COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (June 4, 2021) – David Gentile of Kansas City, Mo., was elected as the 18th USA Volleyball Board of Directors chair during the national governing body’s board meeting held online on June 1.
“I am honored and privileged to serve as the next USA Volleyball chair of the Board of Directors,” Gentile said. “This certainly adds to my commitment to serve the sport of volleyball and to continue my support with USAV.”
Gentile will replace Dr. Cecile Reynaud, who was elected Chair in 2019. Reynaud’s term as a Board member reaches its limit on June 30 and Gentile will take over as Chair on July . He was elected to his current four-year Board term in August 2018 as the Junior Assembly Representative and could be re-elected to another term, in which case he would continue his four-year term as chair. Gentile previously served on the USA Volleyball Board of Directors from 2005 to 2012.
Gentile founded Mid-America Volleyball (MAVS) in November 1993 and served as executive director of the youth volleyball club through September 2012. He started the club with one team and grew the program to 28 teams with year-round programming for youth development. It is now the largest and one of the most successful volleyball clubs in the Heart of America Region.
“I have tremendously enjoyed being part of USAV for the past 25 years,” Gentile said. “With my private sector as well as my volleyball club ownership experience through MAVS KC, I feel like I can help continue to support the efforts of USAV at the Board Chair level.”
Gentile has participated on the Heart of America Region Board of Directors. He was elected vice president of USA Volleyball’s Juniors Division in 2005 and served in that position through 2012. Gentile returned to the same role in 2018.
Gentile retired from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City as its president and chief executive officer in September 2014 after starting with the company in 1979. After serving three years at Healthscape Advisors LLC as senior advisor and director of its Thought Leadership Center, he has served as managing partner of LifeCare Strategic Services LLC since October 2017.
“This is an exciting time for USAV, going strong into the Olympics and Paralympics as well as junior national championships,” Gentile said. “As Chair elect, I look forward to starting my transition with the current Chair Cecile Reynaud and President and CEO Jamie Davis.”