Donald F. Blake, Ph.D.

Donald F. Blake, PhD.is President of VDB Consulting Group, Stanardsville, Virginia and Managing Principal of AGAPPE Consulting with offices in Virginia, Connecticut, North Carolina and Pennsylvania..  The firms provide organizational consulting and training services to businesses and corporations, civic and community organizations and educational institutions.  Their main focus is on not for profit agencies.

Dr. Blake offers more than 50 years of experience in private and public sector management, training, teaching, research, grant development, and organizational consulting.  Serving as Director of Education for ITT Hartford Insurance group for eleven years, Dr. Blake designed and managed corporate educational/training programs for 19,000 employees. 

At the University of Virginia, Dr. Blake was highly effective bringing together his vast wealth of knowledge and experience to bear on strengthening and expanding town/gown relationships in Charlottesville.  Working with two public school systems and the University of Virginia, the Day in the Life Program (DITL) has become a statewide model for supporting at-risk school children. 

From 1998- 2002, Dr. Blake served as the Executive Director for the Connecticut Campus Compact, where he managed the start-up, development and on-going operations of the CT affiliate of Campus Compact (national) an organization of college and university presidents who are committed to promoting service learning and community service on their campuses.  Prior to his Campus Compact experience, Dr. Blake served in several other capacities ranging from executive director of a community action agency, the Vice President of Academic Affairs at Kentucky State University and the Dean of Instruction at Mississippi Valley State University.

In his spare time, Dr. Blake “putters” around their mini-farm.  It is located in the bucolic environs of Greene County, Virginia, on the eastern slopes of the Blue Ridge Mountains and backed up against Shenandoah National Park.

He has been a frequent presenter/speaker at regional, national and international conferences, and for various professional groups.  In additional, he has authored numerous articles published in scientific journals, national periodicals and books.

Dr. Blake, who is a Korean War Veteran, was awarded his Ph.D. from the University of Rhode Island and has been recognized/honored for his contributions to society by numerous organizations.