Tom Smith

When I was in kindergarten, my parents enrolled me in a communications magnet school. I believe this instilled a lifelong love of media in me. By high school, they were creating new journalism and media production courses for me. They had to: I was the only one who knew how to work the switcher and the software. College led me to an internship in my hometown market's leading news station, which evolved in to a wonderful career that's given me opportunities to not only create the market's most watched live television, but to create my own software and tools that enhance our broadcasts on a daily basis.

I've been writing HTML since the fifth grade, but a simple misunderstanding led me to start writing more detailed programs in Python. My boss, newly hired at the station, had been told I was good at coding rundowns for Ignite. He misunderstood this as computer code and complimented me on it in a review. This felt like a fresh challenge to tackle, so I cracked open a book, loaded up an IDE, and made it a reality. To date, this self-developed skill has allowed me to create countless solutions both for our station that do everything from interact with Overdrive to power our sets, and even some programs for my own personal uses. Click the links below to learn more about some of them.

• SuperDrive
• OverSense
• WxWindow
• Temperature Wall
• Racetrack
• SmarterTV

When you're an introvert, stepping up to lead doesn't come naturally. For me, it's a skill I was able to develop thanks to my work history.

What do you learn in an amusement park?

I spent ten summers as an assistant manager at a small regional amusement park, often stepping in for no-shows and maintaining aging computers that were never turned off. The environment was intense—frustrated guests, high prices, and constant noise—but it taught me how to de-escalate tension and resolve conflicts quickly. That same skillset applies in broadcast, where high-pressure situations are common, especially during major transitions. I’ve helped lead our station through multiple Ignite rebuilds and a full Overdrive migration.

Selling Fruit

Working at the Apple Store was a dream job—I got to spend my days sharing my passion for technology. Most of the role was like tutoring: helping customers, especially older ones, learn to use the just-launched iPad. There’s a real spark in the moment when something clicks for someone who thought it never would. The key is asking the right questions. Once you understand a person’s goals and needs, it’s just a matter of guiding them through the steps.

Off the Clock

We're all more than our jobs, and I'm certainly no exception. When I'm not at work, I'm avid home baker and ice cream maker, movie buff, coffee snob, a gamer with a love for esports and fighting games in particular, a flight simulation fan, a dog dad, and a soon to be husband.

Get in touch

I can't wait to hear from you about how I can help your organization reach its broadcasting goals. Reach out to me today.