CAST-UTECH Alumni Association

DR. CLIFFORD G. BLAKE

Born in the parish of Kingston, Jamaica in the early 1940’s, Clifford Blake received his early education at Kingston Technical High School where he gained seven distinctions in the General Certificate of Education (GCE) examinations. In 1962 the young Blake received a scholarship to enter the University of Technology, Jamaica (then the College of Arts, Science and Technology - CAST). In 1965 he graduated with an honours diploma in Mechanical Engineering.

Dr. Blake (Cliffy to his friends) was not only respected for his academic achievements but also for his tennis mastery both on the hard courts and on the table. Never one to avoid challenges Cliffy would accept a challenge from any competitor, be it amateur or professional.

In 1966 he married Norma, his fiancée who had encouraged him to attend CAST. After thirty-six years, they are still married and together they have two daughters, Shanta and Tamara.

Clifford Blake first worked with Alcoa Minerals of Jamaica in Clarendon as a Technical Assistant in the Mine’s Maintenance Shop. His major contribution was to increase the efficiency of the trucking fleet through proper maintenance planning.

In 1971 he migrated to Canada and through a combination of part-time studies and co-operative education programmes, he attained the following accreditations: B.A.Sc., Mechanical Engineering from the University of Waterloo in 1975; Professional Engineer in the Province of Ontario in 1978;

M.Sc., Applied Behavioural Sciences from Johns Hopkins University in 1984; and a Ph.D., Management Sciences from the University of Waterloo in 1993.

Dr Blake served as a faculty member of the University of Waterloo since 1988. His first classes saw him teaching large classes of 300-400 engineering students in Organizational Behaviour in the Department of Management Sciences. Most instructors were not comfortable teaching these classes, however, challenge inspired him to develop a series of experiential tutorial sessions for these classes that made teaching and learning more effective. These models have since been incorporated and used as standard teaching procedures for large classes in the Department.

Dr. Blake assisted in the development and is the Director of Mot@Distance, a Master’s Level, Internet based, distance delivered programme in the Department of Management Sciences at the University of Waterloo.

He also teaches Organizational Behaviour, Organizational Psychology, Organization Theory and Entrepreneurship. Today students from anywhere in the world through Internet connection, may earn a Master’s Degree without physically entering the University campus.

Dr. Blake’s research interests include models of entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial performance, and the impact of teaching and learning methodologies on student performance. Journals in which he has published include:

Journal of Small Business & Entrepreneurship; International Journal of Production and Operations Management; and Journal of Instructional Psychology.

His work is cited in the text “Entrepreneurship Process and Management” by Ken Blawatt as ‘one of the first efforts to explain what makes up an entrepreneur…’

With consulting interests in Organization Development, Dr. Blake has counselling ministries in spiritual and psycho-social development, and the empowerment of individuals, with a special focus on youths. He is actively involved in preaching, teaching and counselling in his local church and currently operates an independent counselling and healing ministry. At the community level Dr. Blake presents seminars on Black History and the African Genetic root, based on a synthesis of Holy Scripture, DNA research findings and fossil discoveries.

The CAST-UTech Alumni Association (Ontario Chapter) salutes Dr. Clifford G. Blake, "Distinguished Alumnus 2003", for his outstanding achievements which epitomize its motto “Building A Future of Excellence Through Knowledge.”

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2003 Distinguished Alumnus

Awardee:	DR. CLIFFORD G. BLAKE Born in the parish of Kingston, Jamaica in the early 1940’s, Clifford Blake received his early education at Kingston Technical High School where he gained seven distinctions in the General Certificate of Education (GCE) examinations. In 1962 the young Blake received a scholarship to enter the University of Technology, Jamaica (then the College of Arts, Science and Technology - CAST). In 1965 he graduated with an honours diploma in Mechanical Engineering. Dr. Blake (Cliffy to his friends) was not only respected for his academic achievements but also for his tennis mastery both on the hard courts and on the table. Never one to avoid challenges Cliffy would accept a challenge from any competitor, be it amateur or professional. In 1966 he married Norma, his fiancée who had encouraged him to attend CAST. After thirty-six years, they are still married and together they have two daughters, Shanta and Tamara. Clifford Blake first worked with Alcoa Minerals of Jamaica in Clarendon as a Technical Assistant in the Mine’s Maintenance Shop. His major contribution was to increase the efficiency of the trucking fleet through proper maintenance planning. In 1971 he migrated to Canada and through a combination of part-time studies and co-operative education programmes, he attained the following accreditations: B.A.Sc., Mechanical Engineering from the University of Waterloo in 1975; Professional Engineer in the Province of Ontario in 1978; M.Sc., Applied Behavioural Sciences from Johns Hopkins University in 1984; and a Ph.D., Management Sciences from the University of Waterloo in 1993. Dr Blake served as a faculty member of the University of Waterloo since 1988. His first classes saw him teaching large classes of 300-400 engineering students in Organizational Behaviour in the Department of Management Sciences. Most instructors were not comfortable teaching these classes, however, challenge inspired him to develop a series of experiential tutorial sessions for these classes that made teaching and learning more effective. These models have since been incorporated and used as standard teaching procedures for large classes in the Department. Dr. Blake assisted in the development and is the Director of Mot@Distance, a Master’s Level, Internet based, distance delivered programme in the Department of Management Sciences at the University of Waterloo. He also teaches Organizational Behaviour, Organizational Psychology, Organization Theory and Entrepreneurship. Today students from anywhere in the world through Internet connection, may earn a Master’s Degree without physically entering the University campus. Dr. Blake’s research interests include models of entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial performance, and the impact of teaching and learning methodologies on student performance. Journals in which he has published include: Journal of Small Business & Entrepreneurship; International Journal of Production and Operations Management; and Journal of Instructional Psychology. His work is cited in the text “Entrepreneurship Process and Management” by Ken Blawatt as ‘one of the first efforts to explain what makes up an entrepreneur…’ With consulting interests in Organization Development, Dr. Blake has counselling ministries in spiritual and psycho-social development, and the empowerment of individuals, with a special focus on youths. He is actively involved in preaching, teaching and counselling in his local church and currently operates an independent counselling and healing ministry. At the community level Dr. Blake presents seminars on Black History and the African Genetic root, based on a synthesis of Holy Scripture, DNA research findings and fossil discoveries. The CAST-UTech Alumni Association (Ontario Chapter) salutes Dr. Clifford G. Blake, "Distinguished Alumnus 2003", for his outstanding achievements which epitomize its motto “Building A Future of Excellence Through Knowledge.” Top of Page Home Page to Awardee Page