Organization
Financial Services Department Organization
Management Profiles
Director:
Buffy Alexzulian
Buffy.Alexzulian@gwinnettcounty.com
Buffy was appointed Director of Financial Services in July 2020. She began her career with Gwinnett County in 2008. She has worked in the Strategic Business Development Division and served as director of the Accounting Division prior to becoming a deputy director of Financial Services. Buffy earned a master's degree in business administration from Shorter University and a bachelor's degree in business administration with a focus in finance from the University of North Georgia. She is a Certified Public Accountant and has earned the designation of a Certified Public Finance Officer (CPFO) from the Government Finance Officers Association. Buffy has more than 20 years of experience in various finance and accounting roles in the public and private sectors.
Deputy Director:
Joe Weatherford
Joseph.Weatherford@gwinnettcounty.com
Joe began his career with Gwinnett County in 2012. He has worked in the Financial Services Director’s Office and served most recently as director of the Strategic Business Development Division prior to his current position as deputy director of Financial Services. Joe is a graduate of the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business and is a Certified Public Finance Officer (CPFO). Prior to joining the County, Joe worked in the retail logistics and operations industry gaining valuable experience in financial management, project management, and continuous improvement methodologies.
Deputy Director:
Laurie Puckett
Laurie.Puckett@gwinnettcounty.com
Laurie was appointed Deputy Director of Financial Services in October 2020. She began her career with Gwinnett County in 1987 with the Tax Commissioner’s Office, where she worked for 8 years before moving to the Department of Financial Services. Most recently she served as the Accounting Division Director. Laurie earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from North Georgia College and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Georgia. She is a Certified Public Accountant in the state of Georgia and has earned the designation as a Certified Public Finance Officer (CPFO) from the Government Finance Officers Association. Laurie is a reviewer for the GFOA Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting Award Program, and also serves on the executive board of the Georgia GFOA.
Deputy Director:
Russell Royal
Russell began his career with Gwinnett County in 2006. He has worked in the Grants Division, Budget Division and Department of Transportation. In addition, he served as the Fiscal Analysis Manager for more than seven years prior to becoming a deputy director of Financial Services. Russell earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration with a focus in finance from Georgia State University. He is a Certified Public Finance Officer (CPFO) and member of the Government Finance Officers Association. Russell has more than 20 years of experience in various financial roles in the public and private sector.
Office of Strategic Excellence Division Director:
Dustin Williams
Dustin.Williams@gwinnettcounty.com
Dustin began his career with Gwinnett County in 2008, working in the Department of Financial Services Accounting Division. He then served as a Program Analyst in the Office of Strategic Business Development. He later became SAP Functional Support in the Department of Information Technology Services and before becoming a supervisor in the Enterprise Resource Planning division. Dustin then became a manager in the Office of Strategic Excellence division and was promoted to division director in 2021.Dustin has more than 17 years of experience in various financial roles in the public and private sector. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of West Georgia with an emphasis in finance and has received certification as a Certified Financial Officer Level I from the University of Georgia. Dustin was born and raised in Gwinnett County and currently resides in Buford, Georgia.
Treasury Division Director:
Natalie Williams
Natalie.Williams@gwinnettcounty.com
Natalie began her career with Gwinnett County in 2004 as a financial analyst in the Accounting Division and was later promoted to supervisor of the Cash Management section in the Treasury Division. In 2009, she became a manager for the Service Division (now Budget Division). She was responsible for the analysis of several departments and elected officials’ budgets and the liaison for financial matters including Purchasing, Accounting, Budget, and Treasury. In 2012, she returned to the Accounting Division as a manager. In 2020, she was named Treasury Director. She has received certification as a Certified Financial Officer Level I and II from the University of Georgia. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Georgia Southern University. Natalie currently resides in Buford, GA with her family.
Grants Division Director:
Shannon Candler
Shannon.Candler@gwinnettcounty.com
Shannon was named Grants Director in July 2020. She began her career with Gwinnett County in 2015 serving as the Grants Manager. She has more than 17 years of experience in various financial roles in the nonprofit, private, and public sectors including 13 years focused on grants management. Shannon holds a MPA from Georgia State University and a BA from Coker University. She has received certification as a Certified Financial Officer Level I from the University of Georgia and is a member of both the National Grants Management Association and the Grants Professional Association. Shannon resides in Lawrenceville with her husband and two daughters.
Standards & Controls Division Director:
Mitch Giegling
Mitch.Giegling@gwinnettcounty.com
Mitch began his career with Gwinnett County in 1988 working in the Budget Division of the Department of Financial Services. He briefly worked in the Department of Information Technology Services before coming back to Financial Services in 2009 eventually serving as director of the Strategic Business Development and Budget & Grants Management Divisions. In 2019 he was appointed to his current position as director of the new Standards and Controls Division. Mitch earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Texas Tech University and has over 30 years of experience in public sector budgeting and financial systems support.
Budget Division Director:
Joe Johnson
Joseph.Johnson@gwinnettcounty.com
Joe began his career with Gwinnett County in 2008. He has worked in the Accounting Division and also served as the Budget Manager prior to his current position as the division director of Budget. Joe has more than 20 years of experience in various financial roles in the public and private sector. Joe earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Georgia Southern University with an emphasis in finance. He has received certification as a Certified Financial Officer Level II from the University of Georgia and earned the designation as a Certified Public Finance Officer (CPFO) from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA). Joe resides in Snellville along with his wife, son and daughter.
Chief Appraiser:
Stewart Oliver
Stewart.Oliver@gwinnettcounty.com
Stewart Oliver was appointed as Chief Appraiser by the Board of Assessors in January 2017. Prior to becoming chief, he had served as deputy chief appraiser for the County from 2011 to 2016 after joining the County in 2010. Before his employment in the Assessor’s Office, he was a residential fee appraiser. His other experience includes mortgage insurance, retail management, restaurant management, and franchise relations. Stewart holds a Master of Public Administration degree from Georgia State University, a bachelor degree in psychology from the University of Georgia, and an associate’s degree in small business from the University of Southern Maine. He has been a licensed Georgia residential appraiser since 2005 and is an active member of the Georgia Association of Assessing Officers.
Purchasing Division Director:
Holly Cafferata
Holly.Cafferata@gwinnettcounty.com
Holly began her career with Gwinnett County in 2008. She worked in the Administrative Office of the Courts prior to joining the Purchasing Division in 2009. Holly worked as a Purchasing Associate and a Purchasing Manager before being promoted to Purchasing Division Director. Holly earned a Master’s Degree of Business Administration and a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from the University of Georgia. She is a member of the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing and the Georgia Chapter of NIGP. Holly has received her certification as a Certified Public Procurement Officer (CPPO), Certified Professional Public Buyer (CPPB), and NIGP Certified Procurement Professional (NIGP-CPP). She has more than 13 years of experience in public sector procurement.
Accounting Division Director:
Jim Frihart
James.Frihart@gwinnettcounty.com
Jim graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 1988 with a BBA in Management, as well as from Langston University-Tulsa in 1991 with a BBA in Accounting and is a Certified Public Accountant in the state of Georgia. Prior to coming to Gwinnett County in 2015, Jim spent his career in the private sector primarily in healthcare working more than 11 years as the Assistant Treasurer for a publicly traded home healthcare company and almost five years as a Finance Director for a privately held senior healthcare service provider operating more than 200 centers in 21 states. He also has several years of accounting experience with engineering, distribution, transportation, and IT staffing companies in various roles. Jim’s management background includes accounting, treasury, insurance, facility lease, accounts payable, and payroll. Jim resides in Lilburn with his wife and son.
