Christopher G. Blake, CAE

Biography
A native of Hartford, Connecticut, Mr. Blake received his bachelor’s degree in liberal arts with a major in journalism from the University of Rhode Island in Kingston, R.I. Mr. Blake earned the Certified Association Executive (CAE) designation from the American Society of Association Executives in January of 2003.

Mr. Blake currently serves as Associate Director and Campus Preparedness Project Director for the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators (iaclea), a professional organization dedicated to advancing public safety for educational institutions through educational resources, advocacy, and professional development programs and services. His iaclea duties include oversight of communications and the web site, state and chapter affiliate relations, distance learning, marketing, awards, and special projects. In his role as iaclea's Campus Preparedness Project Director, Mr. Blake is responsible for managing a $3.5 million U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) grant to iaclea. The grant supports a number of training programs and research projects, including a three-day Critical Incident Command course and web-based emergency planning and training resources for U.S. campus public safety agencies.

Mr. Blake has 15 years of experience as a newspaper reporter and 11 years of experience as an association management executive. For 13 years, Mr. Blake served as a reporter for the Connecticut Post (formerly the Bridgeport Post) in Bridgeport, Connecticut. During that time, he served for eight years as a legislative reporter covering the General Assembly and state agencies at the State Capitol in Hartford.

In 1993, Mr. Blake joined the Insurance Association of Connecticut as public relations director. He left in 1994 and became an executive assistant to Lieutenant Gov. Eunice S. Groark in the administration of Gov. Lowell P. Weicker, Jr.

Mr. Blake was hired as director of communications by the Connecticut Bar Association in April of 1995. His duties included: serving as senior public relations counsel to the Executive Director and the CBA Officers, directing media relations and public relations activities, leading a team of professionals in editing and pre-press print production of CBA publications and marketing materials, and directing and supervising all marketing activities for the 11,000-member CBA. He also served as bar and legal news editor of the Connecticut Lawyer, the CBA’s monthly magazine.

He has been a member of the Communications Section of the National Association of Bar Executives, based in Chicago, Illinois, for the past nine years. He served on the section’s executive council from 2001 to 2004 and served as the section’s chair during the 2002-2003 year. He also served as editor of the section’s newsletter, Communicators Talk. He has presented numerous educational programs at section workshops.

Active in community service activities, Mr. Blake served from 2001 to 2004 on the statewide advisory committee of LEAVE A LEGACY™ Connecticut, a statewide public awareness effort to promote charitable giving through wills and estate plans. He served on the board of directors of the Greater Hartford Jaycees for five years (1991 through 1995) and held the positions of Community Development Vice President, President-Elect, President, and Chairman of the Board. He also served as Management Development Vice President for the Connecticut Jaycees in 1995-1996.

Mr. Blake is a member of the American Society of Association Executives.