Management Team

Gerard J. Hall is the founder, president and chief executive officer of SMT. SMT (SportsMEDIA Technology Corporation) is the pioneer in real-time graphics, tickers, clock-and-score, virtual insertions and social media integration for live televised sporting and entertainment events.

Gerard’s career in sports television began in 1988 when, as a graduate student, he developed a wireless, real-time electronic scoring system for PGA events, replacing the standard walkie-talkie communication that was previously used to update leaderboards. He provided this interface from 1988 to 1991 for NBC Sports.

Upon graduation from Harvard University in 1981, Gerard won the prestigious St. Andrew’s Scholarship to attend Scotland’s University of Edinburgh where he pursued a Master of Science in computer science. Gerard continued his graduate studies while teaching computer science at the University of Central Florida before leaving in 1986 to work with the Epson Computer Corporation.

SportsMEDIA Technology Corporation was formally incorporated in June 1990 with an eye toward offering TV interface technology to other sports television broadcasters. Shortly thereafter, SportsMEDIA signed an exclusive four-year agreement with ESPN to provide interface TV graphics services for NASCAR/IndyCar, NFL, NHL, MLB, NCAA football and NCAA basketball. During the formative years of SportsMEDIA, Gerard was the architect of electronic scoring systems for the PGA Tour, IndyCar and the X Games.

Gerard forever etched a mark on the sports television and cultural landscape in 1997 as the pioneer and creative force behind the design and development of the SportsMEDIA Autograph device. The SportsMEDIA Autograph became known as the FOX Box and blazed the trail for the proliferation of the constant on-air graphic scoreboards that are now standard operating procedure for all sports telecasts. 

In 2000, Gerard made the strategic decision to invest significant R&D resources to develop virtual insertion technology for sports television based on his belief that, in time, the traditional 30-second commercial will become obsolete and that more advertisers will virtually insert messages into the live action of sports telecasts. Gerard patented and launched SportsMEDIA’s SMART virtual insertion technology in 2002. 

In 2005, Gerard guided the further diversification and expansion of SportsMEDIA’s on-air product offerings by overseeing the development of SportsMEDIA’s studio-based Ticker System and SportsMEDIA’s Telestration System with Rolling Zoom and Feature Tracking. 

The 2006 debut of SportsMEDIA’s telestration technology for the first time provided TV analysts with a “digital magnifying glass” capable of zooming into live or recorded image sequences to examine action at levels never before seen.

Gerard rebranded SportsMEDIA Technology Corporation to SMT in 2011 in order to grow into other markets and expand its global footprint. To that end, SMT in 2012 acquired Jacksonville, Fla.-based IDS (Information and Display Systems), provider of scoring, results and statistics on-site for live games.

Gerard has a B.A. in Economics from Harvard University. Born in Scotland, Gerard was raised in New Jersey and lives in Durham with his wife, Laura, and their four children.  

Vice President of Business Development Don Tupper has more than 15 years’ experience in the fields of business development, client relations and sales and marketing. 

Don joined SMT in 2001 and is responsible for the company’s overall business development strategy. Don has been instrumental in forming and fostering SMT’s key customer relationships, including NBC, CBS, Versus/NBC Sports Network, Speed, Golf Channel, NBA TV and MLB Network. Don also leads the next-generation business and product development efforts across SMT’s burgeoning product portfolio.

Prior to SMT, Don worked for Clear Channel Communications, focusing primarily on customer relationship marketing and consulting. While at Clear Channel, he managed key customer accounts and developed marketing campaigns for clients such as the NFL, Staples, Hershey’s, Ericsson and Sallie Mae.

Don holds a B.A., Public Policy, from Brown University and an M.S., Exercise and Sports Science, from the University of Florida. Don was an award-winning tight end for the Brown University Bears. Originally from Canada, Don lives in Durham with his wife, Kim, and three children.

John Dengler joined SMT in 1993 as a software engineer and has developed many of SMT’s software applications and libraries. John has also supported hundreds of remote sports broadcasts, encompassing a wide variety of sports and networks.

In 1995, John led the formation of SMT’s Engineering Department and was named director. John served as director of engineering until 2005, when he was then promoted to vice president of technology.

Beginning in 2005, John focused primarily on the development of GEM, SMT’s next-generation software platform. GEM, which debuted within SMT products beginning in 2006, offers a flexible and powerful data and graphics architecture, reusable components, strong visual design tools, and an optimized programming workflow. GEM is now utilized for presentation of dynamic, real-time graphical content across SMT’s product line.        

John received his B.S. in computer science (cum laude) from The Johns Hopkins University and earned an M.S. in computer science from Duke University. While at Hopkins, John was a four-year varsity letterman and captain of the soccer team. John resides in Durham with his wife, Kim, and two children, Matthew and Anna.

Lisa Shanahan has 15 years’ experience in managing and administering business processes. She joined SMT in 1997 as production coordinator for the Autograph^® product line.

In 1998 she was promoted to the Autograph Product Manager position where she was responsible for client relations, new client development and shepherding new product feature requests through SMT’s engineering and manufacturing departments.

During Lisa’s tenure as the Autograph Product Manager, where she acted as the sole sale representative, revenue for the product increased by more than 100 percent. In 2000, Lisa was promoted to Director of the Business Office where she hired, trained and managed the account managers who oversee products and services.

In 2003, Lisa was promoted to Director of Business Administration and in 2009 became Vice President of Business Administration. Lisa directs and manages the processes, procedures and personnel overseeing SMT’s revenue stream, payables and expenses.

Lisa holds a B.S. from St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, PA where she was captain of the cross-country track and field team. She lives in Raleigh with her husband, Joe, and twins Jay and Quinn.

Patricia Hopkins brings to SMT 20 years of experience in corporate marketing, advertising, strategic planning, sports management and television production. As SMT’s vice president of marketing, Patricia is responsible for corporate communications and events, strategic planning, product planning and marketing, branding, public relations, web site content and sales and marketing materials.

Since joining SMT in 2009, Patricia has been pivotal in rebranding SMT from SportsMEDIA Technology as the company expands into broader markets. Under Patricia’s guidance, the company launched a redesigned web site that showcases SMT’s products and services with regularly updated content and video.

Prior to coming to SMT, Patricia worked with Turner Broadcasting System’s Cartoon Network, The Weather Channel and Indy Racing League, executing marketing and sponsorship programs for NASCAR, the PGA Tour and Major League Baseball as well as General Mills, Kodak, RadioShack, Firestone and Food Lion. In 2007, Patricia founded Grace Strategic Marketing, where her clients included McDonald’s, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill and the Ronald McDonald House. 

Patricia received her Bachelor of Arts in communications from William Paterson University in New Jersey.  Patricia is a certificated business coach who enjoys traveling and competing in triathlons. Originally from New Jersey, Patricia makes her home in Raleigh.

Mickey Herrin oversees legal matters at SMT. His duties include negotiating and finalizing customer contracts; managing the contract database and assisting with contract renewals; filing and prosecuting trademark applications; assisting with the filing of patent applications; and handling immigration issues, real estate matters, acquisitions and personnel issues. In 2001 Mickey was promoted to Director of Business and Legal Affairs and then in July of 2009 was promoted to Vice President of Legal Affairs. 

Prior to joining SMT, Mickey was a senior associate at the law firm of Kennedy Covington Lobdell & Hickman LLP in Raleigh, where he worked with the firm’s corporate and emerging business practice groups.

Mickey received a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a J.D. from Wake Forest University School of Law, where he served on The Law Review.

Mickey, originally from Greenville, N.C., lives in Chapel Hill with his wife, Beth, and three children. In his off time, Mickey enjoys playing basketball, golf and tennis, as well as coaching his kids’ basketball games.

Hans Weber has more than 20 years of experience in developing real-time, state-of-the-art video and graphics hardware and software systems. He joined SMT in 2002 as the Technical Lead Engineer responsible for the development of augmented reality products, such as the virtual first down line, virtual billboards, signage and video walls.

In 2006, Hans was promoted to Director of Research and Development, then in 2009 to Vice President of Research and Development. Hans led the effort in developing the core technologies underlying SMT’s augmented reality and telestration products and the real-time video and graphics renderer for the GEM software platform.

Prior to joining SMT, Hans conducted 10 years of leading-edge research in 3D graphics, virtual environments and augmented reality while in a Ph.D. program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Hans received a B.A. in computer science from Harvard University and an M.S. in computer science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. While at Harvard, Hans was a member of the varsity cross country and track teams. Hans is originally from South Bend, Indiana, and currently lives in Chapel Hill, with his wife, Katie, and three children.

Janet Arlotta joined SMT in 2009 and launched the Creative Services Department, handling graphic creation and manipulation of on-air packages, interface design and virtual technologies.

As executive director of Creative Services, Janet oversees a design team responsible for concept design, virtual elements, animation and implementation for insert packages, prompter interface design and dynamic elements for GOTO displays. The creative team also integrates clients’ designs and animation with SMT’s real-time technology.

Janet played a key role in securing new business with the Cowboys Stadium’s inaugural game in 2009, which resulted in SMT winning two Telly Awards, a Davey Award and a PromaxBDA Award.

Prior to working for SMT, Janet was owner and chief creative executive for FUEL in Los Angeles, an internationally recognized and Emmy Award-winning design and production firm, providing network brand packages and motion creative for clients such as ESPN, MTV, HBO, ABC, NBC and Disney.

Janet received a B.A. in Broadcast Communications from Montclair State University in New Jersey. She loves basketball, tennis and hiking. Janet, originally from New Jersey, settled in Durham and lives there with her husband, John, and their three children.

Rick Adamson leads SMT’s Client Services Department, overseeing the account management and remote operations teams.

Rick has spent more than 25 years as an executive manager in the corporate IT training and the custom software solutions industries. Prior to joining SMT in mid-2011 as director of client services, Rick was founder and COO of American Research Institute, a custom software solutions provider. From 1999 to 2002, Rick served as VP of U.S. Operations and Product Management for Global Knowledge Network. Before joining Global Knowledge, Rick served Learning Tree International in various roles over 9 years including VP, Product Development, and Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.

Rick earned a BBA in management and an MBA in information systems from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles and completed executive coursework at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He has served as Chairman of the American Council on Education College CREDIT Board of Advisors in Washington, D.C.., and as a director for the Wake County Autism Society. 

A native of Southern California, Rick and his wife, Julie, live in Cary, N.C. with their children, Christianna and Eric.