Dan stoneking fema biography

The Private Sector Is More Than a Stakeholder

In , we were responding to a series of devastating tornados across several states in the country.  I was at FEMA HQs in the National Response coordination center and just finished briefing dozens and dozens of examples of private sector success stories in their efforts to help survivors and communities.   I could have briefed more, but time was limited.  Perhaps I was a bit boastful on their behalf.  I was proud of them.  When I completed my briefing, the guy next to me at the conference table handed me a napkin where he drew a picture of the Goodyear blimp, with the caption underneath, “Dare you.”   It was a joke to him.  But I took it as a challenge.  I made a cold call.  The next day the Goodyear blimp was in the air with a digital message driving folks to donate on behalf of survivors.  The opportunities for the public and private sect