Ben Willis
Board of Directors
Benjamin M. Willis, a prominent lawyer in the tax industry, has had a remarkable journey marked by resilience, triumph, and professional excellence. Born into the foster care system as Benjamin Shryock in Providence, Rhode Island, Ben navigated through night-to-night placements and various high schools and got his GED at 15, facing adversity with determination as a ward of the state into adulthood. Supported by RI's DCYF scholarship money, state grants, and the crucial assistance of his group home Whitmarsh House, he embarked on a transformative journey. Ben earned a B.A. in Economics and Political Science from the University of Rhode Island, a J.D. with a specialization in Tax Law from New England Law | Boston, and an LL.M. in Taxation at Boston University School of Law.
Professionally, Ben has made substantial contributions to the tax field. As a corporate tax expert and Director at the Washington Tax Council of Baker Tilly, he continues to excel in his role. His earlier experiences include a tenure at PricewaterhouseCoopers in Washington, D.C., and significant roles such as an attorney-adviser in the Treasury Office of Tax Policy, senior technical adviser in the IRS Office of Chief Counsel, Senior Corporate Tax counsel for the Senate Finance Committee, and Chief of the FDIC's Tax Section. Ben is also known for his prolific work at Tax Notes, where he wrote over 100 articles and hosted the column "Willis Weighs In." His insights and expertise in the tax landscape led him to become a contributing editor for Tax Notes and host the show "Willis Weighs In" on the Tax Analysts YouTube page. He is also an adjunct tax professor at Villanova's Graduate Tax Program.
Ben's journey from foster care to professional success serves as an inspiration, emphasizing the transformative power of education, support, and resilience. He is the proud father of a kindergartener. Advocating passionately for programs like Whitmarsh, Ben hopes to make a meaningful impact on the lives of teenagers and young adults in foster care through his contributions to DCFYI.