Charles Industries Announces Hiring of Todd Ellis as Utility Market Manager and Senior Product Manager

ROLLING MEADOWS, IL--(Marketwire - Mar 8, 2013) - Charles Industries, Ltd., a leading provider of environmentally protected Innovative Enclosed Solutions^™ and network infrastructure solutions, today announced Todd Ellis has joined Charles Industries, assuming the positions of utility market manager and senior product manager effective immediately. Ellis will lead Charles' efforts in utility-focused product development and assume product management responsibilities for Charles Below Grade Enclosures (CBGE) and new product development for transmission and distribution applications.

Ellis brings to Charles more than 20 years of experience in the electric utility market. His background includes positions in product management, market management, and international sales and marketing at the following companies and organizations: Sensus North America, National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative (NRTC), and Booth & Associates. He has also provided consulting services to investor-owned utilities, cooperatives and municipal electric utilities that were engaged in the deployment of smart grid networks, wireless automatic meter reading systems, microwave, and fiber optic systems. Ellis is a subject matter expert in fiber (ADSS, OPGW), wireless (RF, microwave), and back-office software systems for electric utilities.

"We're very pleased to add Todd to our utility team," said Minesh Patel, vice president - outside plant business unit for Charles. "His hiring comes on the heels of our formation of a national utility sales team comprised of twelve manufacturer representative firms and led by Cindy Cary, national sales manager - utility sales for Charles. Our team is now fully in place to best support our existing customers while also identifying new opportunities for Charles' proven environmental enclosures in utility, energy, oil and gas, and transportation markets."

Ellis earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from North Carolina Wesleyan College. He is a Certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and has published multiple periodical articles on wireless and utility topics. Ellis is an active adult volunteer with the Boy Scouts of America.

About Charles Industries, Ltd.
2013 marks Charles Industries' 45^th year as a privately held, diversified manufacturing and technology company serving telecommunications, wireless, broadband, utilities, marine and industrial markets. Founded in 1968, the company is ISO 9001:2008 and TL 9000 registered and headquartered in Rolling Meadows, Illinois, with four additional U.S.-based manufacturing centers. For further information, please visit www.charlesindustries.com or call (847) 806-6300.