About Me
I was raised in Boston, where my parents still live. My family and I live in Atlanta, which we absolutely adore. My day job is Director of Valuation services at Habif, Arogeti & Wynne, the largest independent accounting firm in the southeastern United States.
I came to the valuation business by way of 10 years combined in venture capital and investment banking. I have lived and worked in places such as Minsk, Kiev, New York and Richmond. A good deal of my international experience was with companies in Russia, Israel, Ukraine, Finland, and Belarus. Interestingly enough, I’m also a second generation business appraiser. My father, Thomas Blake, is one of the very best in the world in this field and I’m fortunate to have the benefit of his knowledge and experience at my beck and call.
I have worked in many industries, including information technology, medical devices, drug development, computer hardware, electronic entertainment, telecommunications, publishing, business services, e-commerce and Internet-driven services, aerospace, and paper & timber.
I earned my BA in Economics and French from Franklin & Marshall College and my MBA from Georgetown University. I also earned the CFA Charter in 2003.
My other professional interests include StartupLounge, of which I am co-founder, the Ukrainian American Chamber of Commerce, of which I am also a co-founder, the TI:GER program, of which I am a board member, the Georgia Society of CPAs, where I serve on the Midtown/Buckhead Chapter’s Executive Committee, the Team Ivy networking group, where I help organize the monthly breakfast meeting.
I am an avid video game fan, chess player, have a passion for music and love many sports, particularly baseball. I am a truly obnoxious Boston Red Sox fan. Finally, I am a major radio junkie. I grew up listening to AM all the time, then graduated to shortwave (especially when I lived abroad) and now I’ve got satellite radios everywhere I go.
You can learn more about me through my LinkedIn profile. Be warned, however, that I only accept invitations to link from people whom I know reasonably well.