Tom Lane: An advocate for small and local businesses

Tom Lane is the recipient of the Henry M. Jackson award. The award recognizes a person who demonstrates exemplary service to the community and is committed to the business interests of the region. Established in 1977, the award is named for the former U.S. senator from Everett.

EVERETT — As a car dealer, Tom Lane is often approached by the community for help with fundraising. He said it’s “almost to the point where people, if they see me knocking on their door, (they say) ‘uh oh, who’s he raising money for now?”

Salesmanship is in Lane’s blood.

The CEO of Dwayne Lane’s Auto Family said he’s comfortable having those awkward money conversations whenever it comes to the community projects he supports. And it’s a common sight to see his business listed as an event sponsor.

“Being prominent in the community, having your name on the building, we get dozens of requests monthly for support,” Lane said. “So we try to budget for that.”

This year Lane, 53, of Tulalip, was awarded the Henry M. Jackson Award by the Economic Alliance Snohomish County. The award recognizes a person who demonstrates exemplary service to the community and is committed to the business interests of the region. Established in 1977, the award is named for the former U.S. senator from Everett, according to Economic Alliance Snohomish County. Last year’s recipient was Marysville Mayor Jon Nehring.

Lane said he is honored to receive a recognition named for a man who he admires.

“He’s always such a revered part of our community that just to be associated with him at all is one thing,” Lane said, “but to receive an award under what the community believes was his criteria for success is very humbling.”

Lane has been a Rotary Club of Everett member since 1994. He serves on the Coastal Community Bank board of directors and is on the Economic Alliance Snohomish County board of trustees. He’s also a past board member of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Snohomish County and a past president of the Washington State Auto Dealers Association, who named him Dealer of the Year in 2019.

He is the second member of his family to receive the Henry M. Jackson award.

In 2016, Tom’s father Dwayne Lane was posthumously awarded the Henry M. Jackson Award by Economic Alliance Snohomish County. Dwayne Lane, the owner of the auto dealership that bears his name, died in March 2016.

Tom Lane is a fourth generation Snohomish County resident who started working at his family’s dealership at age 12. At first he washed cars and later took on part-time responsibilities throughout school. He graduated from Everett High School in 1988 and earned his associate degree in business administration from Western Washington University in 1992.

By age 24, Lane became general manager of Dwayne Lane’s Arlington Chevrolet. He took over as CEO upon his father’s retirement in 1998. Lane now oversees five dealerships across Snohomish and Skagit counties and employs more than 240 people.

When it comes to success, Lane attributes it to the values his parents instilled in him at a young age. He believes it takes business leaders investing in their cities and nonprofits to make a thriving community.

“I advocate strongly for local business ownership, because that is key,” he said. “You can’t really do anything without that.

“A thriving business community is the catalyst for a thriving community,” Lane said at Economic Alliance event held last month at Tulalip Resort Casino.

Eric Schucht: 425-339-3477; eric.schucht@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @EricSchucht.