Charles Ellis is the Chief Operating officer for BayWa r.e. US Solar Distribution. In this role he is responsible for daily operations and the execution of the overall strategy for the company in the US. Responsibilities include Strategy, Warehouse and Logistics, Procurement, Product Distribution, Operations, and overall accountability for the success of the company. Mr. Ellis started his career with the Lincoln Electric Company in 1997 after graduating from the University of Tennessee with a degree in Bio-Mechanical Engineering. After completing training, he worked in the company’s Kansas City, MO district office as a Technical Sales Representative. He was then promoted in 1999 to Sub-Office Manager for the Springfield, MO location. Following the completion of his MBA in 2002, Mr. Ellis left the Lincoln Electric Company to continue his career with Tompkins PLC as Market Development Manager for the Southeastern United States. He was promoted in 2004 to the position of Eastern Regional Sales Manager. In 2007, Mr. Ellis left Tompkins PLC and joined Crane Co. as the National Sales Manager – Americas for their Resistoflex Division. During that time Mr. Ellis gained international sales experience throughout North, Central and South America. In 2009 Mr. Ellis returned to the Lincoln Electric Company as the Director of Wholesale Distribution for The Harris Products Group. Mr. Ellis transitioned to the Renewable Energy industry in 2016 joining SMA America, LLC as the Director of Distribution. Mr. Ellis' career continued through several positions rising to the Vice President of the Americas Regions and Chairman of the Americas Managing Board. In 2022 Mr. Ellis transitioned to COO of BayWa r.e. US Solar Distribution. Mr. Ellis earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Bio-Mechanical Engineering from the University of Tennessee. He completed his MBA program at Webster University in St. Louis, MO and has complete advanced executive education programs at the University of Florida, University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business and Northwestern University, Kellogg School of Management.