Mark Dessauer
Consultant
Spitfire Strategies
Originally from Cincinnati, Mark has worked for the last 25 years on creating change globally, nationally and locally across think tanks, US embassies, state governments, universities, nonprofits and foundations. From community solutions to childhood obesity across the country to statewide early childhood and oral health campaigns, Mark’s communication work has focused on improving the health and well-being of hundreds of communities. Over the past seven years at Spitfire, Mark has worked with early childhood advocates to develop a messaging framework and trainings for Adverse Childhood Experiences on behalf of the Kresge and Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, provided communication counsel and training to RWJF communities working to Mobilizing Action for Resilient Communities (MARC) and established a national nonprofit strategic communication training program for JP Morgan Chase’s Office of Nonprofit Engagement over 50 cities across the country. Through this work, Mark has partnered with over 1400 community development, workforce improvement, affordable housing advocates to build their own strategic communication plan, targeted messaging and develop powerful stories to help them achieve their overall goals. In addition, Mark has worked with Prosperity Now (formerly CFED) on their Childhood Savings Accounts strategy and Racial Wealth Divide initiatives. In order to keep his lightbulb lit, Mark has attended and help plan every frank gathering at the University of Florida’s Center for Public Interest Communications since it started in 2014.
Prior to coming to Spitfire Strategies, Mark was Director of Communications for the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation. In his role with the foundation he worked to integrate communications as a part of their capacity support for grantees. Mark was responsible for developing and implementing the communications strategies, media relations and internal communications to support the Foundation’s initiatives and grantees from healthy food systems to oral health and access to care. Mark first encountered Spitfire Strategies in 2003 as Communication Director for Active Living By Design, a RWJF national program to create healthier communities. He guided every grantee through the Spitfire communication training and helped them develop their stories for national and local media.
