Meet Blake Alford

Today we’d like to introduce you to Blake Alford.

Hi Blake, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?

I started off in banking at SunTrust Bank in Savannah, Georgia and was recruited to join CEI as a Junior Account Manager.  With a lot of hard work plenty of good luck and determination, I was able to close some big deals with several prominent Triangle businesses.

After cutting my teeth in sales, I was promoted to Sales Manager for the company.  I was responsible for hiring some key Account Managers which, through their efforts, helped us to quintuple our growth in just a few short years. We are extremely fortunate that some of these key team members are still with us two decades later.

In 2005, I was promoted to President which is a position that I held for 20+ years.  While in this position we did a few acquisitions, a rebranding campaign, and moved into a state-of-the-art facility which allowed our team to continue to increase market share in the Triangle.

In 2021, I was promoted to CEO of CEI and even though there are many challenges that we face, I am excited to see what our company can do next during these unusual times.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?

Any challenge in life and business provides plenty of ups and downs.

Fortunately, the ups far outweigh the downs and I try not to focus on the downs. In our business, you learn how to pivot and adapt to a different/new environment.  Sometimes, it can be intimidating but we’ve been fortunate over the years that our team has always quickly adapted to the latest trends and technology.

As I am sure many other businesses have said, the COVID-19 crisis has been a struggle that none of us expected. The past 2+ years have taught us many important things about our company, our team members, our products, and our business… the most crucial was being able to pivot quickly and accurately in meeting our clients’ needs.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?

CEI specializes in technology solutions.  Our company sells, services, and supports IT solutions and office equipment such as copiers, wide-format printers, and large production printing equipment. We are well known for three things: one, our transforming robot, Raster; two our dedication to the Triangle community; and three, our superior customer service and support.

Raster, CEI’s brand mascot, can be seen in many venues around the Triangle and in television ads. His infectious personality helps to add some fun to our otherwise serious business!

CEI – The Digital Office is the last locally owned and operated office equipment provider, and our community involvement is second to none. The company has a dedicated service program, #CEIServes, and we pride ourselves on our involvement with many local non-profits.

Many vendors in the area sell and support IT solutions and office equipment, but it is CEI’s service team (with over 235 combined years of experience) that sets us truly apart from other companies offering the same products and solutions. We would hope that your readers whenever considering office equipment or IT solutions would say, “well obviously we will call CEI.”

Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?

Growing up, I was determined, outgoing, athletic, and adventurous.  I loved spending time with friends and aspired to succeed in business one day.  My career at CEI for over 25+ years has been beyond my expectations, and I look forward to what the next 25+ hold in store for me and our team.

Contact Info:

• Email: cei@copycei.com
• Website: www.copycei.com
• Instagram: @copycei
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/copycei
• Twitter: @copycei
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/CEIraleigh

Image Credits
Brian Mullins Photography