C. Barry Blocher, 1965 graduate of East, received degrees in Biology and Chemistry in 1968 and 1970 from Southern Colorado State College. In 1985, he received a Masters degree in Marketing and Finance from Baldwin Wallace College in Berea, OH.

Blocher spent thirty years in the automotive aftermarket field starting in an entry level position and working his way up, eventually running two companies - Merchant's Tire and Auto Centers in the Washington, DC area - as VP of Operations. These businesses included 130 stores, 1,800 employees, and covered seven states.

His automotive career began in Pueblo in 1972 where he managed the Firestone tire store, eventually being promoted to Firestone's world headquarters in Akron, OH where he became a national store opener; then national sales trainer; then promoted to national sales merchandiser where he was in charge of acquisitions for 1,450 stores across the U.S.

Blocher was invited as a guest to the annual White House Correspondents Association Dinner. Serving on the Better Business Bureau and Chamber of Commerce organizations in the Washington, DC and Baltimore areas, he was frequently consulted by the Maryland Attorney General's office regarding automobile repair facility complaints on companies in those areas.

As a certified helicopter, he has been to Indonesia for three missions to set up helipads, triage stations, and hospitals in areas where there was no help or expertise.