Roger Blake is currently the President and CEO of Merit Network, Inc., a non-profit corporation governed by Michigan’s public universities. Merit owns and operates the nation’s longest-running regional research and education network, having been formed in 1966 by the University of Michigan, Michigan State University and Wayne State University. Michigan’s public universities created Merit as a shared resource to help meet their common need for advanced networking, and it is currently considered a national leader in this area. In the late 1980s through the early 1990s, Merit operated the National Science Foundation Network, the precursor to the modern Internet. Today, Merit provides high-performance networking, cyber security solutions and community-building services to nearly 400 higher education, K-12, library, governmental, community and healthcare organizations, among others.
Merit’s altruistic mission is “Connecting organizations and building community”. For more information about Merit, please visit merit.edu and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merit_Network.
Mr. Blake joined Merit after a distinguished career in the industry working for a global Internet Service Provider and a leading cybersecurity technology innovator. He continues as a public servant in his role on his local community K12 school board. He is a Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce “Leadership Detroit” Fellow (LDXXXIII). In 2016 served as a member of the State of Michigan’s 21st Century Infrastructure Commission, charged with developing a first-of-its-kind nationally 50-year vision for improving the state’s transportation, water, energy, and network infrastructure and enhancing the quality of life for all Michiganders.
Mr. Blake resides in Berkley, Michigan with his wife, Jennifer, and is a lifelong resident of the state. He enjoys Michigan’s four seasons and the opportunities that each season provides. Mr. Blake graduated from Michigan State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Telecommunications and from the University of Michigan with an MBA in Management.