Joe Blake

A Denver native, Joe Blake has been a vital part of the business and educational landscape of Colorado for more than five decades. While his early career included such diverse pursuits as FBI agent, legislative aide and real estate developer, you may know Mr. Blake best as former president of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, where he worked tirelessly to diversify the region’s economy and strengthen cooperation between business and civic leadership.  If that’s not it, perhaps you know Mr. Blake from his efforts to help create Highlands Ranch or his work to help bring major league baseball to Colorado.  Or, could it be Mr. Blake’s role in passing Referendum C in 2005, or his leadership as the first-ever chancellor of the Colorado State University System that you recognize? However you may know him, there’s no denying that Joe Blake has made meaningful and lasting contributions to our city and our state.

He was born in Denver and attended East High School. Mr. Blake went on to attend Dartmouth and the University of Colorado Law School.  A passionate community advocate and leader, he has served on a wide variety of boards and commissions, a few of which include: The Denver Foundation; Denver Scholarship Foundation;  Denver Police Foundation; Colorado Baseball Commission; Colorado Housing and Finance Authority; Denver Area Boy Scouts; Metro Denver Sports Commission; and the Denver South Platte River Commission. 

Mr. Blake has received significant recognition for his business and civic leadership, which includes: Denver Business Journal, Legacy Award, 2014; Metro Volunteers’ Heart of Volunteerism Lifetime Achievement Award, 2011; Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce Del Hock Award, 2011; Boy Scouts Distinguished Eagle Award, 2009 and the American Jewish Committee National Human Relations Award, 2005, among others.  Devoted to his family, Mr. Blake has two children and four grandsons. He has a love of history and Shakespeare and is a former handball and cycling enthusiast.