Matt Blake

Blake with mentor Julie Smith, Of Counsel at BrownWinick and Director of the Legislative Practice Center

Blake with mentor Julie Smith, Of Counsel at BrownWinick and Director of the Legislative Practice Center

Blake_Matt-2.jpg

Matt Blake

Age: 30

Title: Director, government relations and membership services, LeadingAge Iowa

Family: Wife Alaina Blake

A reason why he is a Forty: Blake is a judge advocate with the Iowa Army National Guard, serves on the Urbandale Civil Rights Commission, and helps organize the Urbandale Fourth of July celebration.

What drives him: Goals. “I joined the U.S. Army in my late 20s, while married and with a professional career, because it was a life goal to serve in the military. I found an opportunity that worked, and I took the chance,” he said.

An interesting fact about Blake: He’s lost count of how many times he has watched the original “Star Wars” trilogy and would love to create a Sundance-style film festival in Des Moines.