Phil’s career in broadcasting began in 1958. He and his wife Glenda moved their family to Salt Lake City in 1968 where he had been named News Director for KALL Radio and the Intermountain Radio Network.

In 1978 he moved to KTVX Channel 4 as Managing Editor and Anchor. In April of 1993 Phil moved to KUTV Channel 2 as Anchor and reporter. He was also News Director for seven radio stations of a local radio cluster.  Phil taught Broadcast Journalism at the University of Utah. Last year he was honored with his induction into the “Utah Broadcasters Hall of Fame”.

Phil has been actively involved in volunteer community service for a number of years. He served four years as State President of AARP-Utah and one year as President of the Salt Shakers, the good will ambassadors of the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce. He has served on the Boards of Directors of S.P.L.O.R.E., the Center for Family Development and Odyssey House and served two terms in the Utah House of Representatives from District 36 in Salt Lake County. He has given hundreds of hours of volunteer time and service to Catholic Community Services, the Utah Food Bank, the Road Home, the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce and the University of Utah as well as scholarship fundraising events for Westminster College and Southern Utah State University.

Phil currently owns and operates Phil Riesen Productions, a television and radio commercial production company. He is also an actor, having appeared in a number of television productions, movies, feature films and on stage in the Plan B Theater production of War of the Worlds. Phil and his wife Glenda have four sons, five granddaughters and three grandsons, all of whom live in Salt Lake City.