Philip M. Cuthbertson

Atlanta, GA
Phil is the founder and former executive Director of the Grant Park Conservancy, a nonprofit dedicated to the restoration and preservation of Atlanta's oldest existing public park (Olmsted Brothers development plan commissioned 1903).  He is currently completing a book on Grant Park, including the park and surrounding area, as part of the "Images of America" series published by Arcadia Press.  He is also researching several other titles in this series.

Phil holds a BA in History from the University of Georgia.  His background includes 15 years in program development and management with the American Red Cross (ARC), including include training in topics such as disaster preparedness, volunteer management, and international humanitarian law.  Phil managed the ARC contract with the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games to recruit, train and manage 500 first responders in support of medical services for the Centennial Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.  He is a founding member of Parks Atlanta Rescue Coalition (PARC 911), a group designed to bring attention to the needs of public parks in Atlanta and to influence funding policy.

In working with a major nonprofit and a small grassroots nonprofit, Phil managed a wide range of responsibilities including Public Relations, training, budget management, fund raising, public speaking, volunteer management, board development, special events, grant writing, website development, etc.  While with the Conservancy, Phil worked to develop a special event in Grant Park to raise the profile of the park.  Over eight years, the committee built a two-day festival from a small happening to a major event with about 40,000 attendees in 2010.  Phil is now striking out on his own with event consulting and development. 

His other interests include hiking, gardening/native plant rescue, nature study, travel, history, and reading.