Board President
​Mr. ERic J. Joyner

     Mr. Eric Justin Joyner is the President of the Matrix Community Outreach Center. As a devoted man of God, he strives to assist his community in many ways: as the president of Kiwanis, a board member of the Walton County Fellowship of Christian Athletes, a mentor in Take Stock In Children Scholarship Program, and as the head soccer coach for a local travel team and volunteer assistant coach for Walton Middle School .

     As a partner in Triangle Chevrolet Buick and Genesis Automotive, he contributes to one of the largest and most economically influencing companies in DeFuniak Springs, offering jobs and opportunities to his community.

     Mr. Joyner gives all credit for his selflessness and patience to God, specifying that his values involve spending time with his family, vacationing with his children and wife and skiing with friends, but also offering time to those in need.

      It is said that what makes a person is what brings them happiness, and Mr. Joyner finds his happiness in his community, seeing to the needs of children and the elderly, giving his time to his own children, and building relationships with others.

​His personal motto expresses his intentions and wishes in life perfectly: “Exhaust yourself on Earth for the Glory of God; You can rest in Heaven.”

Executive Director
​Mrs. Candy L. Nowling

​Candy Nowling is the Executive Director for the Matrix Community Outreach Center. Daily she is responsible for garnering new opportunities, promoting stronger branding, and cultivating relationships with potential funders. She manages volunteers, by developing high-performance teams, manages budgets, and achieves goals to ensure that all programs and services are excellent and in keeping with the organization’s long-term mission. Candy is a Certified Community Emergency Response Team Instructor for the Walton County CERT Program. She is on staff with the Walton County School District as a Substitute Teacher and is an active member with public service groups and clubs throughout her community. She takes a vision and makes it a reality through sound, strategic development. She intuitively sees the threads of opportunity that wind through an organization, brings them together into a coherent whole, helping to prosper her community. She is an inspirational leader who tells stories that inspire action. Respected as a credible voice in decision making and establishing long term relationships, Candy earns a seat at the table wherever she serves. During disasters on behalf of the Matrix she takes on the role of Human Services Branch Director for Walton County Emergency Management and oversees 5 Emergency Support Functions. Candy is a graduate of North West Florida State College and is currently enrolled at Florida State University in the Emergency Management and Homeland Security Certificate program.

Vice President 
Mr. Brandon T. N. Elkins

Mr. Brandon Elkins views his community and neighbors as being extensions of his family. As the Community Liason for the Matrix Community Outreach Center, it is important to him to be sociable and available to those in need. Mr. Elkins is the Accounts Receivable Clerk for HydroScout and a Board Member for Grit & Grace Inc., furthering his exposure to the community and the exposure of the Matrix and what it is we hope and strive to do. His ability to work as a leader allows Mr. Elkins to help others work for a common good and towards goals that benefit the whole. Mr. Elkins’s family matters to him as well; as a newly married man, he spends a lot of his free time with his new wife. It is because of his prioritizing his family that he works so hard to better our community and relationships with our neighbors. Brandon believes that one can honor history while also moving into the future and adapting.

Brandon has a personal motto he takes from Romans: “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” 8:31.

TREASURER
​Mrs. Michelle L. Johnson

     As the Secretary of the Matrix Community Outreach Center and the Assistant Vice President and Branch Manager for the Okaloosa Walton CRA, Ms. Michelle Lynn Johnson believes in personal capability. From understanding and having a grasp on the mechanical functions of motors to being a Committee Board Member for Habitat for Humanity and Treasurer for Kiwanis Club of DeFuniak,

     Ms. Johnson knows that improvement starts from the inside and applies in all areas of a person’s life. She is a critical thinker and problem solver in many aspects, and there is no better way to perfect this strength than by being a mother. She adores her children and family, and the children in our community are truly her passion.

     The best way to cultivate the future is to reach those of us that will build it. Coming from an intelligent and strong woman who built herself up, there are “no excuses” when it comes to improvement and growth.
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PIO/Media Specialist
​Mrs. Catie Feeney

Catie Feeney, 28, was born in Glastonbury, CT and raised in Clearwater, Florida. (Please, don’t hold her “Yankee" roots against her 😉 ) She attended Florida State University in Tallahassee for her undergraduate degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice, with minors in Public Administration, Psychology and Certification in Emergency Management and Homeland Security. In her undergrad, she was a founding member of the Alpha Omicron Pi Fraternity, as well as served on multiple executive boards for campus organizations, including the University Visitor Center, Lady Spirithunters, and student government political parties. Following her undergraduate degree, Feeney worked as an Admissions Officer and Advisor for FSU Panama City, where she earned her Master of Science degree in Corporate and Public Communications. 

Feeney has a passion for volunteering in her community and serving others. While living in Bay County, Feeney served on the Board of Directors for The Arc of the Bay, (formally known as the St. Andrews Bay Center), serving adults with disabilities with job training and life skills management. While in her Master’s program, Feeney provided marketing and communications support to the center, free of charge, as they made their corporate transition to the Arc title. In addition, she served as a mentor in the Take Stock in Children program, as well as volunteered in local animal shelters and other community organizations. During Hurricane Michael, Feeney served as a member of the Public Information Officer team (ESF 14) in response to the devastation in Bay County. 

After relocating to DeFuniak Springs with husband, John Feeney, Civil Engineer for Alday Howell Engineering (Crestview office) and working full-time for the Walton County Tourist Development Council, Feeney is excited to plant her roots and help serve her new community.

Grant Specialist
​Mrs. Cindy Anderson

Cindy Anderson was raised in the military until the age of 15 years, when her father retired and they made their family home in DeFuniak Springs. Marriage, college and her desire to see as much of the world as she could kept her away until she returned "home" and has lived here non-stop for over 37 years. She has never regretted that decision.
 
After studying German at the University of Alabama in Birmingham, she began studies in the French language. During that time, she enrolled in the French immersion program at the University of Quebec at Chicoutimi, Quebec, Canada and returned to obtain her bachelor’s degree in French Education from the University of West Florida. She was hired by the Walton School District to start a French language program at Walton High School. She was in the classroom for 8 years and then began working as a guidance counselor at Walton High. For the last 17 years as a career counselor she served at Emerald Coast Technical College. She has served as the Executive Director for the Walton Education Foundation and then in a program support capacity as well as mentoring students for the Take Stock in Children scholarship program, which she continues to do to this day. Travel is also a huge passion and I love sharing travel  experiences with my family members.
 
She is a member of the First United Methodist Church of DeFuniak Springs, where she serves as part of the AV team for the praise band. She is currently chairman of the His Kids Preschool board, where she also volunteers teaching French once a week to the 4 year old VPK class  Because of her role as chairman, she also serves on the church council and finance committees. She is a member of the DeFuniak Springs Rotary Club, where she has served twice as president and is now acting secretary.  Since retirement in July 2019, she was excited to be able to volunteer one day a week each at the Emerald Coast Pierce Family Children’s Advocacy Center in DeFuniak Springs, be a part of the distribution team for Food for Thought, and be a library volunteer at West DeFuniak Elementary School.

"Life's most persistent and urgent question is, What are you doing for others?"
Martin Luther King, Jr.

Deputy Harold Shover

Mr. Harold Shover is a deputy employed with the Walton County Sheriff’s Office and is a board member for the Matrix Community Outreach Center. Deputy Shover is very involved in his community; he is the Chairman of the Community Traffic Safety Team, Chair of the Prevention Coalition, Chair of the DJJ CAB for Region 1, Charter Organization Representative for the local BSA Troop 525, member of the AMVETS Post #178, board member of the Emerald Coast Crime Stoppers, and President of the Concerns of Police Survivors for Northwest Florida.  He is also a CERT instructor and founder of the Explorer Post #436 for the Sheriff’s Office and the Sheriff’s Office Honor Guard. With multiple chair positions in community organizations, it is a priority to Deputy Shover to work for the betterment of our area, and with these platforms, he is also able to share information about the Matrix COC and bring struggling families and individuals to our doors for assistance. Having been in law enforcement for many years as a deputy now and since 2002, Deputy Shover has also served as an Air Force Security Police officer, federal DOD police officer, and then an Office of Naval Intelligence Police Officer. More importantly to Deputy Shover is his family and his role as a father and husband as he and his wife have raised their children with values they both hold dear. Deputy Shover works in the interest of children, elderly, and veteran services.

Mr. Josh Nelson

Bio Coming Soon

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