Chris M. Gent
Vice President of Corporate Communications

Hired by KUA in May 1993, Chris previously served as Manager of Corporate Communications and Communications Specialist for the utility.

Chris is responsible for internal and external corporate communications, including marketing and advertising, media and public relations, employee communications, special events and corporate philanthropy.

A third-generation Floridian, Chris grew up on Florida's Space Coast. He received his Bachelor's degree in communications from the University of Central Florida and his Master’s degree in strategic public relations from The George Washington University.

A graduate of Leadership Osceola County and Leadership Central Florida, Chris is the former chairman of the American Public Power Association's Customer Connections Section and the Florida Municipal Electric Association's Customer Connections Committee. In addition, Chris is former president of the Orlando Area Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association.

Chris received the "Up and Comer's Award" in 2001 from the Orlando Business Journal and the 2002 Community Service Award from the UCF Alumni Association. In 2003, he was named Osceola County's Distinguished Leader of the Year. In 2004, he received FPRA's Bob Davis Award for his contributions to the public relations profession in Central Florida.

In 2005, Chris received the International Distinguished Leadership Award from the Community Leadership Association. That same year he also was named Volunteer of the Decade by Community Vision.

In 2010, Chris was inducted into UCF’s Nicholson School of Communication Hall of Fame and was named Central Florida’s Public Relations Professional of the Year by FPRA.

Chris' work at KUA has been recognized with more than 200 local, state, national and international awards.

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