Prior to joining the firm, Blake was a tax partner with the international accounting firm of KPMG Peat Marwick and also served as Tax Director with a Fortune 500 corporation.

Blake’s clients include multi-national, publicly traded corporations, as well as closely held owner-managed businesses. His industry concentration includes manufacturing and distribution, service companies, restaurant, shipping and transportation, energy and healthcare. In addition to corporate, partnership and individual tax compliance and planning, Blake is experienced in the design and implementation of executive compensation plans.

Blake is a nationally recognized expert and frequent author and speaker on State and Federal Location-based Incentive Credits (LBIC’s), including State Enterprise Zone Credits, Federal Empowerment, Renewal Community, Indian Tribal Lands and Gulf Opportunity Zone Credits. He has also assisted in the development of specialized software, which is used by over 200 tax departments throughout the U.S. to identify LBIC’s.

A regular tax columnist for the AICPA Corporate Tax Insider Newsletter (national distribution of over 70,000) and a regular contributor to the Long Beach Business Journal’s “Dollars & Sense,” Blake has lectured at a number of universities, including University of Southern California (Masters and Business Tax Program) and California State University, Long Beach (Annual Tax Conference) as well as various business and tax forums throughout the country. He has also been a technical resource for a number of news organizations, including USA Today, Los Angeles Times, KTLA News, Orange County News Channel, KNX News Radio, KFI Radio and various Business Journals.

With over twenty-nine years of experience, Blake is a member of the Tax Division of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), the California Society of Certified Public Accountants and Cal Chamber Tax Committee. Blake serves and has served on numerous community boards, including 2008 Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce Chairman, 2011-2012 President-Elect of Long Beach Rotary, Vice-Chairman of the (post-bankruptcy) Orange County Treasury Advisory Committee, Long Beach Assistance League, Long Beach Symphony Corporate Circle, member of the City of Long Beach “Red Team” (Boeing C-17 project) and the city’s Checkered Flag Team (automotive industry economic development).

Blake received a master’s degree in taxation from the University of Southern California and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from California State University Long Beach.

Contact Info: blakec@hcvt.com / (562) 216-1800 / Long Beach Office