State tax veteran joins TEI legal staff: Shirley Grimmett begins after Labor Day.

TEI has recruited an absolutely outstanding tax professional to join its legal staff. Shirley S. Grimmett, formerly Director-Senior Counsel for R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, will join TEI on September 5, filling a vacancy that has existed since Gregory Matson left to join the staff of the Multistate Tax Commission. A graduate of Rutgers law school, Ms. Grimmett was previously employed in the tax departments of RCN Corporation and AT&T in New Jersey. At Reynolds, Ms. Grimmett was responsible for all state audit, planning and compliance; at AT&T, her responsibilities included corporate and state tax legislative matters.

"With 20 years of experience in federal and state and local tax planning and compliance, Shirley is an extraordinarily gifted attorney who brings a wealth of experience to the Institute," TEI President David L. Bernard stated. "Her industry knowledge makes her an ideal match for our organization. Not only is she experienced in state tax issues, but she also knows first hand issues relating to one of the most challenging concerns facing corporate tax departments--compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002."

Mr. Bernard also noted Ms. Grimmett's experience in federal tax matters, including Subchapter C, and her in-depth knowledge of the manufacturing, telecommunications, cable television, and Internet service provider industries. "Shirley's in-house experience will complement the government and professional service firm experience of the other members of TEI's legal staff--Eli Dicker, Mary Lou Fahey, and Jeff Rasmussen."

Ms. Grimmett holds a B.S. degree in mathematics from Bennett College in Greensboro, North Carolina, an M.S. degree in numerical science from The John Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, and a J.D. degree from Rutgers Law School in Newark, New Jersey, where she was general editor of the Civil Rights Law Journal and Rutgers Law Review.

Ms. Grimmett has a 12-year-old daughter, Gabrielle, and is a native of North Carolina. Before and during law school, she worked in the information technology field as a programmer.

Mr. Bernard also announced that Tammie Hurley-Howe had joined TEI's staff as administrative assistant to the Executive Director and the Institute's legal staff. Before joining TEI, Ms. Hurley-Howe worked at Capitol Management, Inc. in Washington.