In September, I began an internship with the National Center for Disaster Preparedness (NCDP) at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health. My goal was to learn how institutions respond to disasters and where they fall short, as well as understand how awareness can be turned into action.
Initial Learning and Contributions
I spent my first few weeks reviewing climate justice materials and synthesizing information for public audiences. This helped me develop a deeper understanding of the complex issues surrounding disaster preparedness and response. I also contributed to writing a grant proposal aimed at empowering girls as agents of change in disaster risk reduction.
The Role of Storytelling
One key takeaway from this experience was the importance of storytelling in making complex issues accessible and engaging for different audiences. To apply this knowledge, I worked with the NCDP research team on a book chapter using a journalistic style that captured not just what happens during disasters but also why these events occur.
Interdisciplinary Focus
As I delved deeper into my work, my focus became increasingly interdisciplinary. I analyzed topics such as:
- Hurricanes
- Global frameworks like the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 (SFDRR)
- Environmental costs of AI technology, including carbon footprinting of data centers’ energy consumption per unit processed data per year
- Federal funding shifts related to equity
Insights on Resilience
What struck me most about resilience work is that it is heavily influenced by policies and power structures surrounding it. This often goes unspoken but has significant implications for who gets left behind in disaster situations or who benefits from recovery efforts.
Conclusion
My time at NCDP provided valuable insights into disaster preparedness and response efforts—insights that will likely shape my future work in this field as I continue to explore ways to make complex issues more accessible and engaging for various audiences.
I’m Mark W. Lamplugh Jr., a visionary Chief Executive Officer, Board Member, and best-selling Author with over 25 years of experience driving significant revenue growth and optimizing ROI across the healthcare, wellness, and media industries. Throughout my career, I’ve consistently transformed underperforming operations into thriving ventures by building top-tier marketing organizations, implementing data-driven strategies, and leading transformational change. My empathetic, collaborative, and adaptable leadership style has allowed me to cultivate inclusive cultures of innovation, develop and retain top talent, and forge strong partnerships that fuel organizational success.
Adept in executive leadership, strategic business planning, and brand and marketing strategy, I have a proven track record of boosting annual revenues—achieving up to $1.3B in oncology over three years and generating $360M in mental health initiatives. My approach combines strategic vision with hands-on execution, as evidenced by my success in launching innovative facilities, expanding services for addiction and mental health care, and enhancing organizational brand visibility. As author of “The AI Marketing Playbook,” I contribute thought leadership on the integration of artificial intelligence in marketing, a role that showcases my commitment to staying at the forefront of industry innovation.
I also bring my insights and expertise to a broad audience as the host of cable tv & global streaming of “Street Level Marketing Show,” while my writing has been featured in major publications such as Entrepreneur, Business.com, The Startup, and Kivo Daily. Whether I’m implementing targeted digital marketing campaigns that engage over a million individuals monthly or overseeing multi-million dollar budgets to maximize return on investment, I approach every challenge with a combination of strategic planning, creative problem-solving, and unwavering dedication. Above all, I am passionate about expanding access to high-quality addiction and mental health care through innovative solutions that drive both patient outcomes and organizational growth.
Mark serves on the board of One World for Life, National Fire Heritage Center, and the Institute for Responder Wellness.
Mark (https://marklamplugh.com) is one of the top marketing executives in the United States and has revolutionized how companies reach potential clients thru influence, SEO, social, PR, and traditional marketing. His expertise in Marketing, Social Media, Digital Marketing, and Public Relations has generated millions of dollars in revenue for several national companies. Mark documents many of his techniques in his book “Beginners Guide to Social & Digital Media.” and “Marketing Playbook for Social Media,” which was named the top 100 social media marketing books of all time by Book Authority. He’s also a professional advocate for the behavioral and mental health of firefighters and other first responders. Marks articles have been published in Better Marketing, Startup Magazine, Social Media Today, Kivo Daily, Biz Catalyst 360, Fire Engineering, Firehouse Magazine, and several others.
One of his companies, niches, are marketing products and services to the public safety industry and their employees, specifically mental & behavioral health services. He can be reached for comment at ceo@influencemediasolutions.com
23,000 #1 Connections, 40,000,000 US B2B Contacts and 300,000,000 B2b/B2C email contacts as well as 1,000,000+ monthly social media reach. https://marklamplugh.com
