Traci Bussey leads federal and infrastructure finance at Larson Design Group

Traci Bussey manages roughly $100 million in active federal and infrastructure budgets as Senior Project Accountant and Office Leader at Larson Design Group in the Oklahoma City area. Her work spans billing, forecasting, compliance, and team coordination, while she also mentors colleagues and prepares to support Oklahoma disaster recovery efforts.

Why it matters: - Traci Bussey helps keep complex public-works and federal projects financially on track, where billing accuracy, contract compliance, and timely reporting affect project execution. - Her role sits at the intersection of finance, operations, and leadership across approximately $100 million in active budgets. - Bussey also represents a broader leadership pipeline for women in finance and infrastructure roles, where experience and credibility can take time to earn.

What happened: - Traci Bussey serves as Senior Project Accountant and Office Leader at Larson Design Group in the Oklahoma City metropolitan area. - She oversees federal and infrastructure project accounting across roughly $100 million in active budgets. - Her responsibilities include billing, accounts receivable, budgeting, forecasting, and audit support. - Bussey ensures compliance with GAAP and ASC 606. - She works closely with about 40 project managers and senior leadership to support financial reporting, project performance tracking, and contract execution. - Bussey has more than 14 years of experience in finance and operations. - She started her career in sales with Kraft Foods before moving into the AEC industry in Oklahoma City. - She joined a small consulting and engineering firm as an administrative assistant and advanced into progressively senior roles. - Bussey later became Controller and Operations Finance Specialist. - After the firm was acquired into a 500-person organization in 2023, her leadership scope expanded further. - Bussey studied Business Management at Langston University, where she earned a BBA, and also attended Oklahoma State University. - She shared her story through her Influential Women profile.

The details: - Bussey says her son, Caydon, is a key source of motivation and a reminder of what persistence can build. - She credits her parents for shaping her work ethic, especially her father, who started a construction company about 10 years ago at nearly 60 and grew it into a multimillion-dollar business. - Her advice from mentors has centered on staying focused during hard times and continuing to push forward. - Bussey says she has had to make sure her voice is heard, especially as a younger woman in rooms where she was not always trusted at first. - She tells young women in the industry to find their voice, stay curious, ask questions, and seek help early when they need it. - Bussey also encourages new professionals to support teammates and let coworkers support them in return. - On the federal side, she says government contracts and shifting funding cycles require constant adjustment. - In infrastructure finance, she is facing a steep learning curve because those projects use a different contract basis and financial approach than her federal work. - She is working through that transition with a supportive supervisor through weekly calls. - Bussey says integrity, kindness, and doing the right thing are her core values. - She focuses on modeling those values for her son and on treating people with respect and compassion. - She values a positive co-parenting relationship and says her son’s father and stepmother help create a supportive family environment. - Professionally, she aims to support her team through communication, guidance, and attention to priorities and deadlines.

Between the lines: - Bussey’s career path shows a move from entry-level administration to senior financial leadership without a traditional straight-line trajectory. - Her emphasis on questions, mentorship, and weekly support reflects how specialized finance roles often require hands-on learning even for experienced professionals. - Her focus on service and family suggests her leadership style is built as much on trust and consistency as on technical skill. - The article positions Bussey as someone whose credibility comes from both operational discipline and relational leadership.

What's next: - Bussey plans to keep building expertise in infrastructure project finance. - She expects to contribute to projects tied to Oklahoma disaster recovery. - She also plans to help coordinate company volunteers for tornado relief efforts. - Her ongoing role with the One LDG Committee points to continued internal engagement and team-building work.

The bottom line: - Traci Bussey’s story is about technical finance leadership, steady advancement, and a management style grounded in integrity and service.