Name: Bill Oakes
Title: ATP Winston-Salem Open Tournament Dir
Age: 51
Where I call home: Winston-Salem, N.C.
Where I’m from: Chevy Chase, Md.
Focusing on right now: The tournament, obviously, but also construction. We’re completing the second phase of our permanent seating structure.
Best advice: As a 12 year old, I had a boss tell me when you’re done with a project, always ask what’s next. When I’m doing something as a paid employee, a volunteer or at my house with my family, when I’m done, I always ask what’s next. Instead of evading or sitting down, asking what you can do to help the team is something I look for.
A must for a new hire: I look for how they fit with our team. If you can find people who work well together, it makes the whole group stronger. In interviews, I always ask what candidates like to do outside of work. Work-life balance is really important. I like it when people are competitive -- when I hear people talk about being competitive outside of the office, normally that means they’re competitive inside the office.
Exec I admire: JIM CURLEY, who used to be the chief professional tennis officer for the USTA and recently retired. I’ve used his advice and counsel for years. He’s extremely smart, but extremely creative and has a high ethical moral standard. Those are the types of things I aspire to have.
Best book I’ve read: I’m reading “A BRIDGE TOO FAR.” It’s about Operation Market Garden during World War II. One of the interesting components is whether the Allies were going for too much and trying to end the war too quickly. It makes me think about when I’m at work or in life, don’t always go for too much, go for what you know you can get done.
First thing in the morning: Email first off, unfortunately. You wish there were times when you weren’t always accessible. But since I do work with people who are on other continents, I have to be. I have two daughters, ANSLEY (10) and LEALAND (13), so it’s also about getting them ready for school.
Talking tech: An emerging technology I’m waiting to see is the ability for the elimination of lines people at tennis tournaments -- where all balls, in or out, could be called electronically. That will make tennis even better, and I believe it’s coming sooner rather than later. People were very concerned about Hawkeye, but it’s turned out to be very good.
Must-have music: I am a ridiculously eclectic person. When I work out my playlist might go from TAYLOR SWIFT to THE WHO to some LUDACRIS song that I can’t repeat the words to because of my kids. Inconsistent is the best way to describe my consistency.
Food for thought: There’s a place called Skippy’s Hot Dogs in Winston. Pretzel buns, every hot dog made by the owner. It’s my guilty pleasure. At home, my wife is a fabulous cook. If it’s cooked on the grill, it’s me.
How I unwind: I like to go for long walks. Last year after the tournament was over my wife and I walked 26.2 miles one day in Manhattan over Labor Day weekend. It’s a great way for us to spend time together. When I go to London for Wimbledon, I’ll immediately go walk for 10-12 miles around the city. It is not uncommon for me when I’m on the road to just leave the hotel on a walk and not have any idea where I’m going. It’s a really neat way to explore.
Day in the life: The reason we don’t have a title sponsor is because we’re not under pressure to get one. Most of my compatriots around the world look at me like, “How can you do it without a title sponsor?” Normally that’s not a positive thing. But I’ve never sold it because our three presenting sponsors, who are all based here, have all put in enough so we don’t have to do it and can keep Winston-Salem as the primary focus.
