as one of the industry leaders in Oriental rug
cleaning, repair, appraisals and sales.
Ellen Amirkhan entered the business in
1980, bringing the communication skills of a
teacher, the teamwork skills of an athlete and
an astute sense of good business.
Ellen, who serves as president of the firm,
is a graduate of Texas Woman’s University
and Southern Methodist University. A past
From founding grandfather, to son, to
president of the Association of Specialists
granddaughter, Oriental Rug Cleaning
in Cleaning and Restoration, the National
Company of Dallas has been the expert in rug
Institute of Rug Cleaning and the North
cleaning and restoration for over 100 years.
Texas Chapter of the International Society
Above: Oriental Rug Cleaning Company,
The company specializes in cleaning and
of Appraisers, Ellen develops and teaches
c. 2010.
repairing all types of rugs and textiles in
Oriental rug schools for rug and appraisal
addition to selling one-of-a-kind Persian rugs.
groups across the United States, United
Below: Horse and wagon for pick-up and
The company was founded in 1911 by
Kingdom and Australia.
delivery, c. 1913.
H. Mirza Amirkhan, Sr., an Armenian born in
In November 2010, Oriental Rug Cleaning
Silvan, Turkey, in 1888. Orphaned at a young
Co. was one of twenty-six companies from
age, H. M. came to the U.S. in 1909 searching
the United States and Canada to provide
for freedom and opportunity. To pay for his
financial and administrative support in the
passage on the SS Volturno, he agreed to work
establishment of the Association of Rug Care
as an apprentice for a cousin’s rug cleaning
Specialists (ARCS). ARCS was founded to
and repair business in Cincinnati, Ohio.
promote the highest standards and ensure
H. M. repaid his debt, learned the trade,
that the bar of excellence is continuously
and after stops in Chattanooga, Tennessee,
raised for current and future generations of
and New Orleans, he arrived in Dallas in
rug care specialists.
1911 to start his own business at 2105 South
The next generation of leadership is in
Ervay. The new company prospered and in
good hands with Armen Dohanian III and
1919 he built his own two-story building
Jennifer Vickery. Both come from a rug and
at 3907 Ross Avenue. A second building
floor covering background and bring tradi-
was added in 1926 and these two structures
tional business values with their generation’s
continue to house the Oriental Rug Cleaning
modern technology. The Dohanian, Vickery
Company today.
and Amirkhan families have been friends
A marketing piece, c. 1918, consisted of
for sixty years so Oriental is still a “family”
customer testimonials that read like a “who’s
run company.
who” of Dallas’ oldest and respected families.
Armen is a fourth generation rug cleaner
The list includes Mrs. Charles Sanger,
who began working in his family’s
Mrs. Sam P. Cochran, Mrs. Rose Titche,
business, Bon Ton Rug Cleaners in Boston,
Mrs. Hugh Prather, and Mrs. Henry Exall.
Massachusetts, as a teenager. In 2007,
D A L L A S C O U N T Y : A 2 1 s t C e n t u r y M o s a i c 110
he joined Oriental Rug Cleaning Company,
education, training, product knowledge,
where he is vice president and responsible for
customer service and personal, hands-on
the cleaning operations. He is a certified rug
management of the entire operation. Rug
specialist with the Association of Rug Care
cleaning is more challenging today than
Specialists and a certified master rug cleaner.
in the past because of the many different
Armen serves on the board of directors
combinations of construction, materials and
of the Association of Rug Care Specialists,
dyes. Not relying on past glory, the company
an international trade association dedicated
stays abreast of the latest techniques and
to advancing the art and science of quality
equipment and implements these innovations
rug care. He is a graduate of Johns Hopkins
to deliver the most thorough rug cleaning
University and holds a master’s degree from
by the most knowledgeable staff in the state
the Manhattan School of Music.
of Texas.
Jennifer joined Oriental Rug Cleaning as
Amirkhan believes there are ten secrets to
office manager in 2010, becoming the fourth
success in a family business:
Above: Armen Dohanian, plant manager,
generation of her family to be involved in
• The business is more important than
working in the dry room.
the Dallas flooring industry. Prior to that,
personal disagreements;
she worked in textile project management.
• Respect the past and those that came
Left: Oriental family and staff at
She is a certified master rug cleaner and a
before you;
100 year celebration: left to right, front row,
2004 graduate of Texas A&M University.
• Passion for your work;
Armen Dohanian III, H. M. Amirkhan, Jr.
• Customer service;
Second row, left to right: Jennifer Vickery,
• Financial responsibility;
Inez Amirkhan, Ellen Amirkhan and
• Service to the industry and community/
Susan Nelson.
association membership;
• Superior product knowledge, education
and training;
• Ability to change;
• Team work; and
• Take care of your employees, they are
family, too.
Since 1911, the family’s mission remains
the same, “First in, last out, be the best we
can be and deliver the best job we can.”
The business has been successful for
For more information please visit our
over 100 years because of the emphasis on
website at www.dallasrugcleaner.com.
D A L L A S C O U N T Y P A R T N E R S
1 1 1
Dexter & Company, Inc., in Dallas is the
In 1894, George sold his interest in the
DEXTER &
second oldest business still in operation and
agency to Charles. George—after living and
the city’s oldest insurance agency.
working for eighteen years in Dallas—accepted
COMPANY, INC.
When George J. Dexter & Co. opened
a position as manager of two fire insurance
its doors on March 1, 1876, 4,000 people
companies based in Atlanta, Georgia. When
lived in Dallas and General W. L. Cabell
George moved South, Charles became the
was mayor. Richard Coke was governor
agency’s sole proprietor and the agency
and General Ulysses S. Grant was in the
became Chas. L. Dexter & Co.
White House.
Texas citizens had
adopted a new State
Constitution, marking the
end of Reconstruction. It
was a time of great expec-
tations for the nation and
the tiny city of Dallas.
There was a magic
about Dallas in 1876, and
George sensed it. It lured
him from Canada to begin
a career in insurance. In
1878, he would urge
his brother, Charles, to
leave Canada and join him in his promising
Six years later, Dallas’ population had
new venture.
grown to 43,000. Horseless carriages were
Within months, the two brothers would
the newest sign of a progressive era. In 1907,
combine forces to create an insurance agency
Charles’ son, George, joined the insurance
that would survive for more than 135 years.
company and following an apprenticeship
The brothers shared part of a building on
of several years, was granted full membership
the north side of Main Street, across from two
in the growing firm. Two years after George
saloons and a barber shop.
joined the firm, J. Robert Carter joined the
firm as an associate.
In 1912, George’s brother,
Charles, was admitted to firm
membership, establishing a sec-
ond generation of Dexter broth-
ers who would guide the compa-
ny well past the new century’s
halfway mark.
Chas. L. Dexter & Co. greatest
growth came in the years follow-
Clockwise, starting from the top, left:
ing the entry of this second
generation of Dexter brothers.
George J. Dexter.
In the late 1800s, Dallas residents bought
They witnessed the city’s unbelievable
insurance as protection from fire losses.
growth, from a 1910 population of 92,104
Dexter & Company’s first office.
The agency wrote coverage for the area’s
to 432,927 in 1951.
leading businesses, insuring everything
The third generation of Dexters joined the
Left to right, J. Robert Carter, Sr.,
from farm wagons to cowboy saddles.
firm in 1940s. Charles Dexter, Jr., went to
and Charles L. Dexter, 1912.
Their clients included high-risk businesses:
work for the agency in 1942.
saloons, upholsterers, book binders and
In the 1940s, they were concerned about
Founder, Chas. L. Dexter, Sr.
photography galleries.
a new and different threat—war. A policy
D A L L A S C O U N T Y : A 2 1 s t C e n t u r y M o s a i c 112
Clockwise, starting from the top, left:
The business scene of 1915 was dominated
by the Kirby Building, the Southwestern
Life Building and the Adolphus Hotel.
In the left foreground is the old Guaranty
Bank Building where Chas. L. Dexter &
Company had its offices.
By 1922, Dallas was coming out of
post-World War I Depression. Its population
was around 175,000, and one of its greatest
periods of growth and construction was
already under way.
$20, with the agency receiv-
George L. Dexter.
ing a $1 commission.
Bill Davis and Bob Carter
Left to right, John Fitzgerald, Bob Carter
joined forces in 1992. Not
and Bill Davis of Dexter & Co., 1992.
only were grandfathers of
both associated with Dexter,
Charles Dexter, Jr.
but Carter’s father was
president until his death
in 1980. Davis and Carter
purchased Charles L. Dexter
from the Resolution Trust
in 1993.
Today, Davis serves as its
written in 1942 insured a Lemmon Avenue
CEO and Carter as its president. They both
building and its $20,000 in contents against
strive to deliver the same good service the
“enemy attack.” The annual premium totaled
agency has provided for the last 138 years.
D A L L A S C O U N T Y P A R T N E R S
1 1 3
MARY KAY INC.
Irresistible products. Rewarding opportu-
More than 3 million people around the
nity. Positive community impact. That is the
world have Mary Kay businesses. The over-
heart and soul of Dallas icon and cosmetics
whelming majority of Mary Kay Independent
powerhouse Mary Kay Inc. Since its humble
Beauty Consultants are women, and that is
beginnings more than fifty years ago, Mary
exactly what Mary Kay Ash envisioned.
Kay has enriched the lives of millions of
After Mary Kay Ash retired from a success-
women around the world.
ful career in direct selling, she sat down at
With only $5,000 and help from her twenty
her kitchen table to write two lists. One list
year old son, Richard Rogers, Mary Kay Ash
contained what she liked about her career in
opened the doors of “Beauty by Mary Kay” in
direct sales, and the other list contained the
a 500 square foot storefront in Dallas with nine
things she would do differently if she had her
Independent Beauty Consultants and nine skin
own company. When she was finished she
care and color cosmetic products on a single
realized she had created her dream business
metal shelf on Friday, September 13, 1963.
model and wanted to share it with other
Since then, Mary Kay has become a house-
women. Even though Mary Kay’s career had
hold name around the world and one of the
been successful, she was often passed up
largest direct selling companies with $3.5 billion
for promotions by men she had trained.
in annual sales, 3 million Independent Beauty
Understanding that other women were hitting
Consultants and more than 200 skin care and
the same glass ceiling she did, Mary Kay decid-
color cosmetics products sold in more than
ed to start her own business that would offer
thirty-five countries worldwide.
women a flexible business opportunity, person-
Mary Kay’s very first product line con-
al growth and financial independence. While
tained four skin care and five color cosmetics
a lot has changed since 1963, the business
products. Today, Mary Kay’s award-winning
model for Mary Kay has remained consistent.
product portfolio is a robust collection of skin
Mary Kay’s Independent Beauty Consultants
care, color cosmetics and fragrances that have
make up a wide variety of women including
received more than 800 patents for product
doctors, moms, nurses, lawyers, corporate
formulation and package design.
professionals, military personnel, teachers,
Combining art and science to deliver results
college students—the list goes on. Some
customers want, Mary Kay spends millions
choose to run their Mary Kay businesses
of dollars each year conducting more than a
part-time, while others use it as a primary
half-million tests to ensure products meet the
source of income. Many of these women
highest standards of safety, consistency and
enjoy the vast rewards available for selling
performance. These tests and evaluations have
Mary Kay products including vacations, gifts
led to award-winning products including top
and earning the use of Mary Kay Career Cars
beauty editor’s picks, best-selling products and
including the iconic Mary Kay pink Cadillac
the well-known Good Housekeeping Seal®.
and the new Mary Kay black BMW 320i.
Although Dallas is home to Mary Kay’s
Mary Kay was an innovative business
world headquarters and manufacturing facili-
leader with a big heart. She understood the
ty, Mary Kay® products are tailored for each
importance of giving back, and to this day,
specific international region. This strategy
Mary Kay is a company committed to making
helped establish Mary Kay as a top beauty
a positive community impact by enriching
brand and leading direct seller.
the lives of women and children.
D A L L A S C O U N T Y : A 2 1 s t C e n t u r y M o s a i c 114
facility in Dallas is among leaders in the indus-
try, achieving zero-landfill status, and many
Mary Kay distribution centers ship orders
using 100 percent biodegradable packing
materials—“biopeanuts” made from renewable
corn and potato starch. Even the Mary Kay®
Botanical Effects® product line was designed
with the environment in mind. The tubes are
made from fifty percent post-consumer resin
and the caps and outer cartons are made from
100 percent post-consumer recycled materials.
In the United States, Mary Kay is commit-
Mary Kay’s global cause-related marketing
ted to helping women and children by
program, Beauty That Counts®, donates money
bringing an end to domestic violence. In
from specific Mary Kay® products to organi-
2012, Mary Kay started the Don’t Look Away
zations that change the lives of women and
campaign urging families, friends and
children around the world. Since Beauty That
acquaintances to take action when they
Counts® began in 2008, Mary Kay has donated
suspect someone may be in an unhealthy
millions of dollars to these organizations.
relationship. As part of this campaign, Mary
Mary Kay Ash’s goal of enriching women’s
Kay donated $1 million to “loveisrespect,”
lives may have started out small in Dallas,
becoming the lead sponsor of the nation’s
but has grown into a global company that
first text message help service. This “text for
helps women feel beautiful with irresistible
help” program allows young people to
products, offers a rewarding opportunity for
connect anonymously with a trained peer
women to achieve financial independence
advocate and learn about healthy dating
and makes a positive community impact.
relationships. By educating others about the
Few companies can compare to Mary Kay’s
warning signs of abuse, how to seek help and
rich history—a history that would be non-
find available resources, this program is
existent if one woman had not dared to make
designed to break the cycle of dating abuse
her dream a reality. Mary Kay showed the
and domestic violence before it begins.
world that one woman can be ahead of her
Additionally, Mary Kay continuously seeks
time, inspire, dream, blaze trails and make a
opportunities to reduce its carbon footprint
difference in the lives of millions of people
around the world. Mary Kay’s Pink Doing
around the world. Her legacy and company
Green® program is committed to planting more
lives on through her family, Mary Kay
than one million trees with extensive tree
Independent Beauty Consultants, corporate
planting and reforestation efforts in China,
employees and millions of brand lovers who
Russia, Mexico, Malaysia and the United
look forward to watching the next fifty years
States. Also, Mary Kay’s global manufacturing
of company history unfold.
D A L L A S C O U N T Y P A R T N E R S
1 1 5
RYAN, LLC
Ryan, LLC was founded in 1991 by
Ryan is the fastest-growing major tax services
Chairman and CEO G. Brint Ryan, using his
firm in the United States since 2010. The
Above: Chairman and CEO G. Brint Ryan,
credit card to lease nine hundred square feet
Firm has also been ranked for the past three
founded the Firm in 1991.
of office space in Dallas. Today, Ryan is a
years in the Inc. 5,000 list of fastest-growing
global tax services firm with the largest indi-
private companies.
Below: Ryan’s dynamic flexible work
rect and property tax practices in North
Ryan’s growth is driven by a core purpose:
environment, called myRyan , is widely
America and the seventh largest corporate tax
“To liberate clients from the burden of being
recognized as the most innovative in the
practice in the United States.
overtaxed, freeing their capital to invest, grow,
tax services industry.
The Firm has more than 65 offices and
and thrive.” They provide a comprehe