2025 TDOY Nominee
Eric Lane
CEO of Gerry Lane Chevrolet
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
“Working together with my dad for 26 years before his passing in 2013 was a dream come true. I still make decisions based on the knowledge he taught me. He always believed in treating others the way you want to be treated, and that philosophy continues to drive our corporate culture.”
Eric Lane is one of a select group of 49 dealer nominees from across the country who will be honored at the 108th annual National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) Show.
The TIME Dealer of the Year award is one of the automobile industry’s most prestigious and highly coveted honors. The award recognizes the nation’s most successful auto dealers who also demonstrate a long-standing commitment to community service. Lane was chosen to represent the Louisiana Automobile Dealers Association in the national competition — one of only 49 auto dealers nominated for the 56th annual award from more than 20,000 nationwide.
“At Gerry Lane, we strive to offer the best prices in town while also maintaining the highest quality of service,” nominee Lane said. “Our employees are proud to say they work for Gerry Lane because we have such a positive impact on customers and the community.”
A 1983 graduate of Tulane University in New Orleans, Lane played four years of professional baseball for the San Francisco Giants and Cleveland Indians before rejoining the auto group founded by his father, Gerry Lane.
“I started in the dealership as a janitor at age 15, working on Saturdays and during school vacations,” he said. “I moved up the ladder and worked every job in the store while I finished school and pursued a baseball career.”
In 1987, Lane came back to the business full-time, and his father gave him the opportunity to turn around a Chevrolet-Nissan store in Mississippi. He was able to make it a success and has since revived five other stores. Lane has also run eight dealerships over the last 37 years.
“My father was my hero,” he said. “Being able to follow in his footsteps after my baseball career was over was the plan that we agreed on when I was just 8 years old. Seeing this plan fall into place was truly amazing.”
Today, Lane runs Gerry Lane Enterprises, which encompasses Baton Rouge dealerships Gerry Lane Chevrolet. He also runs Gerry Lane Buick GMC, Gerry Lane Cadillac, and Gerry Lane Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram in St. Francisville, Louisiana. Gerry Lane Buick GMC and Gerry Lane Cadillac are run by Lane and long-time business partner Cedric Patton. Lane owns the Chevrolet operation with his son, Tyler, and business partner Josh Teekel.
“Working together with my dad for 26 years before his passing in 2013 was a dream come true,” he said. “I still make decisions based on the knowledge he taught me. He always believed in treating others the way you want to be treated, and that philosophy continues to drive our corporate culture.”
A longtime and active supporter of his local and state car dealer associations, Lane has served as a board member and chair of the Louisiana Automobile Dealers Association. He is currently president of the Super Chevy Dealers of Baton Rouge and a commissioner for the Louisiana Motor Vehicle Commission.
“Not only am I able to bring my skillset and knowledge to all of these groups, but I have also continued to learn how to lead my company better because of them,” he said. “All members share experiences and best practices to help each other become better car dealers.”
In the area of community service, Lane contributes his time, talent, and resources while serving on the boards of Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center, AMIkids Baton Rouge (a group that empowers young people to reach their full potential), Karnival Krewe de Louisiane (which raises funds for cancer research and cancer patient care), YMCA of the Capital Area, Boy Scouts of America Istrouma Area Council, Prison Enterprises (a Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections initiative that provides job opportunities to offenders to instill skills and training), and others.
“For the past 35 years, Gerry Lane has been presenting sponsor for Karnival Krewe de Louisiane, raising more than $500,000 each year for cancer research,” he said. “Our company impacts the community by providing financial and volunteer support towards various organizations. We touch about every sector that needs help in our local market.”
Dealers are nominated by the executives of state and metro dealer associations around the country. A panel of faculty members from the Tauber Institute for Global Operations at the University of Michigan will select one finalist from each of the four NADA regions and one national Dealer of the Year. Three finalists will receive $5,000 for their favorite charities and the winner will receive $10,000 to give to charity, donated by Ally.
In its 14th year as exclusive sponsor, Ally also will recognize dealer nominees and their community efforts by contributing $1,000 to each nominee’s 501(c)3 charity of choice. Nominees will be recognized on ally.com/go/tdoy , which highlights the philanthropic contributions and achievements of TIME Dealer of the Year nominees.
“At TIME, our commitment to recognizing the exceptional contributions of automotive dealers remains as strong as ever,” said Jessica Sibley, CEO of TIME. “The TIME Dealer of the Year award continues to celebrate those who not only excel in their profession but also make a meaningful impact in their communities. We are thrilled to continue this legacy in partnership with Ally.”
Doug Timmerman, Ally president of Dealer Financial Services, said, “Auto dealers are the backbones of their communities, providing civic support and significant business leadership. Ally is proud to recognize the unwavering commitment these TIME Dealer of the Year nominees are living every day through their volunteerism, sponsorships, and support of charitable causes. They are the epitome of community heroes, making important and positive impacts in the lives of the people they serve.”
Lane was nominated for the TIME Dealer of the Year award by Coulter McMahen, president and CEO of the Louisiana Automobile Dealers Association. Lane and his wife, Lisa, have two children and three grandchildren.
