2024 National Conference

Dr. Earnest Fingers

The Most Powerful Difference Makers: Making Culture and Mindset the Competitive Advantage!

Dr. Earnie Fingers is considered by those who know him as an energetic and inspiring educator with a tremendous appreciation for learning and personal development. “Doc”, as students and colleagues refer to him, believes that learning should be student-centered and a life-long endeavor that is effectively sprinkled with ongoing self-improvement, growth and development. “Doc” preaches that, “the trials of life are not designed to turn us back, but to turn us up! These are tests of faith where we need only to live like our breakthrough is possible. That it awaits us on the other side of this mountain. Dig in and believe that winning, for each of us, is possible!”

“Doc” Fingers is a native of the suburbs of Washington D.C. (P.G. County) and is a product of public schooling. He struggled to make meaning of his high school experience and felt like school was not for him. In fact, he ended up flunking off his high school basketball team due to poor grades. By the grace of God, he was fortunate enough to be admitted into Hampton University, where he studied Psychology and began to find his way.

After graduating from Hampton University Dr. Fingers completed multiple degrees at Michigan State University. Three Master’s degrees: Counseling Psychology; Ecological Community Psychology; Human Resources/Labor Relations; and a doctorate in Higher Education Administration (Athletics) where his research focused on the question, “Does athletic participation build character?” Asking this question of university Presidents, Athletic Directors and Head Coaches. In 2006 he began HYPER Sports Consulting, a mental performance consulting group to support and assist athlete performance. “Doc” has always purposefully focused on developing the whole person. From life transitioning and personal development to mental performance and career development. He now heads The Fingers Touch - Performance Elevation Group, where he assists teams, organizations and individuals to lock in on leadership, culture, accountability and buy-in. Maximizing the massive gains to be found by effectively leveraging the power of healthy culture, along with reshaping mindsets to improve alignment and elevate overall productivity and performance.

Dr. Fingers’s career experience spans over 25 years, which includes world of intercollegiate athletics. He has worked with elite level collegiate athletes in various roles: as an athletics administrator, learning specialist, educator, mentor, mental health professional and as a mental performance consultant. He holds firmly that sport participation actively educates and teaches athletes how to perform at their peak and then reveals how to transfer this experience to other aspects of their life.

Dr. Fingers is an ecstatic husband, an incredibly proud father, a thankful son, a blessed brother, a friend, a mentor, an educator, a good neighbor, a community advocate, and a praising believer in Jesus Christ. He is a first-generation college graduate and often says that his educational achievements and his place in life, in general, are nothing but the work of God’s planned purpose. “Life is not easy, but all things truly are possible. But you MUST first believe!”