Nathan Sparks

A 26 year veteran of the economic development industry, Nathan Sparks began his career as a Research Analyst with the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama.  In this role, Nathan was heavily involved in the state’s automotive recruitment strategy.  Nathan later joined The St. Joe Company where his primary responsibility was the implementation of a comprehensive economic development branding and marketing strategy for the northwest Florida region.  Following his time with St. Joe, Nathan served as Executive Director of the Brunswick and Glynn County (Georgia) Development Authority, where he spearheaded the development of three new industrial parks and was responsible for generating tens of millions of dollars of new investment and hundreds of new jobs.

Since 2013, Nathan has served as Executive Director of One Okaloosa EDC, a non-profit private-public partnership dedicated to supporting the economic vitality of Okaloosa County and its municipalities.  While at One Okaloosa, Nathan’s efforts to champion workforce development partnerships, economic incentive programs and industrial site investments have resulted in a number of successful locations and expansions from a diverse set of employers companies including Central Moloney, Boeing, Gulf Air Group, MAG Aerospace, On-Point Defense Technologies, Precision Measurement Inc., Dynamic Software Solutions, GS Gelato, Props Craft Brewery, Suncoast Converters, RaceChip, Beast Code, Allegiant Airlines, and Fort Walton Machining.

Nathan is a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) and holds a B.A. in International Studies and Economics from Oglethorpe University in Atlanta, Georgia.  He was awarded a Certificate in Economic Development from the University of Oklahoma’s Economic Development Institute in 2002 and a Certificate in Leadership from Northwestern University in 2021. Along with his responsibilities at One Okaloosa, he currently serves on the Statewide Advisory Board for the Florida Small Business Development Center, as Northwest Florida Regional Director for the Florida Economic Development Council and as a board member for Florida’s Great Northwest.