Smartfield Senior Staff
Tommy Martin, Chief Executive Officer
Tommy graduated from Texas Tech with a Mechanical Engineering degree in 1984 and an MBA in1992. Tommy worked at Texas Instruments for 14 years as an engineer, project manager and business development manager. In 1995, Tommy co-founded Accent Engineering with Jeff McNeill. Accent designed electronic products for various industries.
In 2008, Tommy was involved in the creation of Smartfield, Inc. Tommy is married to Mary Ann. They have two sons: Trent and Matt.
Kyle Gayler, Chief Financial Officer
Kyle D. Gayler, CPA, served as Senior Vice President, Logistics of United Supermarkets, Ltd., a privately-held grocery chain with annual sales of approximately $900 million. Prior to his appointment to this capacity, he served as Vice President, Logistics; Director of Logistics and Director of Financial Analysis. Kyle left United in November 2005 in order to pursue opportunities to go into business on his own (buying or starting an operating business). While pursuing such, he has been active in providing financial, business and logistics related consulting or project fulfillment services to an array of clients in varying industries. Prior to joining the United team, Kyle served as Treasury Manager for Furr’s/Bishop’s Inc. where he supervised cash management functions for the 113 restaurant chain. In addition, Kyle was the Senior Financial Analyst for Club Corporation of America with 230 private clubs, resorts and public golf facilities. After graduating summa cum laude from Texas Tech University with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting, Kyle began his professional career as a Staff Auditor in Ernst & Young’s Dallas office.
With a depth of experience and successes in accounting, finance and logistics, Kyle brings a diversified skill-set and strong relationship building attributes to any business or client for which he serves. Kyle is active in coaching youth sports and is very involved in the Lubbock community.
Joel Hohenberger, Chief Technology Officer
Joel Hohenberger serves as Chief Technology Officer of Smartfield, Inc. He received a Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Engineering from Texas Tech University and was a member of Tech’s Engineering Honor Society. Joel’s engineering career began at Texas Instruments in 1992 working on custom manufacturing and quality control. Joel joined Hicks and Ragland Engineering in 1995 where he designed, evaluated and implemented the telecommunication networks for several western United States telephone companies. At the beginning of the telecom deregulation in 1996-98, Joel was part of group that started Tech Tel Communications. He soon became General Manager of the new company where he directed the growth and operations until Tech Tel was purchased by another telecom group. Shortly after, Joel along with his wife Courtney purchased a small telecom equipment company call Biz-Tel Communications. At the end of the second year of ownership, an investor group purchased Biz-Tel from the Hohenbergers. After the sale, Joel went to work for one of his Biz-Tel clients, University Medical Center as the Director of Telecom and Network and then Chief Operating Officer of UMC Physician Network Services.
Joel and his wife Courtney have two children, Jake and Callie. Joel is a member of Lakeridge United Methodist Church and current President of the non-profit civic group, Lubbock, Inc.
Margaret Couch, Chief Operations Officer
Margaret is a graduate of Texas Tech University and has over 30 years of experience in management and professional consulting. She served as Chief Marketing Officer and as Chief Integration Officer for Alamosa, the largest publicly-held Sprint PCS affiliate. Margaret has written and published two books: Is there an Elephant in the Copy Room?©, published in 1999 and Women Who Listen to Horses©, published in 2010. Margaret has also developed self-empowering programs for women – Soul Purpose Experience and WINGS. She and her husband, Bill, enjoy living in the country on Trinity Ranch with their horses.
Mark Tanner, Vice President of Engineering
Mark Tanner brings to Smartfield a background of design and development in electrical engineering and management. Mark has 17 years of experience having worked in engineering and management roles for Frito Lay, Phillips Petroleum (now Conoco Phillips), and Raytheon Company. Project work includes development of initial concepts through preliminary design and prototyping as well as carrying those projects from initial to full-rate production. The scope of the projects include feedback control systems, safety interlock systems, electronic countermeasures and RADAR design test and manufacturing. Later work included managing an advanced power supply design group consisting of 12 employees.
Mark holds Bachelor and Master degrees in Electrical Engineering from Texas Tech University, 1990 and 1995, respectively.