Charles Smith is Founder and CEO of CS Insurance Strategies, an emerging minority-owned commercial insurance brokerage headquartered in downtown Chicago. He is also the Founder of My Health Method, one of the few certified, minority-owned corporate wellness companies in Chicago. Charles has over 20 years of insurance as well as health care experience and has excelled in various roles for companies such as Dearborn National, MetLife and CNA Insurance.

In 2007, Charles headed the Chicago office of West Insurance Agency, one the largest minority-owned commercial insurance brokerages in the United States. In 2009, he became the Chief Executive Officer by the acquiring of the Chicago branch and launching CS Insurance Strategies, a Commercial Insurance Brokerage and Risk Management firm with two divisions: Commercial Property & Casualty and Group Employee Benefits with over 200 commercial clients in municipal, private and non-profit sectors of business.

In 2014, Charles developed My Health Method, a comprehensive wellness company that paves the path to group health visibility and improvement.

To fuel growth and innovative ideas, Method was accepted into MATTER, located in the Merchandise Mart, an incubator of entrepreneurs and industry leaders who are passionate about creating products and services that advance the healthcare industry.

Charles continues to drive his company and social responsibility goals in tandem; never believing one should or can exist without the other. He balances his time growing his own company goals while simultaneously offering his personal time and finances to build young minds as well. He holds a Bachelors of Arts degree and has completed a Master’s of Science degree from DePaul University. Charles currently resides in the city of Chicago.

Awards, Service & Recognition: Charles was recognized in 2015 for the highly sought after, Crain’s Chicago Business 40 under 40 award. Charles has served as an Illinois Delegate at the 2012 Democratic National Convention for President Obama, completed the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business Program and received an award through Ariel Investments/WVON for being one of Chicago’s 40 Game Changers under 40. Charles is also a member of the Economic Club of Chicago.

Board & Committee Participation:

• Business Leadership Council – Executive Committee Chairman
• Museum of Science and Industry – Presidents Council
• Chicago-Cook Workforce Development Partnership – Treasurer