Spotlight: Bill Lively

Building something from the ground up is part of Bill Lively’s DNA. From his years as athletic director at Southern Methodist University to president and chief executive office of the Dallas Center for the Performing Arts to consultant for the new Baylor Cancer Center, Lively finds the challenge exhilarating in entrepreneurial environments. His new thrill is preparing the state where everything is bigger for the biggest Super Bowl in history as president and chief executive officer of the North Texas Super Bowl XLV Host Committee. He spoke to staff writer Theresa Manahan.

Age: 65
New title: President and chief executive officer, North Texas Super Bowl XLV Host Committee
Previous title: President and chief executive officer, Dallas Center for the Performing Arts
First job: Stock boy for M.E. Moses, a five-and-dime in Oak Cliff, Dallas
College education: Bachelor’s degree in music, Southern Methodist University; master’s in education, University of North Texas
Executive most admired: Stanley Marcus of Neiman Marcus
Brand most admired: Lexus
Favorite vacation spot: Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado
Last book read: “1776,” by David McCullough
Favorite movie: “Patton”
Favorite musician: Yo-Yo Ma

What will be the biggest challenge in your new position?
Making certain that this Super Bowl, from all perspectives, is a regional project and that it really is touching the lives of families and companies and organizations throughout Collin, Dallas, Denton and Tarrant counties.

What is the biggest risk you’ve taken in your career?
The undertaking to build the Dallas Center for the Performing Arts was an enormous risk that lots of people and I took in the fall of 2000 because we had to raise over $300 million to build something that never existed in this part of the country.

What is your biggest professional disappointment?
That my quarterbacking skills in high school did not qualify me to play for the Dallas Cowboys. My limited ability as a quarterback, and how disappointed I was I couldn’t be as good as Troy Aikman is.

What career advice do you have for people wanting into the sports industry?
You want to be strategic. You want to have patience. You want to learn. You want to do the very best you can. Don’t be too fast in your expectations for promotions and recognition.

What is one story you are continuing to watch in the sports world today?
I’m intrigued with college football and the continuing saga to have or not have a playoff system. I think that is an issue that doesn’t affect the world dramatically but is intriguing to those of us who enjoy college football.