Gene Achziger is a journalist/graphic designer who most recently spent 26 1/2 years at the Seattle Post-Intelligencer until the print product was discontinued in 2009.
Has been active in his community for more than 35 years, first as president for more than 15 years of the old Redondo Community Club and more recently as a commissioner on the new Des Moines Pool Metropolitan Park District. Led the campaign to save the Mount Rainier Pool. Previous experience included helping lead the campaign to annex Woodmont and Redondo to the City of Des Moines.
Currently serving as a director of both the Des Moines Legacy Foundation and Destination Des Moines, his projects include producing the 2011 Des Moines Legacy Foundation Calendar and helping produce the inaugural Poverty Bay Arts Festival. His design work has included promotion materials for the Arts Festival, Mount Rainier Pool (logo and new signage), Pool District (logo and website), Sports Night, Poverty Bay Blues and Brews (logo), Des Moines Arts Commission (logo), Destination Des Moines (logo) and Culture Fest. Earlier projects included helping develop Wooton Park in Redondo, maintaining the seasonal lighting at Redondo and coordinating the annual Argosy Christmas Ship bonfire at Redondo.
His civic activities have been spawned by a lifelong belief that everyone has a responsibility to give back to their communities and to work for their betterment. He is currently working to promote greater involvement between Highline Community College and the Des Moines community.