This week, we bring you two stories from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010, one from a native Louisianian scientist and the other from a fourth-generation Louisiana fisherman. 

Part 1: Louisianan scientist Estelle Robichaux struggles to deal with the massive oil spill affecting her state while also balancing personal problems.

Part 2:  When Lousiana fisherman Robert Campo receives news of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, he knows his life is about to change.

Estelle Robichaux, a native Louisianian, is a senior restoration project analyst at Environmental Defense Fund. A broadly-trained scientist with a passion for wetlands conservation and restoration, Estelle has a background in natural and social sciences as well as extensive experience in science education. Her field and research background spans wetlands, marine environments and wildlife, from Costa Rica to South Africa to South Caicos. Estelle advocates for the implementation of science-based restoration projects and leads project-related efforts for Restore the Mississippi River Delta. Estelle also works on science communication and tracking the development of scientific and research programs in the wake of the Gulf oil disaster.

Robert Campo is the owner of Campo's Marina located in Shell Beach, Louisiana.  He's a fourth generation commercial fisherman and the great-grandson of the late Celestino Campo, the founder of Campo's Marina started in 1903.  He's the grandson of the late Frank Blackie Campo (a true legend) and the son of Frank J. Campo Jr.  Campo's Marina is the oldest family-owned business in St.Bernard parish and it's one of the top ten oldest family owned businesses that still exists today in Louisiana.  He owns and operates his oyster business with two oyster boats and a farm of nearly 1500 acres of oyster grounds.

Oil: Stories from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill

In this episode, I spoke with Dante Disparte, who is the founder and CEO of Risk Cooperative, a strategy, risk and capital management firm focused on mid-market opportunities, market expansion and innovation on a global scale. He is the co-author of the book “Global Risk Agility and Decision Making” and was recently selected as one of the 40 leaders under 40 by the Washington Business Journal and among the top 100 most influential leaders in D.C., in the inaugural Powermeter 100 list. Prior to forming Risk Cooperative, Mr. Disparte served as the managing director of Clements Worldwide, a leading insurance brokerage with customers in more than 170 countries. He is also the Vice Chairman and Head of Policy and Communications for the Libra Association.

We talked about his proposed idea for a public/private initiative to fund bioterrorism and pandemic preparedness, the potential impacts to the insurance industry, and what risk managers can do to better prepare for a pandemic.

The World Needs a DARPA-Style Project to Prevent Pandemics by Tom Ridge and Dante Disparte
https://hbr.org/2017/04/the-world-needs-a-darpa-style-project-to-prevent-pandemics

E6 - The DARPA Project that Could Have Been, Dante Disparte, Chairman Risk Cooperative

Emergency management is a growing discipline as our world has become increasingly more complex, interconnected, and vulnerable to hazards both natural and human caused. The role of the emergency manager, including leaders in public safety, has expanded and become more vital to cities, counties, states, and large organizations, and much of this work can be contained and effectively managed within projects, be they longer term plans,  disaster recovery, mitigation measures or short-term emergency responses to a disaster. This podcast series focuses on project management topics for emergency managers. Come with us as we ride the wave!

E6 - The DARPA Project that Could Have Been, Dante Disparte, Chairman Risk Cooperative

Andrew Boyarsky

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