Management Team

Daniel S. Simpkins: Founder, Chairman, and CEO

Dan Simpkins founded Hillcrest Labs in 2001 with a team of experienced technical and business professionals to create a revolution in entertainment. Prior to founding Hillcrest, Dan was vice president and general manager of the SALIX Switching Division of Tellabs, Inc., which was established in 2000 when Dan sold Voice over IP leader SALIX Technologies to Tellabs for $300 million. Dan founded SALIX in 1990 and continued as president and CEO through the sale.

Dan currently serves on the board of advisors of Cornell University's BR Ventures and is a member of the prestigious Cornell University Council. He also sits on the advisory boards of several high-tech companies and is a member of CTAM. Dan served as an executive in residence for New Enterprise Associates (NEA), one of the country's premier venture capital firms. He is a frequent speaker at industry and business events and has authored many papers on both technical and business subjects. Dan earned a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering with distinction and a master's degree in electrical engineering, both from Cornell University.

Charles W. K. Gritton, Ph.D.: Chief Technology Officer

Chuck Gritton is responsible for all of Hillcrest Labs' technology development, including strategy, product architectures and research. His distinguished career includes more than 20 years of experience in signal processing, image processing, networking and videoconferencing in the telecommunications, wireless, cable, consumer electronics and personal computer markets. He has held senior management positions at some of the world's largest communications companies as well as emerging companies. Prior to joining Hillcrest, Chuck was CTO of Tellabs, Inc., following the acquisition of Coherent Communications, where he was CTO and vice president of engineering. Previously, Chuck was co-founder, president and CTO of Broadsword Technologies. He has held engineering management positions at AT&T Bell Labs and AT&T Network Systems. Chuck also spent ten years as head of one of the International Telecommunication Union's DSP working groups and has been an active standards participant throughout his career.

Chuck has designed or managed the creation of many signal processing ASICs, leading to the deployment of millions of devices. Chuck has also designed or managed the creation of numerous DSP-based communications systems including a video conferencing system that was deployed in the space shuttle.

Chuck holds dozens of domestic and foreign patents. He currently serves as an advisor for Colibria, a presence management company, and is a member of CTAM, SCTE, and IDIA. Chuck earned a bachelor's in electrical engineering with highest Distinction, a master's in electrical engineering, and a Ph.D. in electrical engineering from the University of Virginia.

Peter Jackson: Senior Vice President, Finance and Administration

Peter Jackson is a founding member of the Hillcrest management team and has almost 20 years of financial management experience.

Prior to Hillcrest, he directed the Switching Division finance team at Tellabs, Inc. Prior to Tellabs, as Vice President of Finance for SALIX Technologies, Inc., Peter played a key role in building the company, raising venture capital and negotiating its sale to Tellabs, Inc. for $300M. Previously, he served in several key financial management roles including Director of Financial Planning and Controller for Filetek, Inc., a data management systems company. Peter began his career with the public accounting firm of Price Waterhouse.

Peter is a Certified Public Accountant, an Elijah Watt Sells national award winner and holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with summa cum laude distinction from the University of Maryland. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) professional organization.

David B. Karlin: Senior Vice President, Customer Programs

David Karlin has over 25 years of experience in product development and technology-based strategic marketing. At Hillcrest, David is responsible for aligning technology and product offerings to customer programs, and to the infrastructures necessary for digital content deployment.

Prior to joining Hillcrest, David served as senior manager of strategic marketing for Agilent Technologies' Multi Industry Business Unit, as the senior manager of product planning for the company's Measurement and Analysis Software & Technology Operation, and as a director of new ventures. During his tenure at Agilent, David directed the formation and implementation of innovative business, product and technology initiatives, covering the spectrum of digital to Ultra-Wideband signals with market applications in cellular, WLAN, aerospace/defense, industrial, and education.

As an R&D manager and engineer for Hewlett-Packard, David led the invention, development, and market delivery of more than a dozen significant test and measurement instrumentation solutions, critical to the deployment of LAN, WAN and ATM data communication services over the last two decades. One of these solutions, the Internet Advisor protocol analyzer, is a dominant market leader and has won over 50 significant industry awards and honors since its introduction.

David earned his bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering from Cornell University. As a Hewlett-Packard Fellow, he was awarded a master of science degree in electrical engineering from Stanford University.

Chad Lucien: Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing

Chad Lucien is responsible for Hillcrest Labs' worldwide sales, marketing and business development activities. Since joining Hillcrest in 2004, Chad has been a member of the Company's executive management team where he has held positions encompassing corporate strategy, business development, and general management of the Freespace® motion computing product line. During his tenure, he has licensed Freespace® solutions to global consumer electronics companies, developed a wide variety of strategic partnerships, and led numerous product launches in the Freespace® product line.

Chad has over 15 years of experience in corporate strategy, business development, venture consulting, and investment banking. Prior to Hillcrest, Chad was the Director of Strategic Development for TVGateway LLC, where he worked with the cable operators invested in TVGateway to execute a spin-off, reshape the strategy, and complete multiple financings and acquisitions. Prior positions also include Principal of Katalyst LLC, an operational consulting and venture capital firm, and Associate at Houlihan Lokey, an investment banking firm specializing in valuation and merger and acquisition transaction advisory services.

Chad earned a bachelor of science in commerce with distinction from the University of Virginia, with concentrations in finance and marketing and is a CFA charterholder.