HOME I am Allie Lane

By Jennie Renner | Photo provided

Early in her life, Allie Lane wanted to play in the WNBA. Later, she dreamed of working in sports. “But I always thought I’d have to go away to a big city like Chicago or Pittsburgh,” she said.

Lane was born in Fort Wayne but grew up in New Haven. After graduating from New Haven High School, she attended Indiana Tech. There, she was a redshirt for the women’s basketball team and got her bachelor’s in business administration with a concentration in management.

In 2015, a job at the Fort Wayne Mad Ants opened. Lane had been going to a lot of games and was already a big fan of the team. “It was kind of a no-brainer for me,” she said. “I started about two weeks before that season started, so I kind of got thrown right into the fire.”

She spent eight seasons with the Mad Ants living her dream. And while it was fun to work in professional sports, Lane said her job was about more than just basketball. “It’s about the impact you’re able to have on your community and I’ve got a list of things I can name off where we did just that,” she said.

One of the projects Lane is most proud of is the basketball court renovation in Ivan Lebamoff Reservoir Park. She came up with the idea and had Fort Financial on board to be a sponsor. She went to Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation to see if they had a park in mind.

Local artist Andre Portee did three different designs for the basketball court and the neighborhood voted on which one he would paint. In July 2022, the newly renovated court was unveiled. “It was just really exciting to see that project come to life,” said Lane.

Lane enjoys working for organizations that are committed to giving back. Last month, she started a new chapter in her career as the director of development for athletics at Purdue Fort Wayne. In this position, she hopes to have an impact on the student athletes now and into the future.

“What I’m looking forward to most in my new role is the opportunity to continue to grow and build relationships in our community,” she said.

Work and family keep Lane in Fort Wayne. She and her husband and their two children live on the northeast side of town. She cites affordability as one of the region’s strong points and that her children can get a quality education.

Lane is also interested in the continued growth of downtown and is excited to have a front row seat for what’s to come. I like “being a part of the big plays happening in town,” she said.

Even though there are many big projects in the works for Fort Wayne, Lane appreciates that it still feels like a small town. “It’s such a close-knit community. It’s one of those places where everybody knows everybody.” a

By Northeast Indiana Local Food Network

Do you know that even during the winter months, local produce is available? The Northeast Indiana Local Food Network has a seasonality chart on its website (neifood.org) to help you find local produce all year round. This time of year, you can find potatoes, garlic, onion, radish, beets, fennel, arugula, and more. This Microgreen Radish and Potato Soup utilizes tasty local ingredients and is sure to warm you up on a cold winter night.

Ingredients:

• 1 large yellow onion, diced

• 2 medium potatoes, sliced

• 1 cup microgreens

• 4 cups vegetable broth

• 1/3 cup heavy cream

• 2 tbsp butter

Preparation:

Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat and stir in the onion. Sauté until tender. Mix in the potatoes and micro radishes, coating them with butter. Pour in the broth and bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat once boiling and let it simmer for about 30 minutes.

Let the soup mixture cool before transferring it to a blender. Blend until smooth.

Return the mixture to the saucepan and mix in the heavy cream. Stir as it gets warm and well blended. Top with remaining microgreens. a