As President & Co-Founder of Sterling Ideas in Apex, NC, Charles Gardner leads a team focused on Managed IT services, Co-managed IT, and Small business cybersecurity.
Charles Gardner is the president and co-founder of Sterling Ideas, the IT services company he and his wife JoAnn incorporated on June 30, 1999. He has more than 30 years in technology and serves as the company's senior service delivery engineer.
His interest in technology started in childhood, encouraged by a father who taught him to take things apart and explore how they worked. Before going out on his own, he worked for several large corporations on complicated computer systems, learning administration and automation, then set out to bring that knowledge to small businesses.
Charles worked alone for nearly two decades, building the firm client by client through honest business practices and long hours; several of his original clients are still with the company. He named the company after his firstborn son, Sterling. In 2018 his son Sterling joined the business after graduating from the University of Florida, and the team has continued to grow since.
He is described as a natural leader dedicated to resolving root issues and driving innovation, motivated by a belief that small businesses are the backbone of the country and that efficient, data-protecting IT helps them thrive.
Computer systems roles at large corporations