Charles Carter joined the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services on May 11, 2017, as the Chief Operating Officer for Technology and Operations.

An Asheville, North Carolina native, Carter’s background includes decades of public and private sector experience. As a public-school teacher, a two term NC State Senator, entrepreneur, and tech executive, he has led various sizes of organizations from government entities to streamlined businesses.

Carter started his public service career teaching Spanish at North Buncombe High School in Weaverville, NC. While he was a school teacher, Carter ran for and won a seat in the NC General Assembly representing 5 counties in Western North Carolina. In this position, he was selected to be a member of 11 different committees including Chair of both the Appropriations and Policy committee on Education and Higher Education. He was also an inaugural member of the Senate Information Technology committee, which helped lay the groundwork for expanding North Carolina’s technology footprint.

Carter left the General Assembly to enter the private sector. Over the next decade, he founded, operated, expanded and sold retail and distribution businesses in Asheville. He became a startup executive in Link2Tek, Inc. Link2Tek is an internet service provider, which delivers mass communications to targeted mobile devices principally for alert and warning emergencies.

Carter holds a Bachelor’s of Arts from Oglethorpe University in Atlanta, GA.