Phil Wagner

Phil is originally from Baldwin City, Kansas, approximately 45 minutes southwest of Kansas City.  He received a Bachelor’s in Journalism and Political Science from Central Michigan University and a Master’s of Public Administration from the University of Kansas.  Following graduate school, Phil served as a Management Analyst for the City of Sugar Land, Texas where he assisted with community development projects, including the development of a minor league baseball stadium that is now the home for the Houston Astro’s Triple A affiliate.

From 2012 to 2014, Phil worked as the Assistant Economic Development Director for the City of Dubuque, Iowa.  During that time, he managed downtown redevelopment and riverfront revitalization efforts along the Mississippi River, as well as traditional business expansion projects.

In late 2014, Phil returned to the City of Sugar Land as the City’s first Public/Private Partnerships Manager.   His work resulted in Sugar Land receiving the “Land Deal of the Year” Award from the Houston Business Journal for the negotiation and acquisition of a 259-acre state prison that is currently being transformed into a light industrial business park.  By 2017, Phil was promoted to the Director of Economic Development, where he was responsible for the City’s primary industry, tourism, public-private partnerships, and cultural arts divisions.

Phil became the President of the Rockwall Economic Development Corporation in August 2018.  Since that time, he has led business retention, recruitment, and expansion projects that will result in over $430 million of capital investment and taxable activity benefitting the local community and the creation of more than 400 high-quality jobs.   Phil and his wife Allison have two daughters, Helen and Hannah, that were both born in Rockwall.