Phyllis Hill Slater, Renowned Business Leader and Advocate, Passes Away

MAY 8, 2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NEWS RELEASE

Phyllis Hill Slater, Renowned Business Leader and Advocate, Passes Away

Long Island, NY — The Long Island community and the business world mourn the loss of

Phyllis Hill Slater, a trailblazing entrepreneur, dedicated advocate for economic development

finance, small business owners, and a visionary leader whose influence spanned local, national,

and international spheres. Phyllis passed away surrounded by her two loving daughters and

granddaughter, leaving behind a legacy defined by leadership, activism, and unwavering

commitment to empowering small businesses – especially, those owned by women and people of

color.

A Life Dedicated to Empowerment and Advocacy

Phyllis Hill Slater first worked for her father’s professional engineering and architectural firm,

Hill, Jenkins, Gaudy & Associates. She later founded Hill Slater Inc., an engineering and

architectural support system, established in 1984. Her business acumen, commitment to

community service, and drive to foster economic opportunities made her a distinguished leader

and role model.

As Chair of the Long Island Development Corporation (LIDC), Phyllis led one of Long Island’s

premier economic development finance agencies, focusing on providing low-cost business loans.

She also founded the Long Island Small Business Assistance Corp (LISBAC), a Certified

Development Finance Institution (CDFI) recognized by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

Through her efforts, countless small businesses were given the financial support needed to thrive.

Presidential Recognitions and Legislative Impact

Phyllis’s advocacy reached the highest levels of government, having been recognized and served

by all seven U.S. Presidents from President Carter onward. Her national leadership was

instrumental in the passage of the Women Business Owners Act of 1989, which allowed women

to secure business loans without a male co-signer. Her testimony during the 1988 Women

Business Owners Oversight hearing and her influence on H.R. 5050 cemented her legacy as a

champion of women’s economic independence.

She was also one of a select few to serve as a delegate to the White House Conference on Small

Business three times (1980, 1986, and 1995), highlighting her continued commitment to small

business advancement.

Leadership on Local, National, and International Stages

Phyllis’s impact extended far beyond Long Island. She was the past National President of the

National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) and served on national boards such

as Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP), Allstate, AT&T Customer Council, Bank of

America’s Women Entrepreneur’s Council, and the National Women’s Business Owners

Press Release - Phyllis Hill Slater Passing

Page 1 of 3Corporation (NWBOC) – a national organization that helps small businesses secure public and

private sector contracts through national certification.

Locally and statewide, she led and participated in numerous community organizations and

philanthropic initiatives, including Black Women Enterprises (BWE), EOC of Nassau County,

Northwell Health System Board of Trustees, Long Island Association (LIA) – especially, her

decades’ long leadership of the Small Business Council - and the Women Economic Developers

of Long Island (WEDLI). Her dedication to education and community growth was evident

through her involvement with the Woodard Mental Health, Institute for Student Achievement

(ISA), Long Island Community Foundation (LICF), WLIW21, SUNY Farmingdale, SUNY Old

Westbury, and SUNY Stony Brook.

Internationally, Phyllis served as Vice President of Les Femmes Chefs d’Enterprises Mondiales

(FCEM) and as Co-Founder and Executive Global Chair of the Euro-American Women’s

Council (EAWC), advocating for women business owners on a global stage.

A Legacy of Recognition and Impact

Phyllis Hill Slater’s influence was celebrated through hundreds of awards and honors,

acknowledging her visionary leadership. Her insights and achievements were frequently featured

in major media outlets, and her name remains synonymous with small business development.

Beyond her professional accomplishments, Phyllis was devoted to loving her family. She is

survived by her daughters [Gina Slater Parker and Tanya Slater Lowe], grandchildren [Amber

Ashley Parker, Lenwood Rudolph Williams, II, and Marcus Alexander Lowe], her great-

grandchildren [Kingston Slater Williams and Lisa Delilah Williams], her siblings [Madeliene

Hill and Philbert D. Hill, II], nephews and nieces [Aaron Hill, Lee Hill, Akua Hill, Cypress Hill,

John Hill, and Silas Hill]. Phyllis is predeceased by her husband [Gordon Haskell Slater], her

daughter [Lisa Slater Williams], her grandson [Michael Anthony Lowe], her siblings [Technical

Seargent (USAF) Wayne Hill and Andrea Hill Alvarez], her parents [Yvonne Antoinette Redding

Hill and Philbert D. Hill, PE], and in-laws [Payo “Tip” Hill and Philip Alvarez]. Phyllis’s legacy

will continue to inspire future generations, both within her family and throughout the business

community.

Phyllis was a charitable Christian woman whose unwavering faith and kindness brought the light

of God into every endeavor she undertook.

Final Reflections

Phyllis Hill Slater leaves behind a profound legacy of passion, leadership, and dedication. Her

tireless work has paved the way for countless entrepreneurs and small business owners to

succeed. While the community mourns her passing, her contributions will continue to inspire

generations to come.

Arrangements are as follows:

Monday, May 12, 2025

Public Wake

2:00 – 4:00pm EST and 7:00 - 9:00pm EST

Donohue-Cecere Funeral Homes

Press Release - Phyllis Hill Slater Passing

Page 2 of 3290 Post Ave, Westbury, Long Island, NY 11590

516.333.0615

Tuesday, May 13, 2025

Private Funeral

Private Interment

Private Celebration of Life