Sarah Lane is the new director of the Northeast Florida Builders Association’s Sales and Marketing Council. She replaced Amanda Blakeslee, who moved on to a new job with Blue Cross Blue Shield.
Getting the job
Lane was Daniel Davis’ executive council assistant when he was with the City Council for four years. When Davis became a state representative in October 2010, his Council seat became vacant. “I still had a job, but I was doing it without a boss,” she said. When Blakeslee said she was leaving, Davis told Lane about the position: “Daniel thought this was a perfect opportunity for me to leave the City to work over here.”
Being a Council aide
She manned the office for Davis during those four years and if constituents called and had issues with anything regarding the City, she helped them and directed them in the right direction. “I was Daniel’s liaison with the Mayor’s office, General Counsel’s office and the City Council. I planned events in the district such as park openings and ribbon cuttings. I also helped draft legislation and managed Daniel’s schedule.”
Working for SMC
“I’m the director, so I am the staff person for the SMC executive board and all the committees. I work very closely with chair Amber Williams to make sure she has everything she needs. I am the contact person and take the payments for all events. I also work with each committee on whatever event they are planning.” Right now she is focusing on getting breakfast sponsors and working on the Parade of Homes.
Why join NEFBA and SMC?
Lane said the opportunity to work for Davis again is what led her to SMC. “I didn’t know anything about the position. I knew Amanda, but I really didn’t know what she did. I got the rundown and heard that it was event planning, so I said sure, I’ll give it a try.”
How is it going?
“It’s great. This is really a well-oiled machine. Everything sort of runs itself at this point. Amanda did such a good job setting everything up over the last four years here, that so far there hasn’t been a lot that I’ve had to reinvent because it’s already in place and it works really well.”
Comparing jobs
“It’s helped when dealing with different personalities. At the City Council, we got calls all the time from people all over the city and the district. Here I am dealing with a lot of different people with a lot of different ideas, so I think it’s helped me to sit back and understand that everybody works a little differently and likes things different ways. I think being very organized helps also. I had to be very organized when I worked with the city as well.”
Previous experience
Before working for the city, she was an assistant branch manager for SunTrust Bank in Atlanta.
Education
Bachelor’s degree in sports marketing from Florida State University.
Planning the future
“I really haven’t had time to sit down and think about what my goal is as the SMC director. I’m still learning everything. I have a lot on my plate right now. I’m kind of leaning on the SMC executive board and chair right now. They already had thoughts and plans in place, so I’m just running with them and supporting them in what they want to do.”
Amanda’s advice
Lane said Blakeslee told her to only focus on the next few months. “She said to take the job in bits and pieces, so I’m really only focused on between now and April.”
Family
She’s is married to Adam Lane, senior game day producer for the Jacksonville Jaguars. They have a 22-month-old son, Hudson.
– by Michele Gillis