Title: Global Professional Services Practice Leader
Company: Vertex Inc.
Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
James W. Blake Jr., Global Professional Services Practice Leader at Vertex Inc., has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Engineers for dedication, achievements, and leadership in Financial Technology.
Mr. Blake’s long and successful career has been marked by progressive leadership roles and a reputation for bridging the gap between technical and nontechnical audiences. Since 2022, he has served as a global professional services practice leader at Vertex Inc., a software development company in Pennsylvania, where he leads a team of 12 tax professionals across diverse industries, such as leasing, hospitality, retail, marketplace and telecommunications.
In this capacity, Mr. Blake drives software sales, delivers white-glove implementation experiences for customers and supports them throughout the software integration process. His responsibilities also include selling demonstration products and guiding clients through complex implementation requirements, particularly with integrations involving the Oracle technology stack. As a leader of the organization, Mr. Blake is further tasked with managing escalation strategies, overseeing operational management and educating colleagues across the organization.
Hired by Vertex Inc. in 2013 as a solutions manager, Mr. Blake spent five years in his position before being named solutions manager, then solutions manager II. In 2020, he became a principal consultant lead, where he further honed his expertise in tax automation software and operational leadership.
A former employee of Abercrombie & Fitch, Mr. Blake started as an information technology (IT) analyst from 2011 to 2013 before advancing to senior IT analyst, where he supported enterprise resource planning systems and gained exposure to tax automation through Vertex’s software solutions, a turning point that sparked his interest in tax technology. Earlier, Mr. Blake gained expertise as a PeopleSoft financial developer at Accenture. He also worked as a technical analyst and in systems analyst roles at Nationwide. Among other professional opportunities, Mr. Blake began his professional journey providing technical support for CJ Property Management in 2004.
Mr. Blake’s foundational education began with a Bachelor of Science in computer science engineering from Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio, conferred in 2004. This rigorous education provided him with the analytical skills necessary for success in information technology and financial systems integration. Mr. Blake continued to advance his expertise through numerous credentials between 2019 and 2025, including Docker Fundamentals + Enterprise Developers from Mirantis Inc. in 2019, Consumer Use Tax Associate Implementer in 2025 and Vertex LEAD-2 Program from CCL in 2025.
Reflecting his commitment to professional development and industry engagement, Mr. Blake has been an active member of the National Society for Black Engineers since 2002. Additionally, civic engagement has been central to his professional identity. He volunteers as a tutor with the National Society for Black Engineers and mentors three to four individuals annually, helping them cultivate their careers in technology and business fields.
Mr. Blake’s entry into financial technology was driven by a passion for problem-solving and leadership opportunities that allowed him to leverage both technical acumen and creative thinking. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated exceptional skill as a natural liaison, translating complex technical concepts for nontechnical audiences and vice versa. This rare ability has earned him recognition as an expert in his field. Mr. Blake takes particular pride in building his personal brand within Vertex Inc., where he transitioned into tax technology without prior experience in the field, yet quickly established himself as a trusted industry expert.
As Mr. Blake reflects on his legacy, mentoring and coaching have become increasingly important priorities. He seeks not only continued advancement but also meaningful impact through formalized mentorship initiatives beyond the workplace.
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