Finance Monthly CFO Awards 2021

F i nance Month l y CFO Awards 2021 About Dawn Buzzell Dawn Buzzell has served as DDC Chief Financial Officer for more than seven years. After joining the organization as Senior Director of Accounting in 2014, she was named Chief Financial Officer in 2015. During her tenure, she has guided DDC to financial growth and business maturation. Ms. Buzzell was instrumental in developing and consistently enhancing the corporation-wide shared services model, which serves as DDC’s focal point in support of eight subsidiary companies. DDC is a complex government contracting enterprise which requires flexibility, efficiency, and control in its management. A centralized Shared Services organization is key to support the diverse and complex business models in its subsidiaries while maintaining strict compliance standards. Ms. Buzzell strategized DDC’s corporate reorganization, which led to increased profitability, streamlined policies and processes, organizational efficiencies, and improved internal controls. Ms. Buzzell has also identified and implemented over $1 million in annual cost efficiencies through process improvements, workflow automation, and adoption of leading-edge technology solutions. Ms. Buzzell’s achievements include leading the implementation of an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, managing the finance structuring and integration of two acquisitions, and developing centralized processes for the organization. Ms. Buzzell was recognized by the DDC Board of Directors and auditors for leading a seamless integration of the ERP system, while increasing financial granularity and reporting functions. As a DDC Executive, she has provided oversight for the DDC Finance and Accounting, Contracts, Purchasing, Information Technology, Human Resources, Pricing, Security and Quality departments. Ms. Buzzell has been integral in providing steadfast leadership of the organization through the COVID-19 pandemic in garnering a strong financial base to support organic growth of more than 25% in 2021. Ms. Buzzell is an experienced, entrepreneurial Certified Public Accountant and former owner of several business enterprises. She displays financial leadership with proven experience in finance, project management, budgeting, cost/benefit analyses, forecasting, acquisitions, and treasury management. Ms. Buzzell has served in senior leadership roles for more than 25 years with various private sector organizations. Her dynamic leadership skills combined with financial acumen have positioned her to support companies in meeting and exceeding their organizational and financial objectives. She is consistently recognized for her unwavering motivation, servant leadership, resourcefulness, and adaptability to meet challenging goals and innovation to develop complex business solutions. Ms. Buzzell earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from James Madison University and is currently a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants. She is an active member in her community and has served on the boards of several community organizations. Firm Profile DDC is a Tribally owned corporation that was established to generate economic prosperity for the Navajo Nation. Founded in 2004, DDC dynamically expanded with a central focus on strategic growth and advancement of the Navajo Nation. Today, DDC comprises a family of companies that delivers IT, professional, and environmental services to solve the dynamic challenges of government agencies and commercial firms. Inspired by our Navajo legacy, our passionate professionals lead with quality and ingenuity to build value-based approaches to advance our clients’ missions. Headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, we push the boundaries of growth to continually improve upon our record of extraordinary service. We strive to deliver exceptional solutions while empowering the Navajo Nation and communities across the world. DDC prides itself on our unique culture. Our core values are the heart and soul of our organization, as they are reflected in every aspect of our business across work environments and partner and client relationships. Our mission of empowering the Navajo Nation drives our appetite for success. Sector and Areas of Expertise Information Technology Services: Systems engineering, enterprise information management, enterprise operation and sustainment, cybersecurity and information assurance, cloud and managed services, business intelligence, business process improvement, research and development, and hybrid prototyping Environmental Services: Environmental consulting, cultural resource management, natural resource management, and environmental compliance Navajo Nation owned Established in 2004 525+ employees 18 states 3 countries - USA - - 73 -