Dale Craymer, President dcraymer@ttara.org

Specialty: Business Tax Issues, State Budget, Economic Analysis

Mr. Craymer is TTARA's President and chief spokesperson. He is an expert on state business tax, particularly the franchise, or “margin” tax, as well as the state budget and the economy. He is a frequent advisor to public officials and is often asked to provide expert testimony on fiscal issues. He is a member of Texas’ Business Tax Advisory Committee and the National Taxpayers Conference, and has previously served on the executive Boards of both the National Association of State Budget Officers and the Council of Governor's Policy Advisors.

Before joining TTARA, Mr. Craymer served as the Director of Budget and Planning for the Governor's Office, Chief Fiscal Analyst for the House of Representatives, and as Chief Revenue Estimator for the Texas Comptroller's Office. He is an honors graduate of the University of Texas with a B.A. (Plan II) and M.A. in Economics.

Sheryl Pace, Senior Analyst space@ttara.org

Specialty: School Finance Issues

John Kennedy, Senior Analyst jkennedy@ttara.org

Specialty: Sales and Use Tax Issues, Property Tax Issues

Mr. Kennedy leads TTARA's work on sales and excise taxes and state tax administration. He also provides support to our work on property taxes. He has authored studies on numerous aspects of Texas' fiscal practice and agency administration during a career of more than 35 years with TTARA and the predecessor to the TTARA Research Foundation. He has served on the Board of Trustees and as Chairman of the Governmental Research Association.

Mr. Kennedy is an honors graduate of the University of Texas with a B.A. in economics and a J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law. He also completed graduate work at the University of Texas School of Business.

George Christian, Attorney gchristian@ttara.org

Specialty: Property Tax Issues

Mr. Christian is an attorney and legislative consultant who leads TTARA's policy activities related to ad valorem taxes and property tax administration. Prior to his association with TTARA, he practiced law with a major Texas law firm and served as an aide in the Texas Senate. He maintains his own practice in legislative and public relations through his firm Christian & CO.

Mr. Christian holds undergraduate, masters, law and Ph.D. degrees with honors from the University of Texas at Austin.

Ryan Ash, Manager of Communications ryan@ttara.org

Specialty: Information Resources

Mr. Ash is the Association's lead with regard to our communications with our membership and the general public. He is available to discuss ways for TTARA members to make better use of policy materials and access them through the Association website. He is a graduate of Texas State University-San Marcos.

Betty Wranischar, Office Manager bwranischar@ttara.org

Ms. Wranischar is TTARA's Office Manager. In this role she maintains contact with each of TTARA's members and their involvement with the Association. She is a graduate of Texas State University-San Marcos.