Destin Chamber's Ladies Who Launch Powerhouse Women Series: Okaloosa County Commissioner Carolyn Ketchel

In 2023, Ladies Who Launch is continuing its Powerhouse Women Series, highlighting impactful women in our community. Our June Powerhouse Women is Okaloosa County Commissioner Carolyn Ketchel. She took office in November 2014 as our only female County Commissioner and has been a resident of Okaloosa County for more than 35 years.

Carolyn was accepted into the prestigious Presidential Management Fellowship program after graduate school in Social Work Administration. When Carolyn moved to Florida she returned to graduate school and finished her degree work in Counseling and became a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Her local service includes directing Catholic Charities throughout Okaloosa and Walton Counties from 2007-2012. Under her direction, the old St. Mary Church was renovated to become the existing Catholic Charities food pantry.

Carolyn Ketchel had a private Christian Counseling practice for many years.  She was also a long time radio talk show host on WPSM called a 'Christian Perspective with Carolyn Ketchel.'  In 2013, she was appointed to the Florida Gubernatorial Faith-Based and Community-Based Advisory Council. 

The National Association of Social Workers selected Commissioner Ketchel as the Florida statewide Social Worker of the Year in 2016.  This award is given as a result of a lifetime of contributions to the field of social policy and specifically to the field of social work. Carolyn is the first Licensed Clinical Social Worker to hold office in Northwest Florida.

In 2021, The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution awarded the prestigious Patriotism Medal for her service to her country.  This prestigious award is known as the Ellen Hardin Walworth Medial for Patriotism, honoring those who displayed outstanding patriotism in the promotion of our American ideals of “God, Home, and Country” through faithful and meritorious service to community, state and nation.

 She was inducted into the Okaloosa County Women’s Hall of Fame in 2018 for her contemporary service.

She has served twice as the Chairman of the Board of County Commissioners in 2017 and 2021. She was recently reelected to serve a third term on the county commission.  

She has been married to Judge Terry Ketchel for 39 years and has two sons, a daughter in law and three granddaughters.   

Ladies Who Launch, a committee of the Destin Chamber, offers the Chamber's female membership a platform for strategic networking and relationship building, while training, motivating and inspiring those members. 

There is no cost to attend this event, but space is limited, and registration is required. 

Lunch is not served at this event. You are welcome to bring your own.