Blake Barnard is an account manager at Heart Technologies, responsible for acquiring and retaining customers within the firm’s largest sales territory and providing them with first-class telephony, security, wireless, IT support and electrical solutions. Besides serving as the face of the company at civic events throughout the area, he owns and operates an HVAC business, Trinity Heating and Cooling, as well as a rental home business with his wife.
As past president and current vice president of the Central Illinois Electric League, Barnard was instrumental in initiating a program to address regional workforce development needs by developing trainers to teach kids the basics of the electrical field. This program has been implemented in high schools around central Illinois and has prompted some participants to consider the trades as a future career path.
Barnard is passionate and committed to bettering the Greater Peoria area in a range of capacities. He has served as ambassador chairman for the Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce and ambassador co-chair for the East Peoria Chamber of Commerce, promoting area businesses and making the community aware of all the region has to offer. He was named the East Peoria Chamber Ambassador of the Year in 2018-2019 and Peoria Area Chamber Ambassador of the Year in 2018.
As a volunteer, Barnard has taken a leadership role with the Center for Prevention of Abuse, serving on its Board Affairs Committee and supporting the agency through special events and fundraisers. He has helped raise funds for Easterseals, served as a grant reviewer for the Community Foundation of Central Illinois’ Women to Women Luncheon and Emerging Philanthropists Fund, and sat on the Community Foundation of East Peoria’s Outreach Council. He also co-chairs the membership committee for the Rotary Club of Peoria and has earned Rotary’s distinguished Paul Harris Fellow recognition. PM
