A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT Legacy, Leadership and Legislation LADA’s Spring Highlights BY COULTER McMAHEN, PRESIDENT/CEO, LADA It’s been a full and fast-paced year at LADA, and while I know many of you are eager to hear about the 2025 legislative session, I’d like to begin by reflecting on the meaningful spring we’ve shared and the milestones we’ve celebrated together. In May, we hosted a successful Dealer Day at the Capitol, which also included LADA’s annual meeting. Over the course of two days, we met with elected officials at our Legislative Reception, welcomed Governor Jeff Landry as our breakfast keynote speaker, and were recognized on both the House and Senate floors. We also held a NextGen breakout session with Senator Thomas Pressly of Shreveport, who shared meaningful insights on the importance of advocacy among the next generation of dealer leaders. A highlight of the event was honoring Louisiana’s 2025 Dealer of the Year, Mr. Tommy McMath of Arceneaux Ford in New Iberia. Tommy embodies everything this award represents — dealership excellence, deep-rooted community involvement and longstanding service to the association. He has served LADA as a board member and chair and led the LADA Workers’ Compensation Fund as chair for many years. His leadership continues to set a high standard for our industry. We carried that spirit into our annual convention at The Grand Hotel in Point Clear, Alabama — a truly memorable and impactful gathering. For those who attended, I think we’d all agree it offered valuable opportunities to reconnect — with one another and with our LADA-endorsed and associate members. But what made this year’s convention truly unforgettable was the emotion and meaning behind two special moments: the formal passing of the gavel and the unveiling of the Dealer of the Year caricature. 5
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTg3NDExNQ==