Karl Gentles is a partner in The Gentles Agency, a brand strategy, event production, and strategic communications agency. With 30 years of corporate, political and nonprofit experience in the Phoenix community, Gentles leads the agency's strategic direction for clients including the Arizona Commerce Authority, Greater Phoenix Leadership/Arizona Voices Institute, Back to School Clothing Drive, NightLight Pediatric Urgent Care, Topaz Wellness, Next Top Athlete, Mayo Clinic/Coalition of Blacks Against Breast Cancer, PF Chang’s, Phoenix Children’s Festival, University of Phoenix, Philosophy, Recovery Empowerment Network and others.

Prior to forming the agency, Gentles led communication groups for USAA, the Greater Phoenix Economic Council, marketing and community development at Bank One, and began his career as a staff assistant to U.S. Senator John McCain.

Gentles was selected as a Piper Fellow in 2011 by Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust. He 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 service on the Maricopa Integrated Health Systems Audit & Finance Committee, Black Chamber of Arizona Public Policy Chair, Grand Canyon University Honors College Board, Phoenix Industrial Development Authority Past Director, Valley Leadership Class XV, FBI Citizens Academy, and Phoenix Citizen's Police Academy. Gentles is a past president of Sigma Pi Phi, Gamma Mu Boule, the Phoenix chapter of the nation's oldest and most prestigious African-American professional fraternity. He serves on the Gamma Mu Educational Services board, the nonprofit arm of Gamma Mu Boule.