Born in the Land of Oz (Kansas), and raised on the banks of the Mighty Mississippi like Huckleberry Finn, and in the shadows of the Gateway Arch (St. Louis, Missouri), Alan headed west to Texas more than 30 years ago. Here he has roamed with the Bears (obtaining his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Baylor University in Waco) and run with the Mustangs (obtaining his law degree at Southern Methodist University in Dallas) before embarking on careers in public accounting, law and, for the last 15+ years, economic consulting and financial forensics, working on projects for dozens of Fortune 500 companies and NLJ Top 100 law firms as a consulting and testifying expert. Alan opened the Houston office of the StoneTurn Group nearly 12 years ago, during which time the firm has more than tripled in size.
Professionally, Alan has been a CPA and licensed attorney for 25 years, and has been included in the inaugural and each successive addition of the Top Damages Experts rankings included in IAM’s Patent 1000 survey of clients and peers (2014-17). Alan is on the list of the 22 “Highly Recommended” experts nationwide. Alan is also an AV Preeminent-rated attorney by Martindale-Hubbell.

Alan has been recognized for his community service including as Volunteer Houston’s 2014 Youth Services Award winner and with Alan Ratliff Day on December 3, 2006, by Proclamation of Mayor and Houston City Council. Alan serves or has served on the boards of the Houston BARC Foundation (current president), Chinquapin Preparatory School (vice-chair), Theatre Under the Stars (Community Education Committee), Southwest Conference Hall of Fame Selection Committee (for Baylor), Brilliant Lecture Series (vice-chair), Girls Incorporated (former affiliate chairperson), American Leadership Forum (former chapter treasurer), Federal Bar Association (former chapter president), Texas Society of CPAs (former Houston Chapter board), Houston Heights Homeowner’s Association (former board), Texas Accountants and Lawyers for the Arts (former vice-chair), American Bar Association (section committee co-chair), State Bar of Texas (former committee chair), Houston Bar Association (litigation council).

Probably of more interest, however, Alan is a former band member of the Incredible Flying Twice-Baked Potatoes (saxophone), the Baylor Jazz Band (piano), has solo piloted small airplanes, is a dual-licensed USPA skydiver and PADI advanced-licensed scuba diver, collects rare sports memorabilia including baseballs signed by every U.S. President since John F. Kennedy and torches from 12 different Olympics, has attended eight Olympics in person as a nonprofit volunteer, and has officiated at weddings and funerals as a Chaplain. He has been married to his wife, Tricia, for 30 years and has known her since kindergarten, has traveled to 42 of the 50 states and to 40 different countries.