Kane Webb was appointed executive director of the Parks & Tourism Department in 2015 by Gov. Asa Hutchinson.
Before his appointment, Webb was a senior adviser on Hutchinson’s staff. A native Arkansan, Webb began his career as a journalist after graduating from the University of Missouri in 1986. He has worked for the Arkansas Democrat, the Arkansas Gazette and the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, where he held several posts. Webb also served as executive editor of Arkansas Life and as editor-in-chief of Louisville magazine in Kentucky.
What happened to turn your career compass toward politics and state government?
A text message. And curiosity. I had returned to Arkansas and was working as a freelance writer and editor, and playing around with a book, when I received a text message late one night in December 2014 from a friend asking if I had an interest in working for the new governor. I’d always thought highly of Asa Hutchinson, and I was curious as to what it might be like to observe government from the inside-out after years of observing it from the outside-in. As it happened, I enjoyed working for Gov. Hutchinson even more than I thought I would — and I especially loved the daily intellectual challenge of working in the governor’s office and working for the people of Arkansas.
What is your biggest challenge as head of Parks & Tourism?
The 20,000-foot answer is making sure we continue to have the nation’s best system of state parks and that we continue to sell Arkansas to visitors everywhere. It helps to have a fantastic product to sell and a terrific staff that really believes in what we do.
What items are at the top of your to-do list at Parks & Tourism?
Long term: I’d love to see the Delta Heritage Trail finished while I’m still young and active enough to ride it from one end to the other. Short term: on the parks side, maintain and sustain our infrastructure — i.e., take great care of what we’ve got.
On the tourism side, sell Arkansas nationally and continue to mine niche markets like motorcycling and biking, which aren’t so niche anymore. Because of her natural beauty and diverse terrain, Arkansas is a perfect place for geo-tourism and adventure tourists.
How would describe your leadership style and philosophy?
I was recently reading a book titled “Lincoln on Leadership” and ran across the concept of “management by wandering around,” which is essentially how Lincoln operated, and it struck me that that’s what I try to do. I want to hear what folks think about things, and, as an old journalist, I tend to ask a lot of questions. So I gather information from all sides before making a decision.
I’m also a delegator. I’ve never understood why anyone would want to micromanage. If you’re a micromanager, you’ve hired the wrong people. As for philosophy, two sayings come to mind: 1) It’s amazing what you can accomplish if nobody cares who gets the credit; and 2) culture trumps strategy. There’s a strong “we’re all in this together” culture already in place at Parks & Tourism.
Mistakes are said to deliver some of the most meaningful lessons. What was your most important mistake that has helped shape your career?
Frankly, I think I was a failure the first time I was in management — back when I was a 20-something editor in charge of Arkansas Business. I didn’t have a clue then, but I quickly learned that you’re only as good as the people around you. Looking back, I realized that I didn’t have to have every answer. I should have asked more questions and delegated more authority and relied more on the talent around me. Lesson learned: Leadership means parking your ego at the door.
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