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
| Jennifer | Beasley | Okaloosa County Schools | 06/18/2024 - 06/17/2032 |
| Bob | Bennett | Servis1st Bank | 05/02/2023 - 05/01/2031 |
| Dr. Melinda | Bowers | University of West Florida | 07/01/2021 - 06/30/2029 |
| Sam | Burkett | Torch Technologies | 07/01/2021 - 06/30/2029 |
| Michelle | Crocker | FirstNation Group | 07/01/2021 - 06/30/2029 |
| Kevin | Crystal | Keller Williams | 12/13/2022 - 12/12/2030 |
| Jean Anne | Encardes | General Dynamics | 07/01/2021 - 06/30/2029 |
| Louis | Erickson | Bit-Wizards | 07/01/2021 - 06/30/2029 |
| Jennifer | Fleming | BIA of Okaloosa & Walton Counties | 01/16/2024 - 01/15/2032 |
| Dr. Chris | Gabers | Northwest Florida State College | 09/17/2024 - 09/16/2032 |
| Ron | Garriga | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University | 07/01/2021 - 06/30/2029 |
| David | Haines | Precision Measurement, Inc. | 05/17/2022 - 05/16/2030 |
| Bernard H. | Johnson Jr. | Florida Power & Light | 07/01/2021 - 06/30/2029 |
| Uriah | Matthews | Walton County Economic Development Alliance | 02/09/2023 - 02/08/2031 |
| Joel | Paul | Tri-County Community Council | 07/01/2021 - 06/30/2029 |
| Rebecca | Pazik | Global Education Concepts | 07/01/2021 - 06/30/2029 |
| Cheryl | Pedone | Vocational Rehabilitation | 11/22/2021 - 11/21/2029 |
| Scott | Seay | CHELCO | 07/01/2021 - 06/30/2029 |
| Leslie | Sheekley | Hand Arendall Harrison Sale LLC | 09/20/2022 - 09/19/2030 |
| Michael | Smithart | Walton County Schools | 07/09/2024 - 07/08/2032 |
| Nathan | Sparks | One Okaloosa EDC | 07/01/2021 - 06/30/2029 |
| Shayne | Stewart | Florida Firefighters | 07/01/2021 - 06/30/2029 |
| Pam | Tedesco | The Arland Affiliation | 07/01/2021 - 06/30/2029 |
| Al | Ward | Deep Gulf, Inc. | 07/01/2021 - 06/30/2029 |
| Hon. Paul | Mixon | Okaloosa Board of County Commissioners Liason | 01/01/2024 - 12/31/2024 |
| Hon. Boots | McCormick | Walton Board of County Commissioners Liason | 01/01/2024 - 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: Dee Setzer
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.