Organization
Management Profiles
Director:
Lewis Cooksey, P.E.
Lewis.Cooksey@gwinnettcounty.com
Lewis was named director of the Gwinnett Department of Transportation in October 2020. Gwinnett DOT hired Lewis as a project manager in 2008, and he subsequently rose through the ranks to engineering coordinator, deputy director and assistant director. Projects overseen by Lewis include the diverging diamond interchanges at I-85 at Pleasant Hill Road and I-85 at Jimmy Carter Boulevard, the widening of State Road 20 in Sugar Hill and the McGinnis Ferry Road bridge over I-85. Lewis is a registered Professional Engineer with over 25 years of experience in civil engineering. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering Technology from Kennesaw State University (fka Southern College of Technology) and earned an MBA from the University of Georgia. In addition to his service to the Transportation Department, Lewis also served as an assistant director in the Department of Water Resources.
Assistant Director:
Tom Sever, P.E.
Tom was named as the assistant director of Transportation in December 2020. Tom previously served as the deputy director for the Traffic Engineering, Operations and Maintenance section, the director of the Traffic Engineering Division and chief engineer of the Traffic Signal and ITS Section. Tom came to work for Gwinnett County in 2000 after several years of experience in the private sector.
Tom graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology with a Bachelor of Civil Engineering in 1993. He is a registered professional engineer in the state of Georgia and a member of several professional organizations, including the Georgia Section ITE and ITS Georgia. Tom and his wife, Tracy, have two boys, Austin and Wesley.
Deputy Director, Intermodal Operations:
David Tucker, ASLA
David.Tucker@gwinnettcounty.com
David holds a degree in landscape architecture from the University of Georgia and is a registered landscape architect in the state of Georgia. He is a member of the American Society of Landscape Architects and a certified arborist. David has many years of experience in planning and land development in both the public and private sector. He came to work for Gwinnett County in 1986, serving as the development review manager in Planning and Development. In 2000, he was hired as the senior construction manager of road improvements for Capital Program Delivery. He was appointed as Preconstruction Division director for Program Delivery in 2004. In 2007, David was promoted to his current position of deputy director.
Deputy Director, Program Delivery:
Andrew Thompson, P.E.
Andrew.Thompson@gwinnettcounty.com
Andrew joined Gwinnett County Department of Transportation in 2018 and serves as the Deputy Director of Program Delivery. Andrew grew up in Gwinnett County and is a graduate of Duluth High School. He holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Kennesaw State University and earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering Technology from the Southern Polytechnic State University (Southern Tech). Andrew began his engineering career with the Georgia Department of Transportation in 2001 and his experience includes work in the private sector as an engineering consultant, as well as work in local government. Andrew has directed the successful completion of numerous projects and programs around the north metro area and is licensed as a Professional Engineer and Real Estate Broker. Andrew and his wife, Jen, have three children, Kennedy, Kerrigan, and Sullivan.
Deputy Director, Traffic Engineering, Operations & Maintenance:
Edgardo Aponte, P.E.
Edgardo.Aponte@gwinnettcounty.com
Edgardo was named Deputy Director of the Traffic Engineering, Operations & Maintenance Section in late 2020. He holds a master’s degree in engineering management from the Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico and a bachelor’s degree of science in civil engineering from Marquette University. He is a registered professional engineer in the state of Georgia. Edgardo began working for Gwinnett County as the division director for the Preconstruction Division in early 2016. Prior to joining Gwinnett County, Edgardo worked in the private sector for more than 16 years for local firms performing transportation consulting work for local agencies including the state of Georgia, Gwinnett County, and other counties and cities. His experience also includes working in the public sector for five years at the Puerto Rico Highway and Transportation Authority.
Division Director, Aviation:
Matt Smith
Matthew.Smith@gwinnettcounty.com
Matt holds a bachelor's degree in aviation operations and a minor in business. He is a member of the American Association of Airport Executives, the Southeast Chapter of the American Association of Airport Executives, and the Georgia Airports Association. He holds a Certified Member status with the American Association of Airport Executives and is also a certified private pilot. Matt has experience at both air-carrier and general aviation airports, and his job assignments have included work with San Jose International Airport, Reno Air Airlines, and the three general aviation airports operated by Santa Clara County. He has worked for Gwinnett County since 2000. He lives in Dacula with his two sons, Aiden and Nathan.
Division Director, Construction:
Brittney J. Bulfinch
Brittney.Bulfinch@gwinnettcounty.com
Brittney is a Georgia native. She grew up in Cobb County, graduating with honors from McEachern High School. Brittney received a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Policy from Eckerd College in Saint Petersburg, Fla., in 2001. While at college, she interned with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection with a focus on resource management. After college, she began her public sector career as a construction inspector with the City of Roswell (Georgia) Public Works Department. Since then, she has continued to hone her construction management skills in both public- and private-sector positions relating to stormwater and roadway construction, permitting and contract management. Brittney began working for Gwinnett County in 2014 as a Construction Manager for the Capital Program Delivery Preconstruction Division. She was appointed as director of the Capital Program Delivery Construction Division in 2019.
Division Director, Finance and Performance Management:
John Ray, P.E.
A 1989 graduate of Coffee County High School in Douglas, Georgia, John graduated from The Georgia Institute of Technology in 1994 with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering. In 2001, he received his master’s degree in business administration from Georgia State University. John has more than 20 years of experience in engineering, construction, and program management. John joined the Department of Transportation in 2007 as a project manager. He was promoted to division director of the Preconstruction Division in 2008 and then appointed the director of the newly created Finance and Performance Management Division in late 2016. John lives in Braselton with his wife, Ami, and their four children: Ainsley, Drew, Adam, and Ella.
Division Director, Traffic Engineering:
Alex Hofelich, P.E., P.T.O.E.
Alex.Hofelich@gwinnettcounty.com
Alex graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology with a Bachelor of Civil Engineering in 1998, and is a registered professional engineer in the state of Georgia. He is a certified professional traffic operations engineer with nearly 20 years of experience in and around Gwinnett in a variety of settings, including municipal and county agencies, public-private government solutions and private consulting.
Division Director, Traffic Operations & Maintenance:
Britton Lockhart
britton.lockhart@gwinnettcounty.com
Britton was named director of the Traffic Operations and Maintenance Division in December 2020. Britton has been with the Gwinnett Department of Transportation since early 2016, when he originally started as a Construction Manager in our Program Delivery section. In that role, he oversaw multiple SPLOST projects, working with the construction contractors and our core services provider to ensure all projects were built to the county standards of excellence. Britton moved to our Operations and Maintenance Division in 2018 to become our Resurfacing Manager. That role oversees the countywide resurfacing program with an annual budget of about $25 million. His previous work experience includes over 16 years in the private sector in construction management, customer service, pre-construction estimation, and logistics. Britton received his Bachelor of Science degree in Construction from Southern Polytechnic State University. Britton, his wife and three children are active in the local community, primarily through youth athletic programs and their church.
Division Director, Transit:
Karen Winger, AICP
Karen.Winger@gwinnettcounty.com
Karen holds a bachelor’s degree in Communication and a master's degree in Business Administration from the University of Massachusetts. While at the university, she took a job as a student bus driver and so began her transit career. She comes to Gwinnett County with more than 20 years of experience with systems all over the country, including work in Massachusetts, Illinois and Washington, D.C. Her experience includes both public and private-sector positions relating to operations, planning, compliance, business development and contract management. In 2014 she was selected as one of Mass Transit's Top 40 under 40, which is a national recognition of young talent in the transit industry. In 2017 she was recognized as Georgia Transit Associations Manager of the year. Karen has been an active member of the Women's Transportation Seminar for over 10 years and is a member of the American Planning Association.
