On October 30, 2015, Phil Collins was honored by the Massachusetts Municipal Personnel Association (MMPA) with the 2015 Emil Skop Award. One of two recipients this year (the other being Vanessa Hale, Assistant Town Administrator/Personnel Liaison for the Town of Southborough), the following is the text of the introductory remarks given by Denise Casey, Human Resources Director for the Town of Lexington, revealing Phil as one of the 2015 honorees and recognizing his contributions and achievement.
Emil S. Skop was a founding member of the MMPA and is remembered for his tireless efforts to promote our profession by sharing information and experiences with other human resources and labor relations professionals. Each year, the MMPA bestows the Skop Award to an individual who has made a positive impact on the association and its members.
This year, I am pleased to present the award to someone who has worked tirelessly to strengthen our profession in such a manner that benefits all of us. Their sense of humor, incredible memory recall, and determination to provide exception legal services are all attributes that have benefitted the members of this association. This individual’s expertise on matters of collective bargaining, civil service, arbitration and municipal personnel labor law has kept many of us in this room out of hot water.
Those of you who have worked with our honoree or heard him speak know that, even after almost four decades dedicated to the practice of municipal labor and employment law, he still has the same passion for his work as did when he started. The energy that he puts into his work might make you wonder whether he has any other interests. Please be assured that he does. In addition to his family, he loves golf and photography and he is a voracious reader.
His ability to verbally spar with others was demonstrated at an early age, based on his dad’s statement at his law school graduation, “I knew you were going to be a lawyer; I haven’t won an argument with you since you were 8 years old.” For those that have seen him in action, you know that the gift of lively debate is one of his strengths.
He has presented at so many MMPA meetings, we could all probably recite his bio. A graduate of Harvard College and BC Law, practicing law since 1974, our recipient and his firm have represented over 50 towns, cities and school districts. Our honoree has presented at countless association meetings: MMA, MMPA, Mass Bar, Boston Bar, AAA, NE Consortium of Labor Relations agencies, not to mention three NPELRA conferences in San Diego and Clearwater Beach, which also happen to have excellent golf courses… a coincidence? I think not!
He is friend to all who know him and the MMPA would not be what it is today without his willingness to volunteer his time and the time of the members of his firm to present at countless meetings. A proud husband, father and grandfather, we all know he wouldn’t be where he is without the loving support of his wife Donna, his 4 children, two of whom, Stephanie and Kelly, are here with us today, and his 7 grandchildren who he absolutely adores.
In soliciting introduction ideas from colleague and family members, I received the following story from one of his partners. Our recipient will readily admit that he is not particularly handy. His wife will attest to it. The attorneys at his firm still have a good laugh every time he analogizes to the Fram Oil Filter commercial when he tells clients how important it is to call labor counsel early, as a matter is developing, rather than later, when the damage has been done. He notes that, as the Fram Oil Filter man says, “Pay me
For the impact that he has had on our profession, the years of counsel and dedication to his trade and his wonderful sense of humor, please join me in welcoming Attorney Phil Collins up here to receive the Emil Skop Award.
