Karl Gentles is a partner in The Gentles Agency, a strategic communications and public relations firm. With 30 years of corporate, political and nonprofit experience in the Phoenix community, Gentles leads the agency's strategic direction for its clients that span multiple industries including banking, economic development, public policy, healthcare and others. Prior to forming the agency, Gentles served in executive leadership positions at USAA, Greater Phoenix Economic Council (GPEC), Bank One, and began his career as a staff assistant for U.S. Senator John McCain.In 2020, Gentles was a Democratic candidate for U.S Congress to represent Arizona's Sixth Congressional District.In addition to his agency work, Gentles is the executive director of Back to School Clothing Drive, a 51-year old nonprofit that provides 25,000 elementary school students attending 260+ schools with new school uniforms, outfits and supplies. Their annual New Clothes, New Beginnings distribution event is the largest and most successful summer volunteer event in the state. The organization also runs a highly acclaimed and unique social enterprise that stocks onsite school clothing closets for students in need.Gentles is a 2011 Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust Fellow. He has completed executive certificate courses in Nonprofit Management from the Georgetown University Center for Nonprofit and Civic Leadership, and a certificate in social entrepreneurship from the INSEAD School of Business in Fountainbleau, France. He is accredited in public relations (APR) by the Public Relations Society of America.A proud two-time Sun Devil, Gentles earned his master’s of business administration and bachelor’s of science in organizational communication from Arizona State University. His community involvement includes an appointment to the Arizona Corporation Commission, Power Plant and Transmission Line Siting Committee, by a 4-1 vote of the Commissioners; Morrison Institute for Public Policy, Maricopa Integrated Health Systems Audit & Finance Committee; Black Chamber of Arizona; Grand Canyon University Honors College and Business College Advisory Boards; Phoenix Industrial Development Authority Past Director; Valley Leadership Class XV; FBI Citizens Academy; and Phoenix Citizen's Police Academy. Gentles is a member of Sigma Pi Phi, Gamma Mu Boule, the Phoenix chapter of the nation's first African-American professional fraternity.Karl is married to Carla Wright Gentles, a 29-year U.S. Army Reserves (Ret.). Carla is the managing partner of The Gentles Agency, and a PhD candidate at Grand Canyon University. They have one son, Jordan Gentles, grandson, Jordan, Jr., and a Shih-Poo named Ever.
