Meet the Team
Nathan Sparks
Executive Director
As Executive Director, Nathan is responsible for the day-to-day management and oversight of One Okaloosa EDC. He has held prior economic development leadership positions with the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama, the St. Joe Company and the Golden Isles Development Authority. Nathan earned a B.A. from Oglethorpe University, a Certificate from the University of Oklahoma’s Economic Development Institute and a Certificate in Leadership from Northwestern University. Nathan is a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) and was awarded the prestigious Business Ambassador Award from Governor Rick Scott in 2016. Nathan serves on the Florida Small Business Development Center’s Statewide Advisory Board. In his free time, Nathan enjoys spending time with family and friends - especially when travel, good food, live music and college football are involved.
Kay Rasmussen
Associate Director
Serving as the Associate Director, Kay oversees the business and financial operations for the council and manages the tri-county Defense Support Initiatives Committee. Prior positions within the organization included Director of Defense, Vice President and Interim President. Kay advocates for the military and military-community partnerships at the local, state and Federal levels. She graduated from the University of Oklahoma’s Economic Development Institute and earned the Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) designation from the International Economic Development Council. Kay is a member of the Choctawhatchee Bay Chapter of the Daughters of American Revolution National Society, and an appointed member of the Florida Defense Support Commission. In her leisure time, Kay enjoys restoring antique furniture, staying physically fit, and participating in Porsche rallies with her dad.
Natalia Germany
Economic Development Coordinator
As an Economic Development Coordinator, Natalia plays a crucial role in supporting the organization's economic development initiatives through marketing, external relations, business retention and expansion, entrepreneurial support, and project recruitment, while also providing administrative support to help advance the organization's goals. She recently graduated from the University of West Florida with a Bachelor of Science in General Business. Outside of her professional responsibilities, she is proud of her husband’s service in the United States Air Force (USAF) at Eglin AFB. In her leisure time, Natalia enjoys traveling, maintaining an active lifestyle, exploring the magic of Disney, spending time with family and friends, and growing in her faith.