The U.S. Trotting Association announced on Wednesday (April 10) that T.C. Lane has been promoted to the newly-created position of chief operating officer.

In his new role, Lane will work to optimize the association’s operating capabilities, oversee internal project development, and employ strategies to maximize member satisfaction. He will report directly to USTA Executive Vice President/CEO Mike Tanner and will continue in his role as the USTA’s registrar.

“Elevating T.C. into this newly-created position is a natural fit because he is a guy that gets things done,” said Tanner. “His knowledge of the association and its protocols will serve him well, as will his track record of having greatly advanced our operating practices in the Registry and Member Services.

“T.C. is highly respected, both inside the USTA and throughout the industry, and has earned the promotion,” added Tanner. “With his leadership, we’ll be a stronger and more efficient organization.”

Lane joined the USTA as its director of officials in 2002 following a stint with the Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association, where he was the representative to Ohio’s county fairs.

At the USTA, Lane has served as registrar and director of member services, duties that include supervision of the Race Track Support department, which provides 24/7 service to all pari-mutuel and fair tracks in the country, the coordination of an 11-person ID technician team, and direction of the Information/Research department.

He also led, along with Sherry Antion-Mohr, the USTA’s director of information technology, the development of the USTA Online Entry platform, which currently processes approximately 90 per cent of the sport’s entries in the U.S. each year. More recently, Lane oversaw the creation and implementation of the USTA’s microchipping program and the release of an app to utilize with the program.

Lane is a graduate of The Ohio State University, where he majored in agricultural economics and minored in equine science.

(USTA)