From chessboards to magic stages to computer screens, Hank Miller has spent a lifetime mastering the art of strategy, creativity, and wonder. Each chapter of his journey—chess champion, stage magician, and software engineer—builds upon the last, revealing a life shaped by curiosity, discipline, and imagination.
The Early Years — A Mind for Strategy
Mr. Asher often stayed after school teaching Hank and his classmates the fundamentals of strategy, common traps, and the beauty of the game’s logic. That mentorship paid off when Hank earned the title of United States High School Novice Chess Champion, collecting trophies, a $250 prize check, and local newspaper recognition along the way.
The Magic Years — From Mystery Fun House to King Henry’s Feast
In 1980, with just $50 and a dream, Hank left college and drove his metallic green Firebird to Orlando, Florida. After a short stint in construction, he found his true calling in entertainment - starting at the Mystery Fun House, where he met magician Phil Schaub, who introduced him to the world of sleight-of-hand.
When the venue later expanded into the grand King Henry’s Feast, Hank performed for 700 guests per show, twice nightly, as one of four featured variety acts. Over the next decade, he became a familiar face across Orlando’s entertainment scene, performing on television, at corporate events, trade shows, and hospitality suites.
The Logic of Code — A New Kind of Magic
By 2000, he was leading a team of twelve developers as Director of Internet Software at WildCard Systems, managing multi-million-dollar projects in web-based financial applications. Five years later, Hank joined the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) as a contractor, spearheading the migration of critical legacy systems to modern platforms - work that would become a cornerstone of his career.
In that same year, he founded Black Rhino Software, Inc., a company dedicated to custom web development, system integration, and modernization for both government and private clients.
A Life of Creativity and Connection
From the precision of chess to the artistry of magic to the logic of programming, Hank Miller’s journey is one defined by curiosity and mastery. He believes that the same principles—discipline, timing, and imaginatio - unite all great crafts, whether performed before an audience or behind a screen.
Today, Hank continues to innovate, teach, and inspire—carrying forward the spirit of wonder that began decades ago in a classroom, a magic shop, and a mind that never stopped asking “What if?”