Comptroller's Q&A Panel

John Troyer, CPA, MBA is the Administrator of Standards Research and Compliance with the Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury, Division of Local Government Audit. In his role as Administrator of Standards Research and Compliance, he assists the division in developing professional compliance procedures under changing accounting and auditing standards. He assists the division with training, navigating the peer review process and participating in the professional public comment process.

Previously, John has served in public financial leadership roles for cities and counties for more than 33 years. John is a member of the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) and has served as Tennessee’s GFOA President. He has served as the State Representative to the national GFOA for both the State of Tennessee and South Carolina GFOA. John was awarded the GFOA Hero award for professional response to a financial emergency in the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew. He is a member of the East Tennessee Chapter of the Association of Government Accountants (AGA).

John holds both a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville.

John lives in Knoxville with his wife Cindy and his Golden Retriever Savannah. John and Cindy have two children who are both grown and graduated from the University of Tennessee. John is an avid sports fan – especially UT. He even owns one share of the Green Bay Packers. You might see him kayaking on Lake Loudon early Saturday mornings.

Lisa Bellar is a Senior Contract Audit Review Specialist in the Tennessee Comptroller's division of Local Government Audit. She is a Certified Public Accountant and a member of the division's contract audit review team. In her role she performs technical reviews of audited financial statements for Tennessee's local governments and certain not-for-profit agencies and assists in the review of audit working papers.

Lisa first joined the Comptroller's Office with the division of State Audit after graduating from Austin Peay State University where she majored in accounting and earned a Bachelor of Business Administration. After moving out-of-state, she held accounting positions at a university, equipment rental company, and tile manufacturing company. She returned to the Comptroller's Office in 2005 and has 22 years of service with the Comptroller's Office.

Shannon Burger is the Chief Executive Officer at Cempa Community Care, a federally qualified health center and infectious disease specialty practice based in East Tennessee. Recently, Shannon earned a Doctor of Science in Health Administration from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Additionally, she holds a master's in business administration, is a Certified Public Accountant, and is a graduate of the Leadership Tennessee Signature Program.

Over the past eight years, Shannon has led Cempa Community Care through significant transformations, enhancing financial stability and fostering a culture of innovation and growth. Under her leadership, the organization has achieved remarkable milestones, redefining the standards of community healthcare provision. One of her most cherished accomplishments is the expansion of various service lines to address the diverse needs of the community. Initiatives under her tenure include launching the organization's first community pharmacy, establishing a walk-in clinic in partnership with Metropolitan Ministries, opening a new dental clinic, and introducing Cempa's Mobile Clinic. These efforts have significantly broadened access to comprehensive healthcare services and have earned the organization numerous awards and accolades.

Driven by an entrepreneurial spirit and a deep commitment to those served by Cempa Community Care, Shannon serves on local, regional, and national boards. She leverages these platforms to educate on compliance and public policy, while also providing mentorship and training opportunities nationwide.

Jean is the contract audit review manager with the Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury, Division of Local Government Audit. She is responsible for the contract audit review process of more than 1,700 entities including municipalities, county-related entities, utility districts, public housing authorities, internal school funds, charter schools, quasi-governments and certain nonprofit and for-profit entities. Her daily responsibilities include providing technical assistance to CPA firms and local government officials regarding accounting and auditing issues, as well as related laws, regulations, and other compliance requirements.

Jean graduated from Seoul National University with a B.S. degree in Horticulture and studied accounting at the University of Maryland Baltimore County and the Tennessee Technological University. She is a member of AGA, and the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE). Jean is a graduate of Lead Tennessee, the Tennessee Government Management Institute, and the Tennessee Government Executive Institute.