MEET THE TEAM
The SMPA Team is dedicated to dramatically improving the health and economic vitality of the Sand Mountain region.
We’re so excited and privileged to serve you and the City of Albertville!
PATRICK O’BRIEN
General Manager
Proven operations and facilities director with strong leadership skills, eight years of management experience, 11 years of sport/recreation industry experience and eight years of coaching experience. Patrick was an integral member of the leadership team during the pre-opening phase of Spooky Nook Sports, which at the time was the largest indoor sports complex in North America. SNS is a 65-acre, 700,000 sq. ft. facility who sees about 1M unique visitors per year. He was able to consistently build high performing teams that achieved goals and provided exceptional customer service. SNS quickly grew into one the best indoor sports complexes on the East Coast in part due to Patrick’s excellent leadership. He also was one of the key operational liaisons to the USA Women’s National Field Hockey Team which practiced and hosted matches at SNS. As the General Manager of Sand Mountain Park and Amphitheater, Patrick sees this opportunity as a sincere honor to serve the City of Albertville, help make the SMPA dream come true and positively change the Sand Mountain region forever. His leadership style focuses on purpose relating to the mission, ownership, development, performance and teamwork.
Patrick’s passion is to make a positive impact on the community through sport, recreation, events and wellness! Patrick received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Millersville University and a Master of Science in Sport Management from Georgia Southern University. Patrick lives in Albertville with his wife Kristi and stepdaughter Kennadi. They are expecting a baby this September and are very excited to add to the family.
PHILIP FORMBY
Senior Director of Operations
As a certified parks and recreation professional, Phillip has over twenty-four years of experience as a recreation professional. In 1996, Phillip received Special Honors in Recreation Administration from Jacksonville State University and holds a Certified Parks and Recreation Professional certificate through Alabama Recreation & Park Association. Phillip enjoys all sports, especially golf, baseball and softball. He is a servant care leader at The Fellowship Baptist Church and likes to spend his free time with his wife and two children.
BEAU DAHLKE
Finance Manager
Beau grew up in Albertville and played baseball, basketball, and football while maintaining a GPA higher than a 4.0. Beau is a graduate of Shorter University, where he received a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting and was a member of Sigma Beta Delta Honor Society. After graduation, Beau launched his career in Albertville, AL, where he began an internship for MDA Accounting Firm, as a staff accountant. That eventually led to a five-year stint auditing businesses and preparing tax returns for corporations and individuals. He then held the Controller job at Weathers Hardware and Appliances for a year and a half before joining the SMPA team. Beau oversees Human Resources, Payroll, Bookkeeping, and Monthly Financial Reporting for the Park. Beau is married to Hilary Dahlke, and they have a son who was born in 2017.
Connor McGowan
DIRECTOR OF MEMBERSHIP
MARTY ALLEN
Tournaments and Program Manager
Marty graduated high school in 1979 and went to Snead State community college for two years. Marty played four sports in high school and has always had a love for sports. He enjoys teaching children about sport skills, teamwork, practice, work ethic and above everything good sportsmanship. “Every child should have the same opportunity to accomplish his or her goals, and it is my responsibility to see that they have that chance to accomplish it and grow with it.” Marty has been married over thirty years and has three children and three grandchildren.
TYLER MAY
Director of Entertainment and Events
Tyler is an Albertville native and brings with him many years of experience in venue management, media broadcasting, as well as over ten years of experience in law enforcement. He has worked in such well known businesses as WQSB/WAVU in Albertville, WAFF-TV in Huntsville, and is probably best known as the “Voice of the AGGIES”, serving as the public address announcer for AGGIE football, basketball, and baseball teams. He is also the announcer for the award-winning Albertville Aggie Band. Tyler served as the events specialist for Albertville City Schools which included managing the Fine Arts Center, being the ACS Events Facilitator, and educator for the famous “AggieVision” student group. Tyler also served during that time as a school resource officer. Tyler lives in Albertville with his wife, Samantha and son, Jordan. When he is not assisting with SMPA, he can be found cheering on another of his beloved teams, the Atlanta Braves.
ERIC SCOTT
Operations Manager
Eric joined the parks and recreation scene in July 2010. He served as the Field Maintenance Supervisor at the former Albertville Parks and Recreation Center before officially joining the SMPA team on November 4, 2019. Eric is a member of the Alabama Parks and Recreation Association where he has served on multiple committees including ARPA District II Co-Chair in 2016-2017 and Chairperson in 2018-2019, State Recreational Sports Committee as District II Representative since 2011, State Executive Board in 2019 At-Large Board member for the Tennessee Valley Basketball Officials Association and President of the Greater Sand Mountain Football Officials Association. His awards include the 2013 ARPA District II Merit in Recreation Award and the prestigious 2016 ARPA District II Bill Moore Professional of the Year Award. Eric also serves as an official in the Alabama High School Athletic Association for over 20 years, officiating contests in football, basketball, baseball, and volleyball.
Eric was also selected as the Northeast District Official of the Year 2019 in football.
LISA HANSFORD
Sports Programming Coordinator
Lisa, a Georgia native, graduated from Valdosta State University with her Bachelor of Arts in English and a minor in journalism. She holds a Professional Recreators Certificate through the Alabama Recreation & Park Association. She previously served as the athletic coordinator for Albertville Parks & Recreation Department for seven years before joining the SMPA Team. Lisa is the proud mother of two sons, Austin who works for the National Security Agency, Andrew who is a student at Snead State, and a daughter, Allison who attends physical therapy school at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Outside of the office, Lisa enjoys going to concerts—especially Martina McBride—and traveling.
Justin Raines
Sports Programming Coordinator
Justin was raised in Fairhope, Alabama where he played baseball and basketball throughout high school. After graduating from the University of Alabama in 2014, Justin attended Troy University where he received his Master’s in Sports Management. He has worked with Foley Sports Tourism over the past two years where he coordinated tournaments and events inside a 90,000 sq. ft. event center as well as soccer and football tournaments on their outdoor complex which featured 16 state of the art multi-purpose fields. He is excited to be given the opportunity to work for the SMPA team and to be able to give back to the community. In his spare time, Justin enjoys attending sporting events and rooting on the Crimson Tide.
SCOTT SMITH
MARKETING & PARTNERSHIP MANAGER
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