David Hinkle
Partner, Chief Executive Officer
David Hinkle
David’s role as CEO includes Business Development for both VPI and the Company’s clients. In addition, David works with a diverse group of clients ranging from business owners and entrepreneurs to professional athletes. He counsels start-ups and early-stage companies in developing their strategies and raising capital to meet their business goals and needs. He is also engaged by mature companies seeking guidance on exit strategies, as he has a long record of helping owners position their companies for a strategic sell.
“One of my goals is to help change the business culture in East Tennessee. We need to create a more pro-entrepreneur culture in the region as all of East Tennessee is truly a ‘sleeping giant’ in the business world. The potential of this area is tremendous. Our goal is to keep the future business leaders in this area and give them better support to pursue their dreams.” David Hinkle
Client Testimonial
“Over the past seven months, it’s been my great pleasure to repeatedly meet and work with David Hinkle, Jared Cullop and Judd Arnold. As I quickly learned in my dealings with them, they are very knowledgeable and professional in business-related matters. They are also highly energetic and extremely personable. The four of us are working together to arrange financing for my start-up company, Orion Laboratories, LLC, which has developed three breakthrough technologies for the solar silicon industry. I would strongly encourage other renewable energy start-up companies to contact VPI Business Advisors about a possible business association. I’m glad I did!” Jim Blencoe, President and CEO of Orion Labortories, LLC.
Fun Fact
David has served as a mentor in the Knoxville Fellows Program for the 2009 to 2010 season. As a member of Knoxville’s Angel Capital Group, he has agreed to help launch a Johnson City Chapter for the organization. David is past Co-Chair of the Outlet Retail Manufacturers Association (ORMA) trade group. He is also an active member of the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) and participates regularly as a speaker and moderator at national real estate conferences for ICSC, Urban Land Institute and other organizations.
David is known as a dedicated community and family man, and lives in Knoxville with his wife, Ann, of 24 years. They have three children: Clint, a graduate of ETSU and recently married to Stacey Smith; Connor, a junior at Farragut High School; and Carly, a sixth grader at Farragut Intermediate School. “Spending time with Ann and our family is what I enjoy most in life.”
David started sport car racing in 2002 as a hobby and now is widely known as a passionate “car guy”. He began racing in the Panoz Series alongside the likes of Patrick Dempsey. He proceeded to race his beloved Porsche 911 in the Porsche Club of America events and set multiple Class Records at various tracks along the East Coast. David has since co-founded European Auto Garage in 2007 and started Cars & Coffee, an event that has become huge in Knoxville. These events draw hundreds of gear heads to his shop.
Experience and Education
David earned his Bachelor of Business Administration from East Tennessee State University in 1987. He is the past President and CEO of National Book Warehouse, Inc (NBW). He joined NBW in 1990 and established the company’s real estate department. He also helped pioneer the specialty retail segment of the business, and oversaw all leasing, construction and lease administration for the company’s permanent store base, which he helped grow to 123 locations. During his tenure at NBW, the company leased in excess of 7,000,000 square feet of retail space in 42 States. He also successfully executed a leveraged buyout of the New York-based company in 2001, having just led a turnaround of the previous owner’s multiple business interests, which were insolvent at the time David and his management team assumed control of the operation. NBW grew to 185 stores, and ranked #4 of all booksellers in the United States at its peak.
Along with his 16 years of dedication to NBW, David maintains a long history of actively consulting retailers and developers, focusing on traditional, outlet and entertainment shopping center developments. David also has extensive experience working with media throughout the country and been published regularly in trade publications.