About Us
What is One Okaloosa EDC?
One Okaloosa EDC is a not-for-profit private-public partnership serving Okaloosa County as its primary economic development and business advocacy organization committed to the continual growth and diversification of its economy.
A not-for-profit organization exists to provide a public service to the community rather than to make a profit, or accrue earnings...the primary objective of the organization is something other than making money. Non-profit organizations typically rely on contributions (memberships) to fund the services they provide.
Every organization or entity that invests derives benefits from the One Okaloosa EDC's commitment to Okaloosa's industrial growth and unparalleled quality of living.
Meet Our Officers
FY 2026 Officers
- Chairman: Nic Dezinski, Vertex Solutions
- Vice-Chairman: Bonnie Barlow, Bridgeway Center, Inc.
- Treasurer: Capt. Gary Jarvis, B.O.A.T
- Secretary: Alex Barthe', The UPS Store and Courthouse Suites
- Member-at-Large: Wayne Bernheisel, Dillard Gulf Coast
- Immediate Past-Chairman: Neko Stubblefield, Eglin Federal Credit Union
Ex Officios
- Commissioner Paul Mixon, Okaloosa County BOCC- not pictured
- John Hofstad, Okaloosa County BOCC (proxy for Commissioner Mixon)
- Bernard Johnson, Florida Power & Light - not pictured
- Steve Rhodes, CHELCO
- Gordon King, Okaloosa Gas District
- Nicole McDonald, University of West Florida
- President Mel Ponder, Northwest Florida State College
- Superintendent Marcus Chambers, Okaloosa County School District
- Jennifer Beasley, Okaloosa County School District
- Michele Burns, CareerSource Okaloosa Walton
- Nathan Sparks, Executive Director, One Okaloosa EDC
Committee Chairs
FY 2026 DSI Chair
Jeff Riemer
FY 2026 TeCMEN
Travis Hill
FY 2026-2028 Strategic Goals
Every three years the One Okaloosa EDC Executive Committee and staff undertake a strategic planning process that utilizes surveys of One Okaloosa stakeholders (including private sector investors, public sector partners and the broader Okaloosa County business community) designed to assess stakeholder priorities and their perceptions of One Okaloosa programs and strategies. Survey feedback is reviewed during a facilitated planning retreat, and new strategic goals for the ensuing three years are approved by the Executive Committee. These overarching three year goals are then populated with specific annual objectives approved by the One Okaloosa EDC Executive Committee at the outset of each fiscal year.
One Okaloosa EDC's investors include Okaloosa County and its municipalities, regional education partners, utility companies, non-profit organizations, and more than 150 private companies committed to economic growth and diversification.
