Charlie is half Cajun and half Irish, born in New Orleans, the second of five brothers and a baby sister. His early years were spent in a small bayou town near Grand Isle, before school age prompted the family to move to suburban New Orleans. His education included an early morning newspaper route with his big brother, a high school seminary, summers and holidays working as a cook's helper and roustabout on offshore oil rigs, a bachelor's degree from the University of New Orleans, and several professional courses.

Charlie's business career began with five years in civil service at a central Louisiana air base as a buyer, contracting officer, and computer systems manager. Recruited by a big engineering and construction firm, he spent two years handling subcontracts in south Louisiana before transferring to Saudi Arabia. For three years he worked in a new community on the Red Sea coast, took up scuba diving, and spent his frequent vacations roaming the Far East. His next job, in Riyadh, lasted nine years, building an air defense system and continuing his travels. After it was built, he managed the operating contractor's subcontracts, purchasing, engineering, and quality assurance departments forfive years.