History
2006
In January, Ryan & Company establishes the Customs and Foreign Trade practice to
support a growing portfolio of global clients with customs duty drawback reviews,
audit defense, foreign trade zone consulting, and other import and export related
tax services.
In February, Ryan & Company appoints Tony G. Mills as President to lead all strategic
growth initiatives, as well as build and manage a professional Corporate Services group
to support the Firm’s rapid revenue and client growth. Mr. Mills previously served as
the Firm’s Executive Vice President and General Counsel.
John Sharp, a Principal with the Firm and the former Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts,
is appointed by Texas Governor Rick Perry to serve as Chair of the Texas Tax Reform Commission,
a bipartisan group of 24 Texans selected to develop proposals to modernize the state tax system
and provide long-term property tax relief, as well as sound financing for public schools.
In March, Ryan & Company adds a new Corporate Officer, Greg Weiss, as Vice President and
General Counsel to assume responsibility for the Legal and Risk Management department.
Mr. Weiss was previously outside counsel to Ryan & Company as a partner in the law firm
David, Goodman and Madole.
In May, Ryan & Company’s steady revenue growth is recognized as the Firm is ranked in the Dallas
Top 200 Private Companies list published by the
Dallas Morning News. The list ranks privately
held companies in the Dallas/Fort Worth region based on revenue in 2005.
May also marks the promotion of Gerard Quinlan and Damon Chronis to Principal, adding two
seasoned tax professionals to the leadership team and recognizing their outstanding results
to Ryan & Company’s portfolio of premier Fortune 1000 clients. Ryan & Company Principals
now number 29.
In June, Ryan & Company acquires the Incentive Products Group from Austin-based Capital
Certified Development Corporation, expanding and optimizing the Firm’s full-service client
solutions in the credits and incentives area. The acquisition further strengthens the
Firm’s Austin, Texas-based Credits and Incentives team, now the largest practice in Texas.
In July, Ryan & Company celebrates its 15-year anniversary by recognizing and rewarding all
employees and their families with a three day, all-expense-paid trip to the Royal Pacific
Resort at Universal in Orlando, Florida. More than 1,000 employees and guests attend the
event that includes outings to Disney World, Universal Studios Orlando, and Sea World.
In August, Ryan & Company expands to Phoenix, Arizona and hires Richard Fosburg as a Principal
in the Firm’s Property Tax practice to manage the new office located in Camelback Center.
August also marks the acquisition of CertiSoft Solutions, LLC, a provider of comprehensive,
web-based tax certificate management software. Based in Houston, Texas, the company is strategically
integrated into the Firm’s expanding Tax Technology business. Janet Spann joins the
Firm as Product Manager to further develop this new technology offering.
In September, the Firm acquires Detroit-based JohnBernard, LLC, the leading state and local
tax consulting firm in the Midwest United States, and Robert Brakel & Associates Ltd., the
leading Canadian sales tax recovery firm based in Toronto, Canada. These acquisitions
support Ryan & Company’s regional expansion and launch the Firm’s international growth
strategy, establishing a foothold in the Midwest United States and Canada, while adding
substantial capabilities and human capital to the Firm.
JohnBernard, LLC founders, John Polizzi and Bernie Johnson, join Ryan & Company as Principals
through the acquisition. Their team of professionals and associates joins the growing
Ryan & Company national network and establishes Ryan & Company as the leading state and local tax
consulting firm in the Midwest, adding locations in Royal Oak and Lansing, Michigan; Columbus,
Ohio; and Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.
The acquisition of Robert Brakel & Associates adds 80 seasoned professionals to the Ryan &
Company team, providing the only true single source for both U.S. and Canadian sales tax
solutions available in Canada. Ryan & Company’s Canadian operation maintains its detailed
local knowledge with the existing management team, as well as the consulting and client
support staff that made Robert Brakel & Associates the Canadian sales tax consulting
leader for more than three decades (www.ryanco.ca). The Firm’s Canadian clients now
benefit from related practice areas that include Credits and Incentives and Tax
Technology solutions in one integrated offering.
Also in September, the Firm hires Glenn McCoy as a Principal in the New York office to
help expand its fast-growing Multistate Income Tax practice. Prior to joining Ryan &
Company, Mr. McCoy was a partner for nine years with a major accounting
firm, most recently serving as the National Partner-in-Charge of the Multistate Tax
Consulting Group. He also served as the in-house State Tax Attorney and Manager of
State Taxes for a major oil and gas exploration and production company and was the
Director of the Income Tax Division for the Oklahoma Tax Commission.
In October, Ryan & Company acquires all of the rights to
TaxDecisionERPTM,
an advanced U.S. multistate use tax decision automation tool for SAP users, which was jointly
developed with Technology Solutions Company in 2004. The Firm continues to invest
in, advance, and refine the solution to ensure that its substantial benefits are
available to more clients.
In the last two quarters of 2006, Ryan & Company continued to integrate legislative expertise with
tax services by hiring three prominent state legislators. Chuck Martin, a Director in the Atlanta
office and Georgia State Representative; Kip Averitt, a Director in the Austin office and Texas
State Senator; and John Otto, a Director in the Houston office and Texas State Representative,
bring decades of solid business and government experience to support the Firm’s clients.
In November, the Firm hires Michael Allen as a Principal to lead the newly launched regional
Mid-Atlantic office located in Alexandria, Virginia and adds a new Corporate Officer, Jim
Aubele, as Vice President of Marketing, to direct Ryan & Company’s national and international
branding efforts.
In December, Ryan & Company acquires the Burr Wolff Transaction Tax and STS Corporate® Tax
Technology business units, with Steve Allen joining the Firm as a Principal, managing service
delivery operations for Burr Wolff clients acquired in the transaction.
The Firm also hires two new Principals, Mark W. Eidman and Jon Sweet, to strategically position
Ryan & Company for continued growth in 2007. Mr. Eidman, one of the leading state and local
tax attorneys in the U.S., is hired to lead the Controversies and Appeals practice and oversee
the continued expansion of that practice nationally. Mr. Sweet is hired to lead the Firm’s
Strategic Advisory Services practice, developing a suite of value-added services that
leverage retrospective tax recovery to deliver prospective tax performance improvement
through technology, best practices, and process reengineering.
Principal Richard Rhodes retires from Ryan & Company after nine years with the Firm, ending a
long and distinguished career in the tax industry. Mr. Rhodes leaves the Firm as one of the
most successful Ryan & Company Principals ever, building one of the largest complex property
tax practices in the industry.
At the end of December, Ryan & Company continues its steady geographic expansion with the
opening of a new office in Charlotte, North Carolina under the direction of Linda A. Falcone,
a Director who serves on the Board of Governors of the Institute for Professionals in
Taxation (IPT).
Ryan & Company revenues soar 40% over the previous year, as the Firm expands internationally
and adds more than 200 employees, including ten new Principals and two Corporate Officers to
the leadership team. The Firm’s 15
th year is by far its most successful to date, as 2006 ends
with 636 employees and revenue approaching $140 million. Ryan & Company is now one of the
largest state and local tax practices in the industry, inclusive of the Big Four accounting firms.