Blake is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional and a Registered Forester in the State of North Carolina. Prior to joining Aurora Blake was the President and CEO of The Forestland Group (TFG) where he began working in 2000 as a forestland analyst. He held several other positions at TFG including Director of Investments and Vice President of Investments. Prior to joining TFG Blake was the Senior Associate Appraiser for Canal Forest Resources in Charlotte, North Carolina. At Canal, Blake completed a variety of timberland valuation and investment analysis projects. 

Blake serves on several non-profit Boards including Open Table Ministries, Inc., a local charitable organization serving the homeless community in Durham, NC, Yolany’s Hope, Inc., an international non-profit focused on support and education for children in Latin America, and Newhope Church based in Durham, NC.