Philip is a 1978 graduate of the Pulp and Paper Science Program at the University of Washington. After five years in Research and Development at Weyerhaeuser, he co-founded Wells Enterprises, Inc. with his father, Roger in 1983. As sole owner and operator of the company, Philip has designed and supplied more than 400 affordable Lazy Steam Shower installations to paper machines throughout the US and overseas with particular emphasis on heating press fabrics over uhle boxes.
Philip has been active in TAPPI since 1986. He currently (2018) serves as secretary of the Engineering Division and has been a member of both the Steering and Technical Program committees of PaperCon for the past ten years. He also works with the Scholarship Committee of the Engineering Division and has been an active participant in the last six Student Summits. He was chair of the Water Removal Committee 2012-2014. Over the past 30 years, he has been a frequent contributor to TAPPI TIPs and has published and presented numerous technical papers and tutorials relating to steam showers.
Philip was recipient of the Division Technical Award from the TAPPI Paper and Board Division in 2011 and Leadership and Service Award in 2018 and was named a TAPPI Fellow in 2017.
He lives in Seattle with his wife and black Labrador Retriever.