MEDIA RESOURCES

CONTACT: communications@mail.cox.smu.edu

Dallas, Texas (SMU) – The SMU Cox School of Business and Ernst & Young Management Briefing Series welcome James R. Lites, president of the Dallas Stars Hockey Club, Thursday, May 26, at the Fairmont Hotel’s Venetian Room. Following an 11:30 a.m. reception, Lites will speak at noon.

 

Lites began as president and alternate governor of the Stars in June 1993, serving the team for nine seasons in this capacity before becoming president in November 2002. From the time he joined the Stars, the team has received more recognition than any other Dallas-area sports franchise, claiming six Division Championships, three Western Conference Championships, two Presidents’ Trophies and the 1999 Stanley Cup. When named president of the Texas Rangers of Major League Baseball in May 1999, Lites became one of four executives in professional sports to head more than one organization.  

 

In March 2002, prior to becoming president of the Stars, Lites spent eight months with the Phoenix Coyotes, serving as president and chief operating officer of the Coyotes, Arena Management Group, LLC, and Coyotes Charities. Supervising all business operations for the organization, Lites also contributed to the design of the Coyotes’ new arena and to the increased revenue from ticket sales and sponsorship.

 

Returning to Dallas, Lites was named president of the Stars on November 26, 2002. As a member of the NHL’s Board of Governors for the past 21 consecutive seasons and chair of the Dallas Stars Foundation, Lites currently oversees all business transactions for the Stars, including finances and budget development, marketing, advertising and broadcast agreements, public relations, promotions and ticket sales. 

 

Before joining the Stars, Lites served as executive vice president of the Detroit Red Wings for 11 years, during which the team claimed three Norris Division Championships, two Norris Division Playoff Championships and was named the most valuable NHL team by Financial World magazine for four consecutive years. Lites received his bachelor of arts from the University of Michigan and graduated cum laude from Wayne State (MI) University Law School.

 

The Management Briefing Series continues to provide the Dallas community with renowned figures, speaking on behalf of their expertise in business, economic, and political arenas. Previous speakers have included former President George Bush, Steve Forbes, Alan Greenspan, Lee Iaccoca, James Keyes, David Lesar, Ross Perot, Jr., and Allen Questrom. For more information, contact Andrea Smith at 214-768-4266.