In the Driver’s Seat with Laurie McCants

Clear as the modern glass-ensconced structure housing luxury Mercedes-Benz vehicles is the commanding presence of Laurie McCants. McCants has made a name for herself along the Gulf Coast as a driving force in automotive and Powersports dealerships. Currently, she is Managing Partner of three local dealerships, namely Honda of Covington, Covington PowerSports and Mercedes-Benz of Covington.

The Mississippi town of Hattiesburg saw Laurie grow up and ultimately leave for a distant (and, different!) Southern home— Southern California. Dreaming of a distinct career path and a change of scenery, SoCal was the winner. Laurie remembers warmly, “The weather is so nice. Everything is happening outside there. So much to do—surfing, swimming, running, golf, tennis, exercise—it’s all done outdoors!” Regular participation in outdoor activities complemented Laurie’s natural athletic aptitude and honed skills in leadership, confidence, risk-taking and self-discipline. After spending the better part of an hour with her, it is apparent she holds those core values near and dear and calls upon said values to operate her companies.

Post college, Laurie initially cut her teeth in the banking industry in Mississippi. Hailing from this background in banking, she enjoyed working the automobile loan process from start to finish. In particular, she says, “The loans acquired for really cool cars grabbed my attention.” An interest grew for the auto industry.

Over time, Laurie planned to move closer to family. An opportunity to partner at Honda of Covington in August 1998 led to settling in Louisiana. By July 2013, Laurie and her partners acquired Garrett Honda, adding Gator Powersports in June 2020. Covington Powersports was born and is now located alongside Honda of Covington. The empire continued to grow. In April 2018, Laurie partnered with the Baranco family on her latest venture—bringing a Mercedes-Benz dealership to the Northshore. Becoming a partner at Mercedes-Benz of Covington is a dream realized. Laurie is a fixture at each dealership, tackling day-to-day duties and big-picture concepts. She has created a culture at all three entities based on excellent customer service, loyalty and standing behind products. These pillars make Honda of Covington, Covington Powersports and Mercedes-Benz of Covington perfect choices when in pursuit of a luxury or economical vehicle or a weekend joy ride. Although accessibility and a hands-on approach keep Laurie keyed in, she purposefully designed a stellar team. She says, “My personal assistant, department managers and controllers at each store are solid. I couldn’t be successful without them.”

Laurie, a powerhouse in the boardroom, puts it on the line for a worthy cause. She is a former twelve-year board member of the St. Tammany Parish Hospital Foundation and two-year chairperson. Also, she holds past and present board posts at Safe Haven Foundation and St. Tammany Chamber of Commerce. A founding member of the Northshore Business Council, she enjoys other philanthropic efforts, including the Harvest Cup Polo Classic, American Heart Association and Kelly Kicking Cancer. In Fall 2021, Mercedes-Benz of Covington will host Mutts to Models. The nighttime event will benefit several causes, namely the Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center, Scott’s Wish Foundation and animal non-profit, Bark for a Cure. Additionally, Laurie is an esteemed member of several professional groups geared to mentoring CEOs offering a platform to connect with like peers. Two such organizations are The Wall Street Journal Woman IN network and Vistage International.

Laurie keeps the pedal to the metal with no plans to halt progress. The footprint of all three locations is ever evolving and continuing to expand. Laurie explains, “This means real estate purchases, planning, construction—even amidst the Covid months. We remained open throughout this trying time and faced the unique challenges head-on. We are grateful for the overwhelming support of the St. Tammany community and beyond!”

Walk in to any of the three showrooms and prepare to become a customer for good. Laurie and the team await the chance to wow with inventory and assist throughout the entirety of the purchasing process. When asked for hot tips, Laurie did not hesitate. “The Accord, Civic and SUV line-up at Honda of Covington continues to make sense for those on the hunt for reliability. Covington Powersports major players are ATVs, Side-by-Sides and Sea-Doos. The GLE, GLS, G-Class and the 2021 S-Class are all frontrunners for Mercedes-Benz of Covington.”

Laurie can talk shop with the best of the best, but, admittedly, she is a family woman. Enjoying over 20 years with husband Wayne, she also is stepmother to three amazing young men. “I hit the lottery with these boys!” Lastly, she and Wayne share their beloved dogs, two Mi-Kis, Kenzie and Gracie, along with cat Bailey. In her downtime, Laurie can be found practicing Pilates, swimming or, of course, in the driver’s seat of her favorite ride.

Honda of Covington, 100 Holiday Square Boulevard, 985-892-0001

Covington Powersports,152 Holiday Square Boulevard, 985-892-9730

Mercedes-Benz of Covington, 8080 Westshore Drive, 985-900-1212.