30+
years of experience
Karl Gentles
Karl Gentles, APR, MBA, Partner is a seasoned public relations executive with over 30 years of experience in public relations, government relations, and communication strategy. He is a partner at The Gentles Agency, a firm that specializes in strategic communications and government relations. His business, political, and nonprofit experience includes prior executive leadership roles with several iconic companies, such as USAA, Greater Phoenix Economic Council (GPEC), and Bank One. Gentles began his career as a staff assistant for U.S. Senator John McCain. Gentles also served as the executive director of the nonprofit Back to School Clothing Drive.
The Gentles Agency, with nearly two decades of experience, has offered clients a broad array of public relations strategies across various industries and regions. Notable clients include HelloFresh, Factor_75, Orion Marine Group, Balsz Elementary School District, University of Phoenix, Nightlight Pediatric Urgent Care, Mayo Clinic/Coalition of Blacks Against Breast Cancer, Community Partners Integrated Healthcare, Recovery Empowerment Network, Paradigm Technology, Arizona Commerce Authority, and others. The agency has received awards for its work with Nightlight Pediatric Urgent Care and Community Partners Integrated Healthcare.
A proud two-time Sun Devil, Gentles earned his Master of Business Administration and Bachelor of Science in Organizational Communication from Arizona State University. He completed executive leadership courses in nonprofit management at the Georgetown University Center for Nonprofit and Civic Leadership and obtained a certificate in social entrepreneurship from the INSEAD Business School in Fontainebleau, France. Gentles holds accreditation in public relations (APR) from the Public Relations Society of America.
Current and past community involvement includes the Foresight Foundation for Economic Equity, the Black Philanthropy Initiative at the Arizona Community Foundation, the Arizona Corporation Commission, the Power Plant and Transmission Line Siting Committee, the Arizona Venture Development Corporation, and the ASU Morrison Institute for Public Policy. Gentles is a member of Sigma Pi Phi, the nation’s oldest Black-Greek letter graduate-level fraternity, where he has held various leadership positions.
Karl is married to Carla Wright Gentles, a 29-year veteran of the U.S. Army Reserves (Ret.) and a partner at The Gentles Agency. Additionally, Carla serves as an adjunct professor of Business at Grand Canyon University's Colangelo School of Business, where she earned her Doctorate in Organizational Leadership. They have a son named Jordan, a grandson named Jordan Jr., and a Shih Poo named Ever. Karl enjoys sports of all kinds, chess, golf, fine wine, and teaming up with his wife to play Spades.
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