C-Suite: Peter Lane

Achievements: Lane joined Walton Arts Center (WAC) in May 2009. Since then it has tripled in size and grown to become Arkansas’ premier arts presenter. Under his leadership, WAC opened the state’s largest outdoor entertainment venue, the Walmart AMP, and completed a $24 million campaign in 2016 to renovate and expand WAC’s performing arts campus.

What characteristic should every leader possess? Without passion and vision and determination, you’re not going to make it.

What is your favorite thing to do when you are not working? Sailboat racing.

Was there a pivotal moment in life that led you to your current industry? I was in third grade, and my mother was asked to host the Philadelphia String Quartet in our house outside San Francisco. They stayed overnight. And I walked up to the cello player in our family room, and I said, “I bet you can’t play ‘Frère Jacques.’” He pulled out his cello and played some of the most glorious music for about a half hour. I ran into the kitchen and said to my mother, “That’s what I want to do.” I studied cello for many years and taught myself the bass and had a career as a professional musician and then moved into management.

How old were you when you had your first paying job, and what was it? I was 15 years old, and I worked in a musical instrument store. I repaired stringed instruments and rehaired bows of violins and cellos.