We are the pioneers in sports technology, having re-imagined the fan experience 30 years ago. Since then, we’ve revolutionized how sports fans watch their favorite events, whether in the stands, livestreaming or on television. Through innovative real-time and wireless data and display systems, SMT’s impact is evident in every major international sport on the world’s stage, from football and soccer to tennis and golf.
It all started with a challenge, a visionary graduate student and his bold ideas. The year was 1991 and the PGA TOUR’s method of scorekeeping was standard walkie-talkies.
What if, thought Gerard J. Hall, I could create a wireless scoring system? Game on. Next up: The first electronic scoreboard for tennis. SMT pioneered the first
on-screen score bugs and race crawls. And the official
scoring systems for every event of the X Games.
SMT has grown to become the premier technology provider for pinnacle world-renowned events, including the tennis Grand Slams, golf majors, the Olympics, NHL, NBA, the New York City Marathon and CrossFit Games. SMT designed and developed the official scoring, statistics, and onsite live presentation systems for the NBA, the NHL, the PGA TOUR, NASCAR, the CrossFit Games, all four golf majors, and the four tennis slams.
Since 2012, SMT has made two strategic acquisitions that have accelerated innovation, enhanced client services, and expanded our product portfolio. With the acquisition of Jacksonville, Fla.-based Information and Display Systems (IDS) in 2012, SMT doubled its size and instantly became the premier turnkey provider for both in-venue as well as broadcast sports technology. In 2016, SMT acquired Chicago-based Sportvision, joining two of the biggest names in video enhancement and virtual insertion graphics for live sports. With the three companies combined, SMT services hundreds of major U.S and international sports events, as well as major sports broadcasters, teams and organizing bodies, resulting in a sports technology powerhouse unequaled in the industry.
SMT continues to blaze the trail in sports technology with innovative biometrics and player and object tracking, mobile apps, analytics, video production services, wireless information systems, and on-site services. SMT’s products have become a regular part of the viewing experience for fans and an invaluable asset for clients.
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SMT founder and CEO Gerard J. Hall has spent the past 30 years revolutionizing the way fans watch sports. Gerard’s many innovations include pioneering the first live, on-air graphic scoreboard, aka “score bug,” widely heralded as one of the most important developments in sports television.
In 2011, Gerard rebranded SportsMEDIA Technology Corporation to SMT in order to grow into other markets. To that end, SMT in 2012 acquired Jacksonville, Fla.-based IDS (Information and Display Systems), provider of on-site scoring, results and statistics for live events, and, in 2016, acquired Chicago-based Sportvision, a leading innovator of digital sports content, broadcast enhancements and entertainment products. An acquisition of Munich, Germany-based Signum Bildtechnik in 2019 expanded SMT’s global reach with a full-time presence in Europe to better service international clients.
Gerard is a graduate of Harvard University, a St. Andrew’s scholar at the University of Edinburgh, and was a graduate fellow in the department of computer science at the University of Central Florida.
Kirk was named SMT’s first COO in 2017, after serving on the board of directors and acting as an independent consultant during the 2016 acquisition of Sportvision.
As COO, Kirk identifies areas where SMT can improve its operational efficiency. He is tasked with operational management, product development, customer relationship management, business development, strategy implementation and financial control responsibility across all four divisions. He has also filled the role of CFO, managing SMT’s banking relationships.
Kirk holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from University of Texas at Arlington.
Jay serves as SMT’s CRO, leveraging two decades in the sports industry to spearhead new strategic business, grow revenue, and globally expand SMT’s products and services into new sports markets.
A four-time Emmy award winner, Jay was COO/VP, New Media and Content, of NASCAR Media Group, responsible for the day-to-day management and strategic planning of all operations. Prior to that, he worked in the food industry with General Mills, Heinz Frozen Food, and other brands.
Jay earned an MBA from The Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, and a B.A. in English and American literature from Brown University.
Ron Harnek is president of SMT’s Jacksonville division, responsible for the division’s international strategy, profitability, and corporate operations. He works closely with the CEO, board members, and the executive management team to develop growth initiatives, product initiatives, financial planning and analysis, and to ensure that the company’s strategic goals are met.
Ron draws on his 10-year experience as vice president and CFO of SMT Jacksonville’s division, where he was a key member of the senior management team that successfully completed the acquisition of Information & Display Systems (IDS) to SMT in 2012.
Ron holds an MBA from Nova Southeastern University, and a B.S. in economics and finance from the University of Scranton.
Robbie Louthan began his career at SMT immediately after earning a B.S. from N.C. State University. Robbie has supported more than 2,000 events during his 19 years at SMT, where he has served as a remote operations technician, director of operations, director of client services and systems, and, beginning in 2016, VP of client services and systems.
Robbie now holds the title of senior vice president of business development, responsible for overseeing the day-to-day fulfillment of client project requests and client communication, systems requirements and hardware and software releases.
As SMT’s Corporate Vice President of Marketing and Branding, Patricia is responsible for the company’s global marketing, corporate communications, strategic planning, product planning and manages SMT’s Creative Studio.
Since joining SMT in 2009, Patricia has been pivotal in rebranding SMT from SportsMEDIA Technology as the company expands into broader markets. She has helped guide the company through its acquisitions of Sportvision, IDS and Signum Bildtechnik with communications strategy, rebranding and public relations.
Under Patricia’s guidance, the company launched an extensive communication plan to include public relations, social media campaigns, business development strategy, video production and website redesigns.
Patricia received her B.A. in communications from William Paterson University.
John was one of the company’s first designers, leading the formation of SMT’s Engineering Department in 1995 and helping to develop the industry’s first software that aired live data, such as NASCAR’s leaderboard. John served as director of engineering until 2005, when he was promoted to vice president of technology.
John has worked within a broad set of sports productions, integrating technology into a variety of environments, from remote production trucks to broadcast studios and event venues.
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.
Paul Podkulski joined SMT in 1996 as its director of information technology, and in 2005 was named vice president, Information Technology. Paul, who is based in SMT’s Jacksonville division, has led and managed large-scale enterprise system deployments for the NHL, NBA, CrossFit, USTA, USGA, NBC Olympics, including the first-ever historical database system for NASCAR.
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Paul pioneered the first online live scoring solutions for the Lipton Championships, USTA US Open, and the LPGA. Paul founded SMT Jacksonville’s internet operations and cloud services and continues to directly oversee and manage these critical facilities.
Paul holds a BS in electrical engineering from Rutgers University.
Corporate Vice President, R&D, 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 R&D, then, in 2009, to VP of R&D. 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 SMT’s software platforms.
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.
Brian is Vice President, Operations, for SMT’s Durham and Fremont divisions. Throughout his two decades with SMT, Brian has created several departments, including Quality Control, Systems, Data, Help Desk and Training & Certification, integrating best practices, processes, workflow, recruiting, training and developing talent.
As the need for around-the-clock client support was recognized, Brian was instrumental in creating the Data Operations Center, SMT’s central location for data collection and distribution and a multi-tiered call center available to every SMT client.
Brian is a graduate of the Russ College of Engineering and Technology – Ohio University.
VP of Operations Jim Ingalls is responsible for the overall strategic direction of SMT's Jacksonville division, focusing on technology services and arena operations. His goal is to create a world-class fan experience in a worldwide market.
Jim is an industry veteran, having co-founded Information & Display Systems (IDS) with Rallis Pappas in 1981 after the two implemented an electronic scoring system for the PGA Tour and pioneered the first electronic graphic display boards used in men's professional tennis.
In the intervening years, the company developed into one of the world’s leading providers of information and display technology, designing and implementing systems used for data collection such as NBA GameStats, NHL HITS, PGA TOUR SHOTLink, and GOLf/x, and creating the official scoring systems for the PGA Tour, NHL, NBA and U.S. Tennis Association.
Jim has a Bachelor of Science in Economics from College of Charleston.
As vice president of legal affairs, 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.
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.
Senior Technical Advisor Marv White was a principal CTO of Sportvision from 1998 to 2009, leading efforts for several of the company’s Emmy-winning technologies: 1st & Ten, the virtual first-down line in American football; PITCHf/x, pitch-tracking in Major League Baseball; NASCAR RaceView; and several other virtual effects in sports broadcasts. Marv helped effectively integrate Sportvision into SMT during the acquisition.
At ESPN, Marv, distinguished engineer, was responsible for finding new technologies by collaborating with university research groups, including Disney Research in Zurich and Pittsburgh, on topics relating to video and broadcast including light fields, Free Viewpoint Video, and augmented reality.
Marv received his B.S. in physics from University of Illinois and studied graduate physics at UCLA.
In 2017, Rallis transitioned from President of SMT’s Jacksonville division to Corporate Vice President, a role in which he focuses on select project consultancy and mentoring.
Rallis co-founded Information and Display Systems (IDS) with Jim Ingalls in 1981 after the two implemented an electronic scoring system for the PGA Tour and pioneered the first electronic graphic display boards used in men's professional tennis. The company grew into one of the world’s leading providers of information and display technology.
Rallis has played an integral part of building SMT into the powerhouse it is today, having created systems that have been used for event management, web publishing, media, broadcast and fan enhancements at many world-class events around the globe.
Rallis is a graduate of the College of Charleston where he earned a degree in history.
Bala Lakshminarayanan, VP, Engineering for SMT’s Fremont division, joined SMT in 2011 as a software engineer. During his tenure, he has contributed to a variety of cutting-edge software systems, including the industry standard 1st & Ten line football system, strike-zone enhancement and virtual insertions in baseball, SMT's proprietary infrared tracking system used in hockey, and other real-time augmented reality products.
Bala holds an M.S. in electrical engineering from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. He's from Chennai, India, and in addition to English, he is fluent in Tamil and Hindi.
Lee Brinson leads SMT-Durham’s team of account managers who deliver innovative, Emmy-winning software applications to broadcasters, event organizers, sports teams, stadiums and organizing bodies. Brinson works closely with SMT’s Engineering Department to coordinate the development of broadcast solutions that enhance the productions of the world’s most high-profile sporting events.
With two decades serving in multiple capacities at SMT, Lee offers experience, in-depth live television production knowledge, technical prowess, and a steady demeanor to SMT’s clients and account managers.
Lee graduated with degrees in English and communications from UNC-CH. In 2000, he won an Emmy Award for outstanding Technical Team Remote for his work on ESPN SpeedWorld: NASCAR. In 2010, Brinson was part of an SMT team that won two Silver Telly awards for video production and virtual graphics.
”With our unparalleled track record and reputation for excellence, SMT thrives on opportunities to help our clients innovate, no matter the scope of the production. As pioneers in the sports technology industry, SMT understands how to harness and apply technology to create the next generation of unique tools and visual presentations to enhance analysis, storytelling, and the overall viewer experience.”
As the founder and CEO of SMT, Gerard J. Hall has spent the past 30 years transforming the sportscasting industry with innovative technology such as real-time graphics, tickers, clock-and-score, virtual insertions, ball- and player-tracking systems, and social media integration, revolutionizing the way fans watch sports. Gerard pioneered the first live, on-air graphic scoreboards, widely heralded as one of the most important developments in sports television.
In 2011, Gerard re-branded SportsMEDIA Technology Corporation to SMT 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, and, in 2016, acquired Chicago-based Sportvision, a leading innovator of digital sports content, broadcast enhancements and entertainment products.
Gerard has a B.A. in Economics from Harvard University.
Kirk was named SMT’s first COO in 2017, after serving on the board of directors and acting as an independent consultant during the 2016 acquisition of Sportvision.
As COO, Kirk identifies areas where SMT can improve its operational efficiency. He is tasked with operational management, product development, customer relationship management, business development, strategy implementation and financial control responsibility across all three divisions. He has also filled the role of CFO, managing SMT’s banking relationships.
Kirk holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from University of Texas at Arlington.
Jay serves as SMT’s CRO, leveraging two decades in the sports industry to spearhead new strategic business, grow revenue, and globally expand SMT’s products and services into new sports markets.
A four-time Emmy award winner, Jay was COO/ VP, New Media and Content, of NASCAR Media Group, responsible for the day-to-day management and strategic planning of all operations. Prior to that, he worked in the food industry with General Mills, Heinz Frozen Food, and other brands.
Jay earned an MBA from The Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, and a B.A. in English and American literature from Brown University.
Ron Harnek is president of SMT’s Jacksonville division,responsible for the division’s international strategy, profitability, and corporate operations. He works closely with the CEO, board members, and the executive management team to develop growth initiatives, product initiatives,financial planning and analysis, and to ensure that the company’s strategic goals are met.
Ron draws on his 10-year experience as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of SMT Jacksonville’s division, where he was a key member of the senior management team that successfully completed the acquisition of IDS to SMT in 2012.
Ron holds an MBA from Nova Southeastern University, and a B.S. in economics and finance from the University of Scranton.
Robbie Louthan began his career at SMT immediately after earning a B.S. from N.C. State University. Robbie has supported more than 2,000 events during his 19 years at SMT, where he has served as a remote operations technician, Director of Operations,Director of Client Services and Systems, and, beginning in 2016, VP of Client Services and Systems.
Robbie now holds the title of Senior Vice President of Business Development, responsible for overseeing the day-to-day fulfillment of client project requests and client communication, systems requirements and hardware and software releases.
As SMT’s Corporate Vice President of Marketing and Branding VP, Patricia is responsible for the company’s global marketing, corporate communications, strategic planning, product planning and Creative Studio.
Since joining SMT in 2009, Patricia has been pivotal in rebranding SMT from SportsMEDIA Technology as the company expands into broader markets. She has helped guide the company through its acquisition of Sportvision in 2016 and IDS (Information & Display Systems) in 2012 with communications strategy, rebranding and public relations.
Under Patricia’s guidance, the company launched an extensive communication plan to include public relations, social media campaign, business development strategy, video production and website redesign.
Patricia received her B.A. in communications from William Paterson University.
John was one of the company’s first designers, leading the formation of SMT’s Engineering Department in 1995 and helping to develop the industry’s first software that aired live data, such as NASCAR’s leaderboard. John served as director of engineering until 2005, when he was promoted to vice president of technology.
John has worked within a broad set of sports productions, integrating technology into a variety of environments, from remote production trucks to broadcast studios and event venues.
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.
Paul Podkulski joined SMT in 1996 as its Director of Information Technology, and in 2005 was named Vice President, Information Technology. Paul, who is based in SMT’s Jacksonville division, has led and managed large-scale enterprise system deployments for the NHL, NBA, CrossFit, USTA, USGA, NBC Olympics, including the first-ever historical database system for NASCAR.
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Paul pioneered the first online live scoring solutions for the Lipton Championships, USTA US Open, and the LPGA. Paul founded SMT Jacksonville’s internet operations and cloud services and continues to directly oversee and manage these critical facilities.
Paul holds a BS in Electrical Engineering from Rutgers University.
Hans Weber, SMT’s Corporate Vice President, R&D, 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 SMT’s software platforms.
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.
Brian is Vice President, Operations, for SMT’s Durham and Fremont divisions. Throughout his two decades with SMT, Brian has created several departments, including Quality Control, Systems, Data, Help Desk and Training & Certification, integrating best practices, processes, workflow, recruiting, training and developing talent.
As the need for around-the-clock client support was recognized, Brian was instrumental in creating the Data Operations Center, SMT’s central location for data collection and distribution and a multi-tiered call center available to every SMT client.
Brian is a graduate of the Russ College of Engineering and Technology – Ohio University.
Jim Ingalls, SMT’s VP of Operations for the Jacksonville division, is responsible for the overall strategic direction of the division’s technology services and arena operations, supporting the overall vision of creating a world-class fan experience at multiple locations in a worldwide market.
Jim is an industry veteran, having co-founded Information & Display Systems (IDS) with Rallis Pappas in 1981 after the two implemented an electronic scoring system for the PGA Tour and pioneered the first electronic graphic display boards used in men's professional tennis.
In the intervening years, the company developed into one of the world’s leading providers of information and display technology, designing and implementing systems used for data collection such as NBA GameStats, NHL HITS, PGA TOUR SHOTLink, and GOLf/x, and creating the official scoring systems for the PGA Tour, NHL, NBA and U.S. Tennis Association.
Jim has a Bachelor of Science in Economics from College of Charleston.
As Vice President of Legal Affairs, 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.
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.
Senior Technical Advisor Marv White was a principal CTO of Sportvision from 1998 to 2009, leading efforts for several of the company’s Emmy-winning technologies: 1st & Ten, the virtual first-down line in American football; PITCHf/x, pitch-tracking in Major League Baseball; NASCAR RaceView; and several other virtual effects in sports broadcasts. Marv helped effectively integrate Sportvision into SMT during the acquisition.
At ESPN, Marv, Distinguished Engineer, was responsible for finding new technologies by collaborating with university research groups, including Disney Research in Zurich and Pittsburgh, on topics relating to video and broadcast including light fields, Free Viewpoint Video, and augmented reality.
Marv received his B.S. in physics from University of Illinois and studied graduate physics at UCLA.
In 2017, Rallis transitioned from president of SMT’s Jacksonville division to senior business advisor, a role in which he focuses on selective project consultancy and mentoring.
Rallis co-founded IDS (Information and Display Systems), the leading provider of in-stadium scoring, statistics and display products for the sports industry worldwide in 1984. IDS was acquired by SMT in 2012, expanding SMT's product portfolio and geographic footprint, and cementing the company's position as the leading provider of technology solutions to the sports industry.
Rallis has played an integral part of building SMT into the powerhouse it is today, having created systems that have been used for event management, web publishing, media, broadcast and fan enhancements at many world-class events around the globe.
Rallis is a graduate of the College of Charleston where he earned a degree in history.
