GFOA Recognition for Outstanding Public Service

GFOA Recognition for Outstanding Public Service honors individual GFOA members for their dedication to the profession, their colleagues, their organizations, and their communities. The work of finance professionals is critical to government’s ability to serve, yet it often happens behind the scenes.

GFOA’s membership network includes many individuals who exemplify public service—supporting others, leading organizations through both good times and challenges, and making a positive impact on those they serve.

Help us share their stories to recognize their achievements and inspire others. Highlighting the impact of public finance officers on their organizations and communities is also one of the best ways to attract new talent to the profession.

Nominations for 2026 will open in January.


Recipients of GFOA's 2025 Recognition for Outstanding Public Service

Name

Title

Organization

Ken Al-Imam

Chief Financial Officer

City of San Juan Capistrano, CA

Tracy Bowman

Director of Finance

Orange County Employees Retirement System, CA

Buffy  Bullis

Administrative Services Director

City of Monrovia, CA

Nancy Clark-Gonzalez

Chief Financial Officer

Camden County Board of Commissioners, GA

David Clawson

Chief Financial Officer/Deputy County Manager

Dare County, NC

Lori Cooke

Budget Manager

Washoe County, NV

Erin Crawford

CFO

City of Enid, OK

Migdalia Crespo

Accountant

Town of Montville, CT

Brent Davis

Finance Director

City of Ketchum, ID

Marie Dennis

Deputy CFO

Greater Orlando Aviation Authority, FL

Anna Dowleski

Finance Officer - Payroll

City of Costa Mesa, CA

Dell Duckworth

Assistant Finance Director

Village of Winnetka, IL

Jeanette Duque-Smith

Assistant Director of Accounting 

Clark County School District, NV

Paula Eldredge

Chief Financial Officer

Military Installation Development Authority, UT

Katie Eviston

Finance Director

City of Springfield, OH

LaQuanza Flowers

Finance Manager

Renton Regional Fire Authority, WA

Maria Gamboa

Director of Finance

City of Henderson, NV

Laurie Grigg

Controller/Chief Financial Officer

Madison Area Technical College, WI

Brandi Harbaugh

Finance Director

Kenai Peninsula Borough, AK

Bruce Haupt

Chief Finance and Admin Officer

Harris County Flood District, TX

Mark Highfield

Budget Manager

County of Hanover, VA

Mary Hografe

Budget Manager

St. Louis County, MO

Grace Jimenez

Chief Accountant

Lewis County Auditor, WA

Cory Kampf

Chief Financial Officer

Anoka County, MN

Dennis Kauffman

Assistant City Manager

City of Roseville, CA

Brian Kennedy

Chief Financial Officer

Oregon Metro, OR

Marie Keyser

Assistant Finance Director

City of Mequon, WI

Rosa Lara Rios

Director of Finance 

City of Delano, CA

Pearl  Lieu

Director of Finance

City of Alhambra, CA

Maryjane Malavasi

Director of Finance

Town of Guilford, CT

Roberto Manchia

County Chief Financial Officer

County of San Mateo, CA

Brian McKenzie

Deputy Finance Director

City of Marion, IA

Maria Meredith

CFO/Director of Management & Finance

Arlington County, VA

Heidi Neace

Assistant Finance Director

City of Middletown, OH

Jamie Norman

Director of Finance

Horry County, SC

Allena Portis

Deputy City Manager

City of Greeley, CO

Gina Rackley

Comptroller

Humboldt County, NV

Alfredo Riverol

Chief Financial Officer

City of South Miami, FL

Becky  Robertson

Finance Manager

City of West Sacramento, CA

Tami Robison

Finance Director 

Geary County, KS

Teresa Rotschafer

President

Tomorrow's Solutions for Public Sector Employers

Tommy Ryan 

Procurement Analyst 

City of Long Beach, CA

Cody Scott

Deputy Controller

City of Mobile, AL

Cindy Scymanski

Purchasing Manager

City of Loveland, CO

Nikki Simmons

Chief Financial Officer

El Paso County, CO

Maureen Singleton

Chief Operating Officer

San Francisco Public Library, CA

Kim Sitton

Finance Director

City of Corona, CA

Judy Smith

Finance Director

Jackson County Water & Sewerage Authority, GA

Dean Smith

Debt Management Specialist

City of Columbus, Ohio

Christopher Smith

Chief Financial Officer

Katy Independent School District, TX

Kristal Spetnagel

City Auditor

City of Chillicothe, OH

Kristin Trivelas

Fiscal Services Director

City of Renton, WA

Karen Vasquez

Director Business Operations

Harris County, TX


Recipients of GFOA's 2024 Recognition for Outstanding Public Service

Name

Title

Organization

Lake Akinkugbe

Director of Finance

Alex Renew, VA

Dennis Click

Deputy Controller

County of Albemarle, VA

Jessica Conley

Finance Director

Walworth County, WI

Nikki Dickerson

Finance Director

Warren County, NC

Dawn Donovan

Town Comptroller

Town of Eastchester, NY

Alex Fedak

Controller

City of Oklahoma City, OK

Perla Fikter

Finance Director

Bear Valley Community Services District, CA

Beverly Fitzsimmons

Deputy Comptroller

City of St. Louis, MO

Rex Gaither

Finance Director / Assistant Town Manager

Town of Smyrna, TN

Jim Golden

CFO

City of Longmont, CO

Leah Harris

Administrative Officer/Finance Officer

San Miguel Fire & Rescue, CA

Russell Hill

Assistant Finance Director

City of Waco, TX

Sabrina Jackson

Senior Assistant Director

City of Houston Public Works, TX

Dawn Jindrich

Finance Director

Linn County, IA

Melanie Keeton

Assistant Finance Director

City of San Antonio, TX

Natalya Krutova

Controller

Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation

Talia Lomax-O'dneal

Finance Deputy Director

Metropolitan Government of Nashville & Davidson County, TN

Kimberly Lord

Director of Finance

Town of Manchester, CT

Timothy Manglicmot

Senior Finance Manager

San Diego Community Power, CA

Dawn McGuire

Accounting Specialist 

Minnesota Valley Transit Authority, MN

Bill McHale

Controller

Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, TX

Kelli Munroe

Chief Deputy Treasurer

Pinal County, AZ

Claudia Orugbani

Grants Fiscal Manager

City of Milwaukee, WI

Catherine Piepho

Finance Director

Washington County, MN

Jocelyn Quintos

Director, Accounting Operations

City & County of San Francisco, CA

Robert Scott

Director of Finance and Administration

City of Brookfield, WI

Courtney Shearer

Controller

Virginia Lottery, VA

Donna Silva

Director of Finance & Human Resources

San Juan Water District, CA

Molly Talkington

Finance Director

City of Rolling Meadows, IL

Marcia Tannian

Director, Finance & Investor Relations

Metropolitan Transportation Authority, NY

Steve Webb

Finance Director

City of Covington, KY

Darlene Wildes

Deputy Auditor

City of Columbus Auditor's Office, OH

Nancy Young-Oliver

Chief Financial Officer

TriMet, OR

Eligibility

All GFOA members are eligible to be recognized with this program or nominate someone who has made a difference, exemplified the values in GFOA's code of ethics, or served as a role model for the public finance profession.