History
1999
In January, former Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, John Sharp, joins Ryan &
Company as a Principal. The Firm establishes the Austin, Texas, office, thus beginning
its expansion outside of Dallas. Also in January, Eric L. Stein moves to Austin and
becomes the Principal-In-Charge for the Austin office. The Austin practice quickly
becomes the largest state & local tax practice in central Texas.
In January, Ryan & Company becomes the first state & local tax consulting
firm to establish a fully dedicated team of professionals in the audit sampling
arena. Comprised of statisticians, database experts, and consultants, the audit
sampling practice will go on to achieve many firsts in the industry, including
developing sampling procedures for state & local taxing authorities,
establishing stratified random sampling in a number of taxing jurisdictions,
and professionalizing the audit sampling process. The practice becomes
nationally recognized as the leading practice in its field.
1999 marks the official formation of Ryan & Company's Dispute Resolution Group
(DRG). The DRG is based in Austin, Texas, and is initially led by Eric L. Stein
and former Texas Chief Administrative Law Judge Mark Weiss. The practice
relies on former administrative law judges with decades of experience in
settling tax controversies and disputes throughout the United States and a
network of strategic alliances with some of the nation’s top law firms
specializing in state & local tax practice.
In May, the Firm acquires The John L. Ferrell Company, opens an El Paso, Texas, office,
and further strengthens its capabilities in property tax services.
Valuation Services Company, an affiliated valuation services business lead by future Principal,
Lester C. Rhodes, becomes Ryan Valuation Services (RVS), establishing the blue print for
the unique structure of Ryan & Company’s property tax services business. John R. Ferrell
becomes a Ryan & Company Principal.
In July, Ryan & Company opens a fourth office in Houston, Texas. Future Principal
Mark W. Bennett is tapped to lead the office. The office opens with 20 employees.
The Firm adds the Utility Tax Practice with the acquisition of The Price Consulting
Group in December 1999. Ryan & Company’s engineering professionals conduct
utility exemption certifications designed to establish existing and previous patterns
of utility usage to help clients validate exemption claims. The new practice
becomes an important adjunct to the Firm’s sales and use tax practice.
In December, Ryan & Company wins the Standard of
Excellence Award in the Web Marketing Association’s 1999 Web Award Web Site
Competition for its Ryanco.com website.
The Firm ends 1999 with 118 employees and over $16 million in annual revenue.