After graduating from Wofford College in 1989 with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics, Charles enrolled in Clemson University where he received a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering in 1992. Upon graduation Charles joined the General Engineering Department of Sonoco Products, Hartsville, South Carolina and over the next eight years worked his way up to Senior Electrical Engineer. While at Sonoco Charles was responsible for numerous projects associated with upgrading and rebuilding paper machines across the country. Projects included coordinated drive systems, power distribution, distributed control systems, PLCs, and operator interfaces for paper machines and stock preparation. In December of 2000 Charles joined R.L. Matus & Associates as a sales representative covering eastern North Carolina and South Carolina along with Savannah and Augusta, Georgia.