Since graduating from Bowling Green College of Commerce, now known as Western Kentucky University, in 1963, Claude has been providing tax, audit and consulting services to numerous industries including significant experience in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, business workouts, taxation questions and expert witnessing for nearly 45 years.

 In December 1970, after serving five years as an Internal Revenue agent, he developed one of the largest local CPA firms in Tennessee (Blankenship, Summar & Associates) with over 70 employees.  Twelve years later, this firm was merged with the Nashville office of Touche Ross where Claude headed up acquisitions in the Southeastern US.  Claude subsequently spent several years pursuing other business ventures. 

In 1992, Claude formed Blankenship CPA Group, PLLC. With the exception of two years spent as a Christian missionary, Claude has served as senior partner of the firm. The firm has experienced continuous growth and currently employs nearly forty staff including four partners and over twenty-one certified public accountants.

Claude Blankenship is a member of and has served on the Council of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), as well as the AICPA's Executive Committee for Private Companies Practice Section. He is a Past President of the Tennessee Society of Certified Public Accountants (TSCPA) and lifetime member of the council of that organization. In addition to being active in Christian ministry for many years, Claude has also served on numerous boards of directors of non-profit organizations in middle Tennessee and as a director on the board of a NYSE publicly traded company.  

Claude is blessed with 6 children and 10 grandchildren.  He enjoys traveling, reading and studying Christian concepts, and babysitting his grandchildren.  He is an active member at Grace Community Church and loves to serve the Lord on a daily basis.

Claude E. Blankenship, Sr. is a chairman of the firm.