Thomas Phillips
Chief Growth Officer
Joshua Howard
President & Chief Legal Officer
Josh is a seasoned attorney with over two decades of experience providing strategic counsel to businesses and developers across the southeast region. Josh oversees the Contender family of brands, encompassing a diverse portfolio of commercial and residential real estate ventures, as well as development initiatives.
Under his leadership, he has assembled a high-performing team of professionals in management, legal, finance, and real estate. Josh holds a Bachelor's degree from Clemson University and earned his Juris Doctor, magna cum laude, from the University of South Carolina School of Law. Prior to his current role, he served as a Partner at Womble Bond Dickinson, LLP and Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd, PA. He also held a law clerk position with the Honorable Henry M. Herlong Jr. of the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina.
Beyond his professional accomplishments, Josh has consistently demonstrated a commitment to community leadership, maintaining an active presence in both the southeast legal community and the South Carolina business sector.
Thomas serves as Chief Growth Officer at Contender, where he leads efforts to identify and execute strategic growth initiatives and land acquisitions that expand the company’s market presence. Drawing on his background as an attorney and real estate broker—as well as his early legal experience as a law clerk to the Honorable William H. Seals, Jr. and private practice success—he brings a unique combination of legal, business, and operational expertise to his role. Thomas’s understanding of regulatory and market complexities directly enhances Contender’s ability to foster innovation, secure key partnerships, and drive sustainable, organization-wide growth, making him an essential architect of Contender’s continued success.
