Stephen Prestesater

Stephen Prestesater is a seasoned government professional whose experience across federal, county, and municipal roles now informs his work to shape Milton’s economic future, from infrastructure and workforce needs to business development, long-term planning, and regional partnerships.

Everything stems from relationships and communication, Stephen Prestesater recalls, reflecting on the lessons his career has taught him. His journey has taken him from managing programs for the U.S. Navy to coordinating large-scale events, developing government standards and leading public communications across city and county government. Despite the varying roles, Prestesater saw a common vision in how much progress depended on people working together. Today, as Economic Development Director for the City of Milton, Prestesater brings that perspective to a community in the midst of rapid growth.

Prestesater’s career began with the Department of Defense as a recreation aide while attending San Diego State University. He progressed into program management, running large-scale events and rewriting program standards across the Navy.

A series of moves followed as his wife advanced through the Navy. The family relocated to Pensacola, where Prestesater started in municipal government, joining the City of Milton in public relations and communications. The next move took them to Everett, Washington, where he worked as a public information officer for Snohomish County. When the Navy sent them back to Pensacola, a vacancy brought him back to Milton as Economic Development Director, a role he has now held for nearly three years.

Building the Capacity to Support Growth

At Milton, Prestesater is focused on ensuring the city can keep pace with the growth taking shape across the community. Santa Rosa County grew 10.5 percent between 2020 and 2024, bringing more residents and economic activity to the area. But it has also exposed a gap between what the community is gaining and what it can support.

Housing is one of the biggest challenges. With home prices reaching roughly $300,000 to $350,000 against a median household income of about $89,000, many residents can’t afford to buy houses. This risks pushing people out of Milton, leaving the city without the workforce it needs. To address that, he’s advancing an affordable multifamily and workforce housing project in partnership with the Florida Housing Finance Corporation, financed through USDA loans.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Moving a community forward requires people willing to challenge the way things have always been done and look for new ways to create change.

 

Workforce development is another top priority. Milton sits just outside Naval Air Station Whiting Field, which trains all Navy, Coast Guard and Marine Corps helicopter pilots. This proximity has also helped draw aerospace investment to the county, including a new Leonardo facility built to produce the Navy’s TH-73 training helicopter. Distribution companies, including Amazon and Buffalo Rock, have also set up in the area. Prestesater’s priority is building the infrastructure and added capacity needed to support this employer growth.

A key part of meeting that need is Milton’s long-awaited wastewater treatment plant. After nearly two decades in the making, the city council is moving forward with $150 million, 4-million-gallon per day project.

Traffic is another pressure point. The state is planning to widen Highway 90 through downtown Milton to resolve a bottleneck. Prestesater is working with the Department of Transportation’s district office to shape that project around the city’s needs.

He is also working with the Department of Transportation on a regional stormwater park that would let the city decommission its current wastewater facility, just yards from the Blackwater River.

Rethinking How Communities Grow

As these infrastructure and housing projects move forward, another issue has come into focus. Milton’s development code and comprehensive plans, unchanged since the early 2000s, haven’t kept pace with the city’s growth. Prestesater is therefore pushing for a new 25-year master plan built around form-based code, which would give the city greater flexibility to support new businesses.

Partnership is what makes all of these projects possible. He believes economic development cannot happen in silos and that Milton’s progress depends on working together with others.

To the next generation of economic development professionals, Prestesater’s advice is direct: don’t be afraid to ask questions. Moving a community forward requires people willing to challenge the way things have always been done and look for new ways to create change.