As a Delaware attorney, Charles is respected among the various members of the Bar, and is still an active member of the Terry Carey Inn of Court, the Board on the Unauthorized Practice of Law, and chairs the planning committee for the annual Combined Campaign Cup golf and tennis tournament, which he helped create. He was also named a Delaware Rising Star by Super Lawyers Magazine in 2013 and 2014.
Age: 36
President
Innovincent
Wilmington
Your biggest break: My year as a law clerk for Justice Henry duPont Ridgely on the Delaware Supreme Court opened many doors for my legal career. Justice Ridgely continues to be a great mentor to me.
Best career advice you ever got: A great teacher and coach, Jim Blades, would always say, “Don’t just talk the talk, walk the walk.” I always took that to mean be a leader and follow through with what you set out to do.
How you give back: One way I give back to the community that I hope will have a meaningful impact is the Delaware Charity Challenge. This past May, in its first year, teams in the 5K and adventure challenge relay races raised more than $32,000 for different area nonprofits.
Your biggest challenge: Currently my biggest challenge involves planning for the Delaware Charity Challenge winter indoor triathlon and the accompanying Pursuit of Health & Wellness Expo in January 2016. Figuring out the best ways to develop the Delaware Charity Challenge concept into a worthwhile statewide competition series – both from an athletic and fundraising perspective – is my bigger focus.
Networking group you use the most: Next Gen North, a Delaware Community Foundation young professionals group that focuses on philanthropic leadership development, and Delaware Business Executives (DBE), a professional networking and information exchange group led by Barry Schlecker of Barry’s Events.
Work-life balance technique you recommend: For those looking for balance, my advice is to find a way to give back to the community through something you are passionate about. The upside comes in enjoying what you are doing, and more often than not, you’ll get the added bonus of spending extra time with your family and friends.
