J. Paul Blake, a native of Belmar, New Jersey, has enjoyed a distinguished public relations career in the private sector, higher education and municipal government.  The former director of media and external relations at the Daniel J. Evans School of Public Policy & Governance, University of Washington, Blake served the City of Seattle as Director of Community Relations Development and Communications Director at Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) where he received a Distinguished Achievement Award. He served three terms as president of the Evergreen Chapter of the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) and currently serves as District IV Representative on ASPA’s National Council. He received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Evergreen Chapter in 2013 and received the prestigious Donald C. Stone Service to ASPA Award in 2016.  A graduate of Drake University where he earned a journalism degree, Blake has been a contributor to several public relations/marketing and water industry books and regularly contributes articles to professional publications.