The Louisiana Automobile Dealers Association (LADA) is proud to announce that Eric Lane, owner of Gerry Lane Enterprises in Baton Rouge, has been named the 2024 Louisiana Dealer of the Year. This prestigious annual award recognizes one standout Louisiana automobile dealer for their business success and impact in the community. 

“Eric Lane has long been a valuable member of the dealer community, offering mentorship and fostering camaraderie in our industry,” said Coulter McMahen, president and CEO of LADA. “Even more impactful though, is his commitment to service with organizations throughout East Baton Rouge, from the Boy Scouts to the LSU 4-H. Eric Lane is a testament to all that Louisiana’s auto dealers provide to our state and communities.” 

The Louisiana Dealer of the Year honoree is chosen from nominees who are operating head of a franchised new car dealership and a member of LADA and the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) for the last five years. Nominees must also demonstrate their exceptional status as a reputable auto dealer in the region and an outstanding citizen actively invested in their community.

Eric Lane owns and operates Gerry Lane Enterprises alongside his son Tyler Lane, and his business partners Cedic Patton and Josh Teekel. His Baton Rouge dealerships provide daily employee trainings and offer all employees continuing education opportunities with Dale Carnegie and the National Automobile Dealers Association Dealer Academy. His dealerships have received numerous awards over the years including the #1 Chevrolet Dealer for Retail Sales in Louisiana in 2022 and 2023, the #1 Retail Dealer for General Motors brand in Baton Rouge for 37 years, as well as the General Motors Mark of Excellence Awards from 2020 – 2024.   

Lane’s career in the auto business began at the early age of 15, when he worked as a janitor at his late father’s dealership. From there he worked up the chain to various positions in the fixed operations department during his summer and winter school breaks. While attending college at Tulane University, Lane started selling cars part-time. As a full-time employee at the age of 26, he took on the challenge of helping turn around a dealership in Pascagoula, Miss. Later, Lane successfully transformed four other dealerships into profitable businesses over a four-year period.    

Lane credits his father Gerry Lane for being both an industry trainer and a professional mentor to him throughout his career. His current business partner, Cedric Patton, trained with his father as well, and Lane believes his relationship with Patton over the years has been instrumental in helping him achieve a successful career in the auto industry. 

“I am honored and humbled to have been chosen as Louisiana’s Dealer of the Year. I enjoyed working alongside my father for 26 years until he passed, and I try to use that experience everyday,” said Eric Lane. “Receiving this award is an honor to my father’s career and legacy. Both professionally and personally, I aim to improve the lives of those around me in whatever way I can from providing professional development to the Gerry Lane team members or mentorship through the Boy Scouts. I look forward to continuing to do my part in the Baton Rouge community and am thankful to be recognized by my colleagues in LADA.”

Lane has been a member of LADA and NADA for over three decades. He previously served on the board and as the chairman for both the LADA and Baton Rouge New Car Dealers. He has served on the GM National Minority Council from 2020-2021, is the current president of Super Chevy Dealers of Baton Rouge and serves on the Louisiana Motor Vehicle Commission.

Outside of work, Lane serves on the boards for several organizations to better his community, including the YMCA, Boy Scouts Istrouma Council, Tiger Athletic Foundation, and Dairy Stabilization. He previously served on the boards of the Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center, Baton Rouge Community College, and Crimestoppers, and was the chairman of the Better Business Bureau, and president of the Sunrise Rotary of Baton Rouge. He has been a commissioned deputy sheriff since 2000. Since the 1990s has contributed to the LSU 4-H Endowment and the Franciscan University Endowment Scholarship.
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Lane lives in Baton Rouge with his wife, Lisa, of 35 years and is the proud grandfather of three grandchildren, and is the father to daughter Ashton Lane Duhon who is director of human resources at Gerry Lane Enterprises and his son and business partner, Tyler Lane.