Gary Blake, PhD

Dr. Blake provided writing tips for insurance professionals for IRMI.com.

Prior to his passing in March 2019, Dr. Blake was director of The Communication Workshop and presented writing seminars at more than 200 companies throughout the United States, United Kingdom, and Bermuda. These companies include AIG, Allstate, Amerisure, Axa Reinsurance, Balboa Insurance, Beacon Insurance, CNA, Crum & Forster, Liberty Mutual, Louisiana Medical Malpractice Mutual, Montana State Fund, Nordstrom, State Farm Insurance, Unigard, and Unitrin.

With Robert W. Bly, Dr. Blake wrote 11 books, including:

• The Elements of Business Writing (Macmillan, 1992), a selection of the Fortune Book Club. Now in its 18th printing, this book has sold more than 100,000 copies.
• The Elements of Technical Writing (Macmillan, 1993)
• Quick Tips for Better Business Writing (McGraw-Hill, 1995)

Dr. Blake presented hundreds of on-site writing seminars for claims, and wrote for most of the field's leading trade magazines, including Best's, Claims, Insurance Advocate, and National Underwriter. He presented programs at many leading claims conferences, including PLRB, International Claims Association, Southern Claims Association, and Eastern Claims Association. His column on claims writing appeared regularly in Claims Magazine.

Dr. Blake held undergraduate and master's degrees from the University of Wisconsin and a Ph.D. from City University of New York.