Cleveland Metroparks Names Gary Butzback as Chief Financial Officer

Cleveland Metroparks Board of Park Commissioners today approved Gary Butzback as Cleveland Metroparks Chief Financial Officer (CFO)/Treasurer. Gary will lead and manage all aspects of Cleveland Metroparks finance department including short and long-term planning, accounting, auditing, procurement and financial systems. As CFO, Gary will serve as an ex officio officer of the Board of Park Commissioners and advise the Board on financial requirements.

Gary served as Cleveland Metroparks Controller since 2018 and as Interim Chief Financial Officer/Treasurer since March 2026. Gary has nearly 40 years in experience financial reporting, budgeting and auditing.

“Gary has been a tremendous leader and responsible steward of public funds since joining Cleveland Metroparks in 2018,” said Cleveland Metroparks CEO Brian M. Zimmerman. “Gary’s financial expertise, strategic perspective and commitment to public service will help ensure we continue to be responsible stewards of the public's investment while advancing our mission in our Second Century of Stewardship.”

Cleveland Metroparks has decades of clean audits and strong fiscal management and has been awarded the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting each fiscal year since 2012 by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) as well as the GFOA Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for its annual budget by GFOA for 33 consecutive years. Through vigilant management of funds and with an eye towards the future, Cleveland Metroparks has also continued to operate without debt.

Gary graduated from Miami University with a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and has held a CPA license in the state of Ohio since 1990.

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