Leveraging military installation and local community capabilities and resources
to reduce costs or risks by identifying shared values and opportunities.
All Work Groups convene monthly, in-person and/or remotely, to discuss progress, identify solutions and vet new ideas. If you are located in the tri-county area and are interested in participating on a Work Group, please send an email to kay@oneokaloosa.org
Leadership Team
Nathan Sparks, EDC Executive Director
Kay Rasmussen, EDC Associate Director
John Schuliger, Consultant, Delonix Professional Consulting
Copyright Tri-County Community Partnership Initiative. All rights reserved.
| Active Work Groups | LOE Champions / WG Co-Chairs |
| Infrastructure LOE | Colonel Michelle Sterling, 96 CEG/CC |
MIRR Implementation Mission: Support Emerald Coast Regional Council MIRR project recommendations/implementation | Jeff Fanto, Community Eric Rushing, Eglin AFB Matt Vera, Hurlburt Field |
| Quality of Life LOE | Colonel Kristen Wood, 1 SOMSG/CC |
Childcare Mission: Development and sustainment of childcare workforce in collaboration with the Emerald Coast Children's Movement | Angie Strumeyer, Community Tami Gerstbrodie, Eglin AFB Sharon Brewer, Hurlburt Field |
Workforce Housing Mission: Identify and champion community and private sector affordable workforce housing developments in collaboration with the Okaloosa Florida Health Housing Coalition | Brittnee Orr, Community Randall Rowland, Eglin AFB Veronica Brieno Rankin, Hurlburt Field |
| Education / Training LOE | Colonel Christopher Hagemeyer, 96 MSG/CC |
Career Readiness Mission: Assist transitioning service members and military spouses in understanding local employment opportunities and in obtaining gainful employment in the civilian workforce | Kelly Jordan, Community Kelly Childs, Eglin AFB Nicole Heller, Hurlburt Field |
Talent Pipeline Mission: Address development of skilled workforce pipeline; education, certifications, apprenticeships | Jennifer Beasley, Community Emily Dahm, Eglin AFB F. Scott Norman, Hurlburt Field |
| Enabling Opportunities LOE | Nathan Sparks, One Okaloosa |
Enabling Tools Mission: Explore and identify funding and partnership tools to support potential projects; i.e. grants, IGSA | Sheila Fitzgerald, Community Dana McIntyre, Eglin AFB Steve Loken, Hurlburt Field |
TCPI Work Groups
The TCPI Advisory Board developed an avenue to facilitate community and grassroots input through the utilization of targeted work groups. The Advisory Board has identified three overarching efforts; 1) Infrastructure, 2) Quality of Life, and 3) Education/training. Each line of effort is championed by a military leader. Targeted Work Groups are identified as needed and structured under a respective line of effort. Each Work Group consists of volunteer military and civilian subject matter experts and members brainstorm for innovative ideas, conduct SWOT analyses, vet ideas, and progress viable project ideas with respective stakeholders for public-public and public-private (P4) partnerships. These tailored Work Groups, augmented by ad hoc Task Forces as needed, are led by three volunteer co-chairs; an Eglin AFB, Hurlburt Field and community representative. In order to assist all Work Groups with potential project funding solutions -- local, state or federal -- a Funding Oversight Work Group was also established.
Entity | Representative |
| Building Industry Association of Okaloosa-Walton | Jennifer Fleming, Executive Director |
| CareerSource Okaloosa-Walton | Michele Burns, Executive Director |
| CHELCO | Tina Rushing, Government Coordinator |
| Crestview Chamber of Commerce | TBD |
| Destin Chamber of Commerce | Kim Wintner, Board Member |
| Early Learning Coalition | Dana Crupi Hodges, Director |
| Eglin AFB, 96TW Representative/Champion | Col Michelle Sterling, Commander 96CEG |
| Eglin AFB, 96TW Representative/Champion | Col Christopher Hagemeyer, Commander 96MSG |
| Emerald Coast Association of Realtors | Sam Kinkaid, Realtor |
| Florida Power & Light | Bernard Johnson |
| Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce | TBD |
| Hurlburt Field, 1SOW Representative/Champion | Col Kristen Wood, Commander 1SOMSG |
| League of Cities: City of Crestview | Councilmember Dusty Allison |
| League of Cities: City of Fort Walton Beach | Councilmember Payne Walker |
| Niceville-Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce | Richard Pruitt |
| Northwest Florida State College | President Mel Ponder |
| Okaloosa County | Commissioner Trey Goodwin |
| Okaloosa School District | John Spolski, Assistant Superintendent |
| Okaloosa Gas District | Gordon King, CEO |
| Santa Rosa County | Shannon Ogletree, Economic Development |
| Walton County | Uriah Matthews, Economic Development Alliance |
| Member at Large | Gordy Fornell, Lt Gen USAF Ret |
| Member at Large | Jim Heald, Col USAF Ret |
TCPI ADVISORY BOARD
The TCPI Advisory Board consists of volunteer community public and private partners. Collectively they represent a wide variety of community leaders whose function is to help identify, vet and recommend public-public and public-private (P4) partnerships capable of sustaining military base missions and municipal functions. The Advisory Board is comprised of local governments, installation representatives, service providers, utility companies, medical experts, building and real estate associations, chambers of commerce, etc. The success of TCPI is rooted in the Advisory Board creating and refining targeted work groups to address emergent needs and partnership opportunities. These tailored Work Groups, augmented by ad hoc Task Forces as needed, are led by three volunteer co-chairs; an Eglin AFB, Hurlburt Field and community representative.