Mr. Hinderliter has 25 years of experience in the financial services industry as an investor with Merrill Lynch.  He began as an Investment Advisor and then Manager in Detroit and later as a Senior Resident Vice President and Managing Director in Houston and Orlando with responsibilities for 6 offices in central Florida and over $9 billion in assets.

Five years ago he retired to pursue his passion for small businesses and entrepreneurship.  Ernie has been an investor or advisor to a myriad of new companies including a Chinese manufacturer, a computer based retention company and a hydroponics plant technology company.   Most recently he started his own jewelry design and distribution company and has just signed licensing agreements with the University of Florida, Florida State University and UCF.

His early aspirations were to become a university president and included work as a Director of Foundation and Corporate Relations at a private university in the United States as well as a similar position abroad in the United Kingdom and as a grant evaluator at The Lilly Endowment in Indianapolis.   

His community activities include Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Kiwanis, Special Olympics, St. John’s Lutheran Church School Board, and the American Cancer Society Board of Directors and past president.  

Ernie received his Bachelors and Masters from The Pennsylvania State University and did post graduate work in International Business at Indiana University