Chris Henderson
Chris Henderson began his career in Oklahoma in 1979 after graduating from Oklahoma State University with a Bachelor of Science in Urban Geography. He has served the communities of Stillwater as City Planner, Enid as City Planner and Community Development Director, and Ponca City as Development Services Director. His mission has long been to promote and facilitate land use planning as a positive tool for physical growth, sustainability, and quality of life.
Henderson has maintained his status as a nationally accredited Certified Floodplain Manager since he first obtained it in 2004. In 2008 he was awarded the Outstanding Recognition Award given by the Oklahoma Floodplain Managers Association for his outstanding work in developing a model floodplain management program in Ponca City and for correcting numerous floodplain management violations and deficiencies so Ponca City could join the Community Rating System and give policy owners a substantial premium discount.
In addition, Chris received the 2006 Appreciation Recognition from the City of Ponca City for being a part of the Ponce City Vision 2020 Task Force and in 1981 he received an Appreciation Recognition Award presented by the Stillwater City Planning Commission. He has also received a multitude of awards from organizations such as the Oklahoma Municipal League, the Oklahoma Uniform Building Code Commission, North Central Board of Realtors, and the Ponca City Area Chamber of Commerce. He has also served many of these groups as a member of their board of directors.
Henderson’s community involvement includes the Ponca City Chamber of Commerce - Community Development Committee, Board member on the Ponca City Main Street Authority, Board of Director and Allocations Committee member of the United Way of Ponca City and as a member of the Ponca City, OK Elks Lodge No. 2002. Chris also volunteers his time to help with the Cherokee Strip Cook-off, Ponca City Main Street, Standing Bear Pow Wow, Veterans Day Parade, Oktoberfest, and Main Street Crazy Days.
Chris has been committed to providing complex, advanced planning throughout his career that has spanned over 45 years. He is a trailblazer that has used his skills of innovation and creativity to find solutions to problems not only at the local level, but at the State level for the advancement of planning and development activities across the state of Oklahoma.