Born in Youngstown Ohio, Charles moved to the East Coast to study photography at the Rhode Island School of Design, then to teach at the County College of Morris, New Jersey. After retirement in 2011 he opened a gluten-free baking mixes company to market his sourdough inventions. He moved to Bend in 2021 and began donating gluten-free baking mixes to the HDFFA for distribution to Central Oregon’s food insecure. He is passionate about doing his part to achieve equity in food availability and production. With family roots in farming, a 30 year teaching career, and 20 years living with celiac disease, his focus is on better food options for all, from the growers of non-glutenous grains to those who need, or just wish to experience, excellent gluten-free foods.

When not working on new sourdough projects he can be found ice-dancing with his wife Leslie, telemark skiing in the Cascades, mountain biking, or mushroom foraging.