Board of Directors & Committees Information

Board members are volunteers representing business and industry, economic development, education, organized labor, local and state government, and community-based organizations. By legislative design local business leaders must comprise a minimum of 51% of board membership. Business leaders are nominated by Chambers of Commerce and Economic Development Councils and membership to the board is by appointment of the appropriate Board of County Commissioners.
CareerSource Okaloosa Walton was established in 1996 by the Workforce Florida Act of 1996 and its role has been reinforced by the federal Workforce Investment Act (WIA) of 1998, Florida’s Workforce Innovation Act of 2000 and the federal Workforce Investment and Opportunity Act (WIOA) of 2014.
The board serves Florida’s Workforce Region 2, Okaloosa and Walton Counties, and is one of 21 such boards in the state. Over 600 Workforce Development Boards (WDB) or Workforce Investment Boards (WIB) have been established nationwide.
The board is supported by paid administrative staff.

Board of Directors Officers

Michelle Crocker

FirstNation Group

Chair

Leslie Sheekley

Hand Arendall Harrison Sale

Vice Chair

Pam Tedesco

The Arland Affiliation

Secretary

Bob Bennett

Servis1st Bank

Treasurer

Jean Anne Encardes

General Dynamics
Ordinance & Tactical Systems

Member-at-Large (Okaloosa)

Rebecca Pazik

Global Education Concepts

Member-at-Large (Walton)

Scott Seay

Chelco

Past Chair

JenniferBeasleyOkaloosa County Schools06/18/2024 - 06/17/2032
BobBennettServis1st Bank05/02/2023 - 05/01/2031
Dr. MelindaBowersUniversity of West Florida07/01/2021 - 06/30/2029
SamBurkettTorch Technologies07/01/2021 - 06/30/2029
MichelleCrockerFirstNation Group07/01/2021 - 06/30/2029
KevinCrystalKeller Williams12/13/2022 - 12/12/2030
Jean AnneEncardesGeneral Dynamics07/01/2021 - 06/30/2029
LouisEricksonBit-Wizards07/01/2021 - 06/30/2029
JenniferFlemingBIA of Okaloosa & Walton Counties01/16/2024 - 01/15/2032
Dr. ChrisGabersNorthwest Florida State College09/17/2024 - 09/16/2032
RonGarrigaEmbry-Riddle Aeronautical University07/01/2021 - 06/30/2029
DavidHainesPrecision Measurement, Inc.05/17/2022 - 05/16/2030
Bernard H.Johnson Jr.Florida Power & Light07/01/2021 - 06/30/2029
UriahMatthewsWalton County Economic Development Alliance02/09/2023 - 02/08/2031
JoelPaulTri-County Community Council07/01/2021 - 06/30/2029
RebeccaPazikGlobal Education Concepts07/01/2021 - 06/30/2029
CherylPedoneVocational Rehabilitation11/22/2021 - 11/21/2029
ScottSeayCHELCO07/01/2021 - 06/30/2029
LeslieSheekleyHand Arendall Harrison Sale LLC09/20/2022 - 09/19/2030
MichaelSmithartWalton County Schools07/09/2024 - 07/08/2032
NathanSparksOne Okaloosa EDC07/01/2021 - 06/30/2029
ShayneStewartFlorida Firefighters07/01/2021 - 06/30/2029
PamTedescoThe Arland Affiliation07/01/2021 - 06/30/2029
AlWardDeep Gulf, Inc.07/01/2021 - 06/30/2029
Hon. PaulMixonOkaloosa Board of County Commissioners Liason01/01/2024 - 12/31/2024
Hon. BootsMcCormickWalton Board of County Commissioners Liason01/01/2024 - 12/31/2024

Chairperson: Michelle Crocker

Board Contact: Michele Burns

Committee Email: csow@careersourceow.com

The Executive Committee consists of the Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, one (1) Director member-at-large from each of Okaloosa and Walton Counties and the Past Chair. The Executive Committee has the power to act on behalf of the Board of Directors on all matters between meetings of the Board when time is of the essence. The Executive Committee and the Finance Committee as appointed by the Board Chair have the responsibility for the oversight of the financial and grants management of the Board, including budgeting, auditing, and financial reporting.

Chairperson: Bob Bennett

Board Contact: Shawn Knobel

Committee Email: csow@careersourceow.com

The Finance Committee is responsible for direction and oversight regarding overall budgeting and financial management of CareerSource Okaloosa Walton. The Finance Committee reviews and recommends to the full board the annual budget, provides long term financial planning, evaluates and approves facilities decisions, and monitors actual vs. budgeted expenditures. Financial policies are set by CareerSource Okaloosa Walton upon recommendations by the Finance Committee.

Chairperson: Michelle Crocker

Board Contact: Michele Burns

Committee Email: csow@careersourceow.com

The Career & Youth Committee provides oversight of the CareerSource Okaloosa Walton One-Stop Delivery System.  The Committee provides the vision, direction and guidance for the One-Stop System.  It ensures that all One-Stop programs are fully integrated with an entire menu of services offered to the public.  As part of its oversight role, the Committee provides an evaluation and analysis of the performance of the One-Stop System.  Chaired by a private sector Board member, the Career & Youth Committee provides continual feedback and recommends policy changes or new policy development to the full CareerSource Okaloosa Walton Board of Directors.

Chairperson: Glenn Boschen

Board Contact: Michele Burns

Committee Email: csow@careersourceow.com

Local workforce development boards (LWDBs) appoint local leaders who provide independent information from stakeholders in their local area to the Education and Industry Consortium.  Local LWDBs consider this information in creating strategies and local plans that describe efforts to provide educational and workforce opportunities to businesses and job seekers.  The goal is to align educational programming with industry needs at the local level. The roster of current members can be viewed here.