Linda Phillips has joined the staff of the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank as a development manager.

Phillips is responsible for corporate relations with suppliers for ongoing support of the Food Bank as well as working with potential corporate partners.

She also will be responsible for the planning and corporate donations at the annual Jewels of Giving Gala, an event set for Nov. 16 at the Embassy Suites in Rogers.

On the job a month, Phillips recently went out on a mobile pantry visit and said the best part of her job was seeing how grateful recipients were of the food products.

Phillips has worked in the non-profit world for the past 18 years, working for 10 years as a fundraiser for Mercy Hospital and for eight years in the same capacity at the Northwest Arkansas Children’s Shelter.

“Linda is widely regarded as one of our region’s best development professionals,” said Mike Williams, director of development at the Food Bank. “We are very fortunate to have her on our team.”

Phillips said she was attracted to the development manager’s position because of the leadership team and the strong history that the Food Bank has as well as its mission.

A native of Northwest Arkansas, she was born at the old St. Mary’s Hospital, now the Center for Nonprofits in Rogers. She served in the Air National Guard in St. Louis.

Phillips received a certificate in nonprofit management from the University of Arkansas.

She is married to Joe Euculano and has a stepson, Anthony, 24. She and her husband enjoy traveling and are currently working on a trip to Italy. They have three rescue dogs, a standard poodle, a toy poodle and a shih tzu.