OUR TEAM
Elite Specialists Who Understand Blue Collar Business
Dallas Richardson
CEO | Sky Tower Counsel
At the age of 10, Dallas began working in his family’s construction business, beginning as a laborer and ending in project management. This company built residential, commercial, and large private estates of the extremely wealthy and famous. In 2008 the family business was crippled by the 2008 recession.
With the family business gone, Dallas became a roughneck on oil drilling rigs. This took him to 12 different states, building 3 drill rigs, including the world’s largest land rig in the artic circle.
During this time Dallas began his financial career interning and app
renticing in the secretive world of family offices and legal firms with the one goal; to learn how the ultra-wealthy pay less tax, and are protected from recessions and other business killers. There in the world of advance planning the billionaires enjoy Dallas learned there were far more solutions than what is available to the 99% of America. During this time, Dallas began gathering resources and many specialized professionals that would change the lives of many blue-collar business owners.
In 2019 Dallas co-founded Sky Tower Counsel in Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho. Built by Blue Collar, for Blue Collar; a tax and risk mitigation firm exclusive to blue collar businesses. Sky Tower Counsel operates in an unbiased, holistic, comprehensive manner coordinating over 50 firms that specialize in tax reduction solutions. The sole focus is to recession proof a client’s business and life through reducing unnecessary capital gains, estate, and income taxes. Sky Tower Counsel’s team is made up of nationally recognized top tax, asset protection, and estate attorneys, and elite CPAs.
“we are here to laugh at the odds and live life so well death will tremble to take us”
― Charles Bukowski
Edward Lyon, J.D.
Chief Tax Strategist
Ed has written nearly a dozen books on taxes and tax planning. Ed writes two weekly tax columns for over 100,000 tax professionals and their clients, making him the one of the most widely-read tax strategist in the country. He’s the founder of the Tax Master Network, the Tax Architect AI Software (previously TaxCoach Software), and speaks regularly to audiences of tax professionals and business owners. He’s appeared on over 500 television and radio broadcasts, including CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, and CNBC.
Ed has nearly three decades of experience in the tax and financial services industries, where he focuses on helping business owners take advantage of the tax code’s legal, moral, and ethical strategies to pay less in taxes. He currently serves as Chief Tax Strategist for Financial Gravity Companies, Inc. (OTCQB:FGCO)
Ed Lyon earned his Bachelor’s from Hamilton College and his JD from the University of Cincinnati College of Law, where he served as Executive Editor of the University of Cincinnati Law Review.
Blain Holt
Brigadier General (Retired) Chief Geopolitical and Business Strategist
Brigadier General (ret) Blaine “Blaino” Holt is a distinguished strategist and innovator known for his pioneering approaches to complex challenges. With a rich background in military and civilian leadership, Blaine has significantly impacted various sectors, including technology, aerospace, and defense. As the CEO of Alchemai, he focuses on utilizing AI and ML to enhance supply chain resilience for major companies. His career highlights include commanding U.S. Air Force operations in the Kyrgyz Republic, earning a Bronze Star, and contributing to defense logistics under budget constraints. Blaine’s ability to foster disruptive thinking and collaboration has led him to mentor future leaders and advise emerging tech companies. His work extends to being a thought leader in strategy and innovation, with a notable presence in media and advisory roles in tech startups like Xeriant Aerospace and DefendEdge
Additionally, Blaine Holt has demonstrated exceptional leadership in the business sector, spearheading significant financial initiatives. He successfully led the turnaround of Million Air, raising $150 million to innovate and generate new revenue streams. Furthermore, his strategic involvement in launching a greenfield aluminum company in Appalachia attracted $275 million in funding towards a $1.7 billion project. These financial achievements underscore his adeptness at navigating complex business landscapes and securing substantial investments to drive growth and innovation.
Edward Cotney
Master of Capital Gains Mitigation
Ed is the founder and principal at Olympus Tax, Business and Insurance Solutions, Inc. and author of Tax Secrets Made Simple. He hails from Alabama (Roll Tide), earned degrees in Physiology and Aviation Management and served active duty in the US Air Force for twenty years before retiring in 1998 in Northern California.
His introduction to Family Wealth Counseling, Ed explains, came as a close friend was struggling with the preparation and future sale of his very successful multi-million-dollar business. He was anticipating a tax liability of nearly half of the proceeds.
Ed graduated from the prestigious Professional Mentoring Program in Franklin, Indiana, where he became a Family Wealth Counselor in 2000. Working as a strategy and tax designer, he applied this practical knowledge to helping families implement advanced strategies to significantly reduce taxes, increase income and make a difference in the world. He also completed the Business Enterprise Institute program to become a Certified Exit Planner.
Lauded for making the complex simple to understand, Ed is well known for providing continuing education classes to professional advisors across the nation. Some of those lectures can be found on You Tube.
Ed and his wife Laura reside in Northern California. Laura is an elementary school principal, and they have two grown children. Ed and Laura enjoy water and snow skiing, camping, flying, parachuting and losing golf balls.
Donnie Murrel
MBA
Donnie Murrell has over 25 years of experience, specializing in leveraging his extensive background to provide strategic consulting services in business and real estate. His expertise encompasses managing multi-million dollar operations, capital raising, investment sales, and commercial development, making him a valuable asset to companies looking to navigate the complexities of today’s market.
Throughout his career, Donnie has demonstrated a remarkable capacity for leadership and strategic vision across various industries, including technical sales for a Fortune 500 semiconductor company, and significant roles in the construction and real estate sectors. His tenure in these industries is marked by his achievements in operations, accounting, human resources, manufacturing, sales, and marketing. This broad experience has equipped him with a unique insight into the multifaceted nature of business management and growth strategies.
A proud alumnus of Gonzaga University, Donnie holds both a BBA in Business Administration and an MBA, complemented by his collegiate athletic experience as a Division 1 baseball player. Residing in Hayden Lake, Idaho, with his family, Donnie is not only a dedicated professional but also an active community member, enjoying coaching and supporting his three sons in their athletic pursuits.
Donnie Murrell brings a wealth of knowledge, experience, and ethical commitment to the business consulting field, offering clients unparalleled insights and strategies to achieve their business objectives while fostering positive social impact.
Jason Gray
JD Tax Attorney, ESQ
Is an accomplished attorney with a strong emphasis on estate planning, showcasing a wealth of experience in advanced estate planning techniques, asset protection, and long-term care planning. Furthermore, Jason is a trusted advisor in the realm of business succession planning, with a track record that includes representing Fortune 500 companies on corporate governance matters.
In addition to his legal expertise, Jason has also shared his knowledge by teaching classes at the Gonzaga University School of Law and in the Paralegal Program at North Idaho College. His career path has been enriched by his previous roles as a Deputy Attorney General for the State of Idaho and as a judicial law clerk in the Fourth Judicial District of the State of Idaho. Jason holds a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from the Gonzaga University School of Law and is duly licensed to practice law in both Idaho and Washington. He is the owner and founder of Pinnacle Estate Planning, where he continues to excel in providing comprehensive estate planning and legal counsel services.
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