In March, Chief Financial Officer Al Juarez announced his retirement to the Bonney Lake City Council.

Juarez held his position for seven years, and has worked in government finance for the last 28 years. Juarez’s last day was Tuesday.

Juarez said that he started working in government finance because he thought he “could make a difference,” especially since government financing was so far behind private sector financing at the time.

“I am very comfortable with my decision to retire, knowing that the city is in good hands with the current professionals in my finance team,” Juarez said.

Cherie Gibson has been hired as the chief financial officer. Gibson was the financial director of Normandy Park before coming to Bonney Lake. During his retirement, Juarez said he plans to golf, remodel the house, spend quality time with his grandchildren, and “do a great deal of travel, in the US and abroad,” especially to historic Civil War sites.