Organization
Financial Services Department Organization
Management Profiles
Director:
Buffy Alexzulian
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 a member of the Government Finance Officers Association. Buffy has more than 15 years of experience in various finance and accounting roles in the public and private sector. She resides in Buford with her husband and two children.
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 Puckett - Laurie was appointed Deputy Director of Financial Services in October 2020. She began her career with Gwinnett County in 1987. Her 33 years of governmental accounting and financial reporting experience include 21 years in the Department of Financial Services and eight years in the Tax Commissioner’s Office. Laurie holds a Master in Public Administration degree from the University of Georgia and a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Accounting from North Georgia College. 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 GFOA. Laurie is a reviewer for the GFOA Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting Award Program, and has also served in various positions on the executive board of the Georgia GFOA, including President.
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 was named Treasury Director in 2020. She 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 supervisor 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; her team was responsible for reconciling all of the County’s bank accounts and managing the County’s Capital assets. Natalie was also responsible for managing the external annual audit during this time. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Georgia Southern University and currently resides in Buford 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 received a bachelor's degree in Finance from Texas Tech University in 1985. He began his career with Gwinnett County in 1988 in the Budget Division of Financial Services where he served as an analyst and eventually Budget Manager. In 2004, he was appointed to serve on the implementation team for the County’s new financial system, SAP. Upon project completion, he transitioned to the Department of Information Technology Services where he was responsible for providing functional support for the various modules of the financial system. Mitch joined the Strategic Business Development Division in 2009 as a Financial Manager, charged with managing the Systems Solutions section. In November 2012, he was promoted to division director of Budget & Grants Management. In 2019 Mitch was promoted to division director of Standards and Controls. Mitch has more than 20 years of experience in public sector budgeting and finance as well as strong knowledge of SAP-based business applications.
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) and Certified Professional Public Buyer (CPPB). She has more than 11 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.
