Where the wild roam and luxury resides, you’ll find Stephen Kovac. A visionary and lifelong outdoorsman, Stephen’s dreams and experiences have culminated in the Econfina Sporting Club – a premier sporting lodge and retreat for those who seek adventure, connection, and a level of hospitality rarely found in the sporting world.
For decades, Stephen was a leader in technology and cybersecurity, driving innovation and compliance across governments worldwide. During his time in Silicon Valley, he spearheaded strategy and compliance efforts that made history, achieving the first-ever FedRAMP certification for a Zero Trust platform and setting the global standard for cloud compliance certifications. He eventually worked with other industry experts to author and pass the first federal law requiring federal agencies to meet this standard. Today, he is using his lobbying skills to advocate for wildlife conservation and land mitigation projects. Widely recognized as a thought leader, he became a frequent speaker, trusted advisor, and respected voice on security and compliance, and looks forward to bringing his skills to the fishing, hunting, and hospitality industry.
Stephen was shaped early by the rhythm of the outdoors. Growing up in the heartland of Missouri in the Mississippi Flyway – when big mallards were plentiful, quail were abundant, and dove filled the skies, he spent most of his young life learning to fly fish for trout in the Ozark Mountains and the famous Rock Bridge, MO. Stephen also guided hunting trips as a teenager, helping to pay for college expenses, developing a passion for the outdoors, and a deep respect for the bonds it creates between people.
His passion eventually led him to the Econfina River, tucked in the forgotten coast of Northwest Florida – one of the nation’s most pristine sporting landscapes, known for its winding waterways, trophy fishing, and abundant game. Stephen recognized not only an opportunity to preserve this untouched beauty but to create something extraordinary: a destination where rustic adventure meets modern luxury. Thus, the Econfina Sporting Club is born.
It has been his lifelong dream to open a luxury sporting lodge. Stephen’s career required extensive global travel, where he took every chance to visit luxury lodges, admiring their culture and design. These visits inspired his desire for a “best of the best” lodge experience for the Econfina Sporting Club.
Econfina Sporting Club is an exclusive, all-inclusive lodge that blends world-class hunting and fishing, personalized sporting adventures, unmatched hospitality, and gourmet regional cuisine.
Guests can pursue the world-class flats fishing and premier Gulf fishing; hunt for waterfowl, migrating and upland birds; or choose to chase trophy deer, black bucks, wild boar. And, for those that dare – Florida’s infamous alligators. Our lodge staff is trained to curate unique sporting adventures, including shooting on an Olympic-quality sporting clays course, floating in our natural springs, and horseback riding to uninhabited beaches.
We offer West Coast Florida sunset cruises, island-hopping on one of our many boats – from airboats, skiffs, to our unforgettable flagship 55’ sportfishing yacht, and more. Our guided adventures are designed to create an atmosphere where luxury and authenticity coexist.
Econfina Sporting Club is more than a lodge – it’s a place where traditions are honored and memories are made, in an atmosphere where people come together in ways that last a lifetime – your retreat where the wild roam and luxury resides.
As Stephen says, “Please join us in an unforgettable Econfina Sporting Club experience.”
