International Boxing Academy of Nashville is a nonprofit gym supporting opportunity youth and pro boxers to succeed at the art of boxing. Our services are made possible through generous donations, community fundraising efforts and grants. Join us to give more kids a fighting chance at a winning future.
Candace Jones
Chair, Board of Directors
After receiving training in Nursing, Candace entered the healthcare industry to explore her passion to help and care for others. With a diverse and extensive background in a variety of healthcare specialties, practicing as a clinician; Candace was fortunate to be afforded numerous opportunities to manage medical units, practices and staff.
In 2008, she transitioned her talents to Healthcare Information Technology; finding a new passion, still allowing her to participate in caring for others. Currently Candace serves as a Director in Information Technology for Surgery Partners where her focus is in Ambulatory Surgery Centers and Ancillary Services Software Programs.
Outside of her professional responsibilities, she have a strong desire to work in the non-profit arena, often focusing on helping our youth and unhoused. She's a Professional Travel Advisor, Proprietor of Living My Best Life Travel. Candace currently serves on the Advisory Board South College, Medical Assistant program and as Treasurer of her alma mater Whites Creek High School Alumni Network Board of Directors. Candace is the mother of a daughter.
Howard Gentry
Vice Chair, Board of Directors
Howard Gentry serves the Metropolitan Government of Nashville as the Criminal Court Clerk of Davidson County in the Twentieth Judicial District.
A Nashville native, Gentry was elected three times to countywide public office. He was a Metro Council member-at-large before being elected Metro Nashville-Davidson County’s first and, to date, only African American Vice Mayor. His role as a dedicated public servant involves helping the least, last, and lost. With a lifelong commitment to youth, Gentry has held leadership roles and maintained proactive engagements with youth development initiatives such as the Bordeaux Optimist Baseball League, Northwest YMCA Project at Bethlehem Center, Backfield in Motion, and ScoutReach. Howard Gentry’s professional life has also included work in banking, insurance, and sports radio broadcasting.
Gentry holds numerous board affiliations in addition to appointments by the Mayor and Governor. He received his bachelor and master’s degrees in education from Tennessee State University. Howard is a sports enthusiast to the core. He is the proud father of four daughters.
Marshelya Wilson, MD
Secretary, Board of Directors
Originally from Houston, Texas, Dr. Wilson and has over 15 years’ experience in family medicine, with a special interest in community medicine. Growing up in a family of health care providers, medicine was in her sights early on. Family medicine was an attractive option because of the range of patients. Her choice to pursue family medicine was further solidified after routine pediatric visits to the local community clinic in her Houston neighborhood. She especially loved the way her doctor always remembered the smallest details of her life.
She graduated from Fisk University, and obtained her medical degree at Meharry Medical College, where she also completed residency in family medicine. She has received numerous awards for her work, but she is most proud of her commitment to the community. Working as a National Health Services Corp Scholar, she has provided healthcare to Nashville’s most vulnerable, uninsured populations while working at local federally qualified health centers (FQHC). She has also worked in the private sector, running her own private practice.
She currently divides her time between community medicine at Connectus Health, where she still works with Nashville’s underserved populations, and telehealth, providing acute care virtually to patients.
She is a fellow of the American Board of Family Medicine, board-certified, and a member of the Tennessee Chapter of Family Physicians.
D. Yobachi Boswell
Trustee, Board of Directors
D. Yobachi Boswell has worked in Nashville for many years for change and community upliftment, starting with the Black Nubian Congress in 1998.
Currently he's president of the Nashville Black Covenant Coalition working on voting issues, board member and scholarship subcommittee chair for East Nashville's historic F. H. Jenkins Preparatory Academy, and he is an ordained Deacon and Religious Liberty Leader at New Life SDA Church. He is happy to serve on the board of the International Boxing Academy to help with achieving its great mission in the city of Nashville.
Kimberly M. Strong
Member, Board of Directors
Kimberly M. Strong is a bi-vocational servant leader. She serves the citizens and communities of Memphis as a Fire & Life Safety Educator with the Memphis Fire Dept. and as Minister of Ministries Evangelism at Riverside M.B. Church where Rev. Dr. Reginald S. Boyce is Senior Pastor.
As a native Memphian, Kim is a graduate of Hamilton High School and has completed all the required coursework , including Sam Chand Leadership Institute, in preparation to defend her Doctorate of Ministry proposal dissertation, “Leading Lot’s Wife, A Glance at Communication,” at Memphis Theological Institute.
Kim enjoys a life dedicated to God and coaching humanity through Christian beliefs without reservation or
discrimination of religious affiliation, ethnicity, gender, age, or socioeconomic status. She’s an advocate for human rights, social justice, equality and environmental responsibility.
Professional Memberships | Awards | Volunteer Service:
Currently serves as Vice President of TN Public Fire & Life Safety Educators Association
Executive Director of the International Boxing of Academy of Nashville, Memphis Chapter
CLIF | Collegiate Life Investment Foundation Board Member
“Organized exclusively for charitable and educational purposes; to serve as the premier vehicle to inform students
across the globe about the dangers of distracted driving…”
YMCA Davis Branch Whitehaven – Memphis, TN Recipient of the 2016 Top Ten Adult Achievers
Guiding Words: “As I help someone along the way, my living is not in vain.”