Ferguson Salutes Our
2006 Citizen of the Year, Chuck Henson

Charles (Chuck) Henson - President of Design Alternatives, Inc. has been selected Ferguson’s Citizen of the Year by the 4th of July Festival Committee. Chuck lived in St. Louis until ninth grade when he moved to Ferguson, attended Ferguson Jr. High and then McCluer High School. He attended Meramec Community College.

During his last semester, Chuck was diagnosed with leukemia. With the help of his professors who would visit the hospital and bring his work to him, Chuck graduated with an Associate Degree in Architecture. With his leukemia in remission, Chuck worked for several firms in the field of architecture for 11 years while attending evening classes at Washington University where he earned his Bachelors Degree. In the meantime, he opened his first company, H&G Design with a partner (Henson & Gaylor).

In 1989, Chuck opened Design Alternatives and in 1992 moved his business to Florissant Road in downtown Ferguson. Design Alternatives specializes in recruiting and placing clients in technical professions. Still, about 10% of his business is in design and architecture. So, besides running a company, what else does Chuck do?

Following is a list of some of his volunteer work:

	Served on the Board of Directors for both the FSBA and FSBD
	Co-Founder and is present chair of PROUD (People Reaching Out for Unity and Diversity)
	Former Chair of MBEIC for the St. Louis Minority Business Council
	Serves on the Ferguson Board of Appeals Commission
	Works with the Ferguson- Florissant School District in the areas of budget, technology and
	High Achievement For All Task Force
	Former member of the Ferguson area Jaycees
	Assisted in personnel selections for the City
	Member of a local band (Exit 3) that played a benefit concert in Ferguson for a Katrina victim relief project
	Is the Vice President of the Board of Directors for PAKT
	Volunteers as coach for baseball, football, and basketball for both boys’ and girls’ teams