Phil Cox - Membership

Phil Cox, from Malvern, PA, enjoyed a career with Marriott before joining his brother in business in 1978. Their company, Myrtle Beach Resort Vacations, owned and operated hotels through the mid-eighties. They then acquired a real estate business and grew it to include property management and vacation condo rentals. Phil retired in 2008 after selling the business.

He has been a member of the PSU Alumni Association one year short of 50 and goes back annually for football games. Phil continues to be a member of CCAR and is actively involved with and a Past President of the Grand Strand Optimist Club. Phil and Judy have six children and one grand child. They reside in Southwood near Surfside Beach.

Eileen Soisson - Philanthropy

Eileen Soisson is the president of The Meeting Institute (TMI), LLC, based in Myrtle Beach, SC. The Meeting Institute offers various training programs and services such as workshops, consulting and training development services.

Eileen’s background is within the commercial recreation sector and has managed recreation departments for various resorts and hotels such as Marriott, Starwood, Bass Hotels and others. Eileen and managed over 2,500 interns from all over the world fulfilling commercial recreation and hospitality internships. She worked with The American Hospitality Academy for ten years before starting her own business, The Meeting Institute in 2004.

She started TMI to help service driven businesses/organizations realize their full potential through personal and professional development. Eileen has presented training sessions and key notes for over 30,000 participants from over 30 countries at various national conferences, leadership events and in-house training. Eileen has worked with clients such as the US Army, Audi of America, The Jackson Companies, Leroy Springs and Company, and others.

Eileen is a proud graduate of The Pennsylvania State University. She is an active alum and serves on the College of Health and Human Development’s Alumni Society’s Board of Directors and Women’s Leadership Initiative Advisory Board. Eileen serves on National Recreation and Park Association’s Program Committee and also led the Commercial Recreation Tourism Section. Eileen is also a part time faculty member at Horry Georgetown Technical College and teaches continuing education classes on topics such as leadership, peer interviewing, customer service and other soft skills training classes.

Eileen strives to be a servant leader in her faith, community, and family. She is actively involved with her church, Christ United Methodist Church (SPRC Committee, WCA Global Leadership Summit, Leadership Development and Support Ministry). She is also an active member of community organizations such as gsSCENE, Chamber of Commerce (Myrtle Beach and Conway). Eileen is married to Steve (Soisson) and has an amazing 4 ½ year old son, Casey Jasper.