phillips has spent more than 12 years developing programs for SME and assisting the volunteer efforts within its Technical Communities and local chapters. He is a past membership consultant, advising local chapters and assisting with fundraising and scholarships. Phillips spent seven years developing Nashville Chapter 43. As its chair in 2010, he expanded their reach to over 1,800 contacts and increased the scholarship fund to over $100,000, distributing $7,500 to schools and students each year. Phillips is also an active SME Education Foundation scholarship reviewer. In 2014, he launched a student chapter at Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology, helping it develop its Tool & Die program, leveraging partnerships from other organizations like the Precision Metalforming Association and the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce & Industry, which led to successful Manufacturing Day events that highlighted Vex Roboticsā€™ student competitions. Phillips developed the SME Volunteer Leaders Discussion Group, a service that helped leaders find solutions, improve skills and share best practices with fellow volunteers, using a mentor-mentee philosophy that has carried over to other programs. He is a former Forming & Fabricating Community vice-chair; an industry expert and advisor; and a current Smart Manufacturing Experience Executive Committee member, FABTECH show exhibitor and webinar developer with the largest reach. Phillips, a product enhancement engineer with Link Systems and the founder/producer of the Destiny of Manufacturing Podcast, continues to develop connections for SME through social media and manufacturing partnerships. SME Member Since 2005.