Facilities executive lands with Jets to help create West Side stadium

Name: Bob Jordan
Age: 47
New title: Vice president/design and construction, New York Jets
Previous job: Director of operations for Center Operating Co., manager of American Airlines Center and Reunion Arena
First job: Sweeping floor in metal manufacturing shop
Education: Bachelor’s degree in finance (1981), University of Texas at Arlington
Resides: Cold Spring, N.Y.
Grew up: Woodstock, Ontario
Executive most admired: Billy Graham, Billy Graham Evangelistic Association
Last book read: “Wild at Heart: Discovering the Secret of a Man’s Soul” by John Eldredge
Last movie seen: “Gangs of New York”
Favorite movie: “Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb”
Favorite type of music: Classical

Bob Jordan began working in facilities as a stagehand when he was in high school. Now, with almost 30 years’ experience in the design, construction and operations of sports and public facilities, he’s in New York to work on the Jets’ proposed stadium.

Jordan has a background in operations and an education in finance, and has worked in about every department and discipline in the industry.

What role would you play in the design of a new stadium if New York City were awarded the Olympics?
To make sure that the design of the facilities meet or exceed the expectations of what the buildings are to provide, by being willing to listen to everyone’s ideas, and distilling those expectations down into an economical and operational facility.

What is the biggest challenge in your new position?
This is such a great project. The biggest challenge is getting my arms around all the different disciplines, including the convention and trade show, football, and mega-scale events in Manhattan, that are going to be part of the truly multipurpose facility.

What is the biggest risk you’ve ever taken?
That each day I’m willing to take risks. Each day they get a little bit bigger, and each day you become more confident in handling those risks.

What is your biggest professional accomplishment?
Completing the American Airlines Center in Dallas. I was bringing together the needs of the tenants and the users of the facility and translating that into a design for the architects and engineers, which is very similar to what I’m doing here.

What is your biggest professional disappointment?
There are always disappointments in what you do, but there’s also great rewards in what you do, and I think it’s how you relate the two together to what counts.

What is your career advice?
To listen, find a mentor, and don’t be afraid to be outside of your comfort zone.