Charles helps entrepreneurs to grow their ventures and communities to adapt to change. Since 2001 he has been engaged primarily in Business Expansion roles within economic development entities, assisting firms to develop markets globally and raise capital. He worked for eight years as a commercial lender with GE Capital and Community Futures.

Charles currently assists technology-centered firms to grow through market validation and investment attraction, in his role as Director of Business Development at HubSpace (a member of the BC Accelerator Network). Previously he delivered the provincial Export Navigator program for the Cariboo region; a Clean Technology cluster initiative; and Export North. He works with the trade offices of the federal and provincial governments to help firms develop international opportunities, and has participated on trade missions to the U.S.A., Russia, China, Peru, Chile and the Philippines.

A faculty member at UNBC's School of Business since 1999, Charles helps learners to explore Strategy, Entrepreneurship, Marketing and Ethics. He completed a Masters degree in Economic Development (MAES) at the University of Waterloo in 1992, and a Bachelors degree in Economics (BA) at the University of British Columbia in 1986.

Born in Kingston, Jamaica. Charles immigrated to Canada in 1977. Northern BC has been his home since 1993. He and his wife, Susan, have three adult sons, two daughters-in-law, and two grandchildren. (Despite encouragement otherwise, he does not acknowledge pets as progeny.)