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Mark Dessauer

Senior Vice President

Mark Dessauer Headshot

Mark has created change for the last 25 years through strategic communications, powerful messaging, engaging trainings and lightbulb moments. What is a lightbulb moment? It is a simple change of mind, seeing something in a different light, and deciding to act in another manner as a result. From a glimmer to a blinding flash of inspiration, these sparks are central to creating social change. From community-driven healthy places across the United States to early childhood and oral health campaigns across North Carolina, Mark’s communication work has focused on improving the health and well-being of hundreds of communities.

At Spitfire, Mark’s work centers on building communication capacity and training for nonprofit and foundation leaders. Through this work, Mark has partnered with over 600 community development, workforce improvement and affordable housing advocates to build their own strategic communication plans, targeted messaging and develop powerful stories to help them achieve their goals. In addition, Mark provides communication strategy and support for Enterprising Ventures of Color, Prosperity Now (formerly CFED) on its Childhood Savings Accounts strategy and Racial Wealth Divide initiatives. To keep his lightbulb lit, Mark has attended and helped plan every frank gathering at the University of Florida’s Center for Public Interest Communications since it started in 2014.

Previous to his work at Spitfire, Mark was director of communications for the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation of North Carolina and designed several statewide campaigns to promote oral health literacy and supporting free health clinics. Mark also worked for over a decade with Active Living by Design (a RWJF national program office) to define the field, shift the narrative, and engage community activists and partnerships on designing healthier communities. Through this national work on Smart Growth, Active Transportation, Complete Streets, community gardens and Healthy Corner Stores, Mark has brought some of these lessons learned to Durham, North Carolina. Mark has worked on campaigns and initiatives to create Durham’s first bicycle advocacy group, open streets movement, Durham public schools working farm, walk- and bike-to-school programs, bicycle boulevards plans and planning for the new Rails to Trails greenway crossing through the city. Mark enjoys hiking, biking, and exploring nature and the food system with his family and dogs. Mark recently completed the northern Camino trail in Spain, walking 507 miles in 24 days – truly active transportation.