Michael Falleroni, Principal, Ryan, LLC

In an interview with Invest:, Michael Falleroni, Principal at Ryan, LLC, a global tax services and software provider, said that the firm’s exponential growth over the past year has been driven by increased economic activity, evolving market dynamics, and a renewed focus on Pittsburgh as a site for transformative projects. “The last 12 months, especially the past 9 or 10, have brought tremendous opportunity for renewed United States investment, and Ryan, LLC is uniquely positioned to assist our clients in maximizing their capital and operational potential,” said Falleroni.

What changes have had the most impact on your practice, and how have those developments shaped your strategy in Pittsburgh and beyond?

Taking a step back, Ryan is the largest Firm in the world dedicated exclusively to business taxes. Within that framework in the U.S., we have more than 35 specialized practice areas. I sit within our Credits and Incentives practice, specifically focusing on site selection and business incentives.

Over the past year, my practice has experienced exponential growth. There has been a notable increase in economic activity in 2025 compared to 2024 and 2023. Some of that is driven by the change in administration, and some of it is simply the U.S. economy finally emerging from the COVID era and the lingering effects of supply chain disruptions.

My role involves helping companies determine the most strategic places to deploy their capital based on their business segment. The last 12 months, especially the past 9 or 10, have been incredibly busy. On a more local level, we’ve also seen some exciting developments. For several years, I wasn’t involved in any large-scale economic impact projects in Pittsburgh, and to be honest, there were none. No matter what I did, clients just were not interested in the city. But this year has been different. Although the projects are confidential, we’ve engaged in meaningful discussions with both the state and local officials about transformative multi-billion dollar investment opportunities. It’s really exciting to see Pittsburgh finally getting the attention it deserves.

How do you approach building and maintaining a strong team in Pittsburgh, and what skills or expertise are you most focused on developing for the future?

Ryan has over 30 offices across the U.S., and I’ve visited many of them. While we’ve received “Best Places to Work” accolades in many office locations, I truly believe what sets Pittsburgh apart is the culture Helen Lemmon has cultivated. Helen, who leads our office with me, started the Pittsburgh office nearly 20 years ago. Some of the original team members from the first few years are still with us today. That longevity speaks volumes about the kind of workplace culture she has built, and I have strived to continue — one that’s results-driven but also inclusive and collaborative.

Our firm operates as a true meritocracy. Regardless of title, every employee has a voice and is encouraged to share ideas. That culture starts at the top with our CEO, G. Brint Ryan. Once a month, he hosts a company-wide “Team Talk,” where he shares updates and then spends 45 to 50 minutes answering anonymous employee questions — no matter how critical or challenging. I don’t see many CEOs of 6,000-plus employee firms doing that.

Helen carries out the top-down transparency and respect for employee input in our Pittsburgh office. We’ve grown to nearly 40 people, and I see my role as helping to carry that torch forward, maintaining and evolving the culture she built.

What trends are currently shaping the tax consulting and incentives space, and how is Ryan positioning itself in response?

We’re staying highly attuned to changes at the federal, state, and local levels. One major trend we’re embracing is the integration of AI, not to reduce headcount but to enhance employee efficiency. The goal is to streamline tasks so our team can achieve more in less time, which benefits both our clients and our staff.

Tax, by nature, is constantly evolving. It’s not a static environment, and those changes create new opportunities across different client sectors. Because Ryan is so specialized, we’re uniquely positioned to respond quickly and effectively. I’m not a generalist — I focus solely on site selection and negotiated incentives. That level of focus brings a depth of knowledge and perspective that’s different from, for example, our transaction tax experts who work with sales and use tax issues.  

Together, we form a robust ecosystem of niche-level specialists, each able to respond to rapidly changing trends. Ultimately, our mission is to liberate our clients from the burden of being overtaxed, freeing their capital to invest, grow, and thrive.

What challenges are standing out most in your practice and in the tax incentives industry overall?

One of the biggest challenges we’re seeing is how economic development organizations are adapting to technological change. I’m actually speaking to a Colorado delegation next week on this topic. As technology adoption accelerates, it’s impacting job creation metrics, which are still the basis for many incentive programs.

For example, a project that might have been a $100 million investment creating 50 jobs six years ago could now be a $160 million investment with only 30 jobs. The jobs might pay more, but the headcount is lower due to automation and advanced tech. Many economic development programs are still centered on job creation, and this shift is challenging their traditional models. Some are adjusting, but others are lagging behind. It will be interesting to see how this plays out over the next few years, especially in the growing technology sector within Pittsburgh.

How do you approach community engagement in Pittsburgh, and what role do partnerships with local businesses, universities, or economic development groups play in your strategy?

We approach community engagement from multiple angles. At Ryan, we have an annual “RyanSHARES Day” where employees across the firm volunteer in their local communities. In Pittsburgh, we take it a step further and organize quarterly volunteer events with local nonprofits. Afterward, we usually gather for a team-building activity to improve our already stellar office camaraderie.

Our Ryan Foundation also matches most employee donations, supporting our efforts to give back meaningfully. On the talent side, we maintain strong campus recruiting efforts to find the next generation of top talent and keep a steady talent pipeline.

From a collaborative standpoint, one example that stands out involves our work with data centers. As a co-lead of our data center incentives team at Ryan, we have heard a lot of misconceptions about this sector, especially as it begins to emerge in Western Pennsylvania. Earlier this year, I partnered with Patty Horvatich at the Pittsburgh Regional Alliance to organize a “Lunch & Learn” where I gave a “Data Centers 101” presentation to about 75 local economic developers. We answered questions, cleared up misinformation, and even followed up with smaller sessions in nearby counties.

This wasn’t a sales pitch as we weren’t making money from it. It was about sharing knowledge and being a good community partner. That’s a key part of our strategy: use our expertise to uplift the region as a whole.

What are your top goals and priorities for Ryan over the next two to three years?

First and foremost, we’re focused on strategic growth. Ryan is growing rapidly, faster than many of our competitors on a percentage basis. But with that comes the responsibility to scale thoughtfully. 

Talent remains our top priority. We need to retain our best people, even as competing firms try to recruit them. That means investing in their development through training, conferences, and career opportunities.

Technology is another major focus, particularly how we use AI not to replace people but to enhance both client service and employee well-being. For example, instead of having to read a 1,000-page bill, can AI summarize it into 10-20 pages, helping us find the key areas to analyze further? If that can save us five hours, our team can dive into other client needs.  Alternatively, maybe that frees up time to make their kids’ sporting event — that’s a win.  With a renewed focus on the ever-evolving concept of work-life flexibility, we believe investing in AI solutions will enable our employees to maximize results with elevated efficiency which will allow them to not only accomplish more in their career, but in their personal life as well.

Finally, we’re committed to promoting leadership at every level. While I may be a partner, I see our admin team as leaders too. Without my executive assistant, I’d be completely lost — she’s a leader in her own right and helps me perform my leadership duties by keeping things moving forward. It reminds me of the Travis Manion quote, “If not me, then who?”  If we can foster that mindset across the company, where everyone feels empowered to lead, I believe the future for Ryan and our Pittsburgh office will continue to be incredibly bright.