For Immediate Release: March 23, 2021
Gunnison County Hires Chief Financial Officer
Juan Guerra Selected to Lead the Finance and Human Resources Department
Gunnison County, Colo – Gunnison County has hired Juan Guerra (pictured) to serve as the new Chief Financial Officer, effective immediately. Mr. Guerra previously held the position of Gunnison County Interim Finance Director from January-March 2021. As Director for the Finance and Human Resources Department, Mr. Guerra will oversee the Finance and Human Resources Programs, and he will report directly to County Manager Matthew Birnie. “We are excited to welcome Juan to our executive team at the County. It is exciting to add a professional of Juan’s caliber and experience to our talented leadership team, and we look forward to his leadership in the financial and human resources arenas,” said County Manager Matthew Birnie.
Juan G. Guerra was born and raised in Chicago, IL and served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1996-2000, and again in 2002. As an honorably discharged U.S. Marine veteran, Mr. Guerra started his career in municipal government. He quickly became a Finance Director in the cities of La Feria, TX and Sherman, TX, and then an Accounting Manager for the City of Fort Worth, TX. He then spent 13 years with the City of Pharr, TX holding the roles of Finance Director, Chief Financial Officer, International Bridge Director, and City Manager. Mr. Guerra was City Manager for the City of Edinburg, TX from 2018-2019.
During his municipal career, Mr. Guerra received awards for financial reporting and budgeting; brought a city back from the verge of bankruptcy; greatly improved the fiscal health of cities he managed; reduced property tax rates; doubled park acreage; oversaw a 20% decrease in the Edinburg, TX crime rate; improved the city’s industrial, commercial, residential and trade growth; implemented diversity in his leadership teams; increased community outreach programs; and changed the culture in City Hall through the leadership traits and principles programs he implemented.
Mr. Guerra has received leadership training from the U.S. Marine Corps and government performance training from Harvard. He has a Master in Business Administration, is a licensed Certified Public Accountant, a Certified Public Manager, and a Certified Government Finance Officer. Mr. Guerra’s hobbies are jogging, exercising, climbing mountains, and is a proud father of his four children.
For more information, please contact County Manager Matthew Birnie at mbirnie@gunnisoncounty.org.
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