Chief Executive Officer
Email Richard: r.wentz@sevacf.org
Richard E. H. Wentz is a native of Virginia raised in the City of Portsmouth. He holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in American Studies from the University of Richmond. He began his career as a teacher and coach at New Kent County High School in 1984. After receiving his Master’s in Education Administration from Old Dominion University in 1990, Richard started his 30-year tenure at the YMCA of Portsmouth. He served as the Associate Executive Director 10 years and 20 years as the Executive Director. Richard has volunteered on numerous non-profit boards and foundations and served as Board President of the Rotary Club of Portsmouth, the Portsmouth General Hospital Foundation, the Portsmouth Museums Foundation, the Portsmouth Sports Club, the Hoffer Creek Wildlife Foundation, and most recently the Southeast Virginia Community Foundation. Richard was recognized as the First Citizen of Portsmouth in 2013 and he remains very active in the community. Richard retired from the YMCA of Portsmouth in 2020 and he was appointed CEO of SEVACF in April of 2021.
