Even though he has had a successful legal career, Phil Cardis is more of an entrepreneur than a lawyer. Fortunately, the skills he developed while practicing law are the same ones that have led to his success at AVID Ratings, which helps builders create their own avid homebuyers.

“I like the ability to partner with and advise our clients,” Phil says. “It’s similar to practicing law, because you do a lot of listening to what clients are saying. You try to understand what they are going through and to respond accordingly.”

Phil’s brother, Paul Cardis, is the founder and CEO of AVID Ratings, and Phil loves the opportunity to help run a family business. “Everything is so much more personal in a family business,” he says. “It makes me very determined to make sure the experience is the best it can be for both our employees and our clients.”

Under Phil’s leadership, the staff continually challenges itself to be the best that it can be. “Each day, we have to earn the opportunity to work with our clients and to welcome them as part of the AVID family,” Phil says. That often means focusing on the quality, instead of the quantity, of client relationships.

Phil joined AVID Ratings in July 2006 as Vice President of Business Development and General Counsel and was promoted to Vice President of Operations in November 2006. He became Chief Operating Officer in July 2007 and is now responsible for all aspects of daily business, including staff management and supervision, as well as strategic development of the company’s research, consulting, and training services. But it is the consultative aspect of the job that he enjoys the most. “We’re in the foxhole with them,” he explains. “We’re not just a survey company. We’re here to build long-standing relationships with clients though in-depth research, consulting, and training — which ultimately helps homebuyers. That is something we take great pride in.”

Helping clients balance their business needs with their business goals can lead to some difficult conversations. “Sometimes it isn’t all good news, but our clients really appreciate our frank and honest approach to diagnosing problems and helping to solve them,” he says.

Before coming to AVID Ratings, Phil was the founder of Cardis & Associates, LLC, specializing in real estate, business, and general contract law. He also served as an attorney with the Wisconsin Legislative Council from 2001-2006, working as nonpartisan legal counsel to the Wisconsin legislature and legislative committees.

“I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit,” Phil says, “and real estate is an entrepreneurial venture — one that I enjoy being part of. I truly admire the builders we work with and appreciate the opportunity to help them in their endeavors.”

Phil, who belongs to several homebuilder associations, earned his law degree from the University of Minnesota Law School in Minneapolis. Before that he was awarded a B.A. in Sociology from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, where he brought his experience playing for Team USA in the Junior Pan American Games and became co-captain of the college’s baseball team. “Baseball has really taught me the value of teamwork,” he says, “and we have a very dedicated and customer-focused team working here at AVID Ratings.”

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