By Nathan Sparks, CEcD
Executive Director of One Okaloosa EDC
Well, that’s a wrap! Truly hard to believe, but the 8th annual TeCMEN Industry Day held on May 14 at the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Convention Center has now come and gone. If you were among our 370+ attendees, 46 exhibitors, 15 speakers or 18 sponsors – thank you! We certainly value your support and partnership in executing what has become one of One Okaloosa EDC’s signature annual events.
As many of you know, there is a special group of individuals known as the TeCMEN Industry Day (TID) Planning Committee. These individuals have become our “go to” group for brainstorming new and innovative additions to the annual TID agenda. In fact, new components of the program including the Speed Matchmaking with Federal Buyers segment we added last year, or the extremely well-received “Student Power Hour” (which allowed our 100+ student attendees to have dedicated time on the Expo Hall floor with our exhibitors) were borne out of conversations with the TID Planning Committee. This year’s TID Planning Committee included Nate Pierpoint, Rich Pruitt, Holly Karr, Nic Dezinski, David Haines, Laura Campbell, Caralee Gibson, Lauren Lee and Elizabeth Hayes – please join me in thanking them for their fantastic contributions! Finally, another group that I continue to be amazed by every single day is our dedicated One Okaloosa EDC team. As always, Kay Rasmussen, Cole Randall, Natalia Germany, Linda Sumblin and Monica Earley truly went above and beyond to ensure that this year’s version of TeCMEN Industry Day met the high standard that we have established over the years – thank you, team!
Of course, along with TeCMEN Industry Day, May is also graduation season. It seems that wherever you look these days – whether it be in person or on social media – people are celebrating these major milestones in the lives of their loved ones. On the personal front, my wife and I had the pleasure of attending our son Jackson’s graduation from Northwest Florida State College on May 9, and we’ll soon be attending his graduation from Collegiate High School. As one of literally thousands in an adoring audience of family and friends at the NWFSC graduation, I couldn’t help but acknowledge how blessed we are to live in a community that values education so dearly - and one that offers numerous pathways to a productive and meaningful life. Lastly, to all the graduates out there, congratulations on a job well done! If we here at One Okaloosa EDC can ever be a resource for you along your career journey, please let us know.
