Business & Leadership: Honda of Covington & Covington Powersports

Laurie McCants loves automobiles and everything else about the automotive world. As a young professional working in banking, she even enjoyed working through the automobile loan process with clients. “The loans acquired for really cool cars grabbed my attention,” she said.

So, it’s no surprise that she is currently the managing partner of three award-winning dealerships on the Northshore: Honda of Covington, Covington Powersports and Mercedes-Benz of Covington.

McCants grew up in Hattiesburg but ultimately moved to one of the most well-known centers of car culture – Southern California. “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,” she said.

Regular participation in outdoor activities complemented her competitive nature and natural athletic aptitude. Additionally, it honed her skills in leadership, confidence, risk-taking and selfdiscipline. Today, McCants holds those core values near and dear and calls on them to operate her companies.

The opportunity to partner with Honda of Covington in 1998 led McCants to settle in Louisiana. By 2013, Laurie and her partners had acquired Garrett Honda, locating it alongside Honda of Covington to bring synergy for all things Honda.

The team continued to expand, acquiring Gator Powersports in 2020, adding Can-Am and Sea-Doo product lines. That led to a rebrand as Covington Powersports.

McCants is a fixture at each dealership, tackling day-to-day duties as well as big-picture concepts. She has created a culture at all her dealerships based on excellent customer service, integrity and professionalism. These pillars make Honda of Covington and Covington Powersports perfect choices when looking for a new vehicle or a weekend joy ride.

Although accessibility and a hands-on approach keep McCants keyed in, she credits her team for her organizations’ success. “My executive assistant, department managers and controllers at each store are solid. I couldn’t be successful without them. I’ll work until I’m 80 because the hardest thing for me would be to leave these employees,” she said.

“During the pandemic, we managed to retain all our employees and provide outstanding service with limited inventory at all dealerships. The supply chain issues still exist to some extent, but we are still able to provide exceptional service to customers looking for a new vehicle. Honda and Covington Powersports make it easy to put your name on a new vehicle that’s coming to the store.”

The dealerships have very little staff turnover and still have employees who have been on staff since day one. The dedication from this exceptional team of professionals has allowed Honda of Covington to receive Honda’s President’s Award 10 times overall and six times consecutively. It’s Honda’s highest honor for a dealership.

“The staff has longevity, large followings, and after 24 years in the community, I can sell cars and ATVs at 7 a.m. or 9 p.m. via text or email. We all enjoy that part of our jobs. We have salespeople who can sell as many as 40 units in one month alone because of their great work ethic and great customer base,” McCants said. “Our customers from St. Tammany and the surrounding parishes are the number one reason for all the awards, expansions and successes we’ve had. We are so grateful to have such a strong connection to our community.”

Covington Powersports is a major retailer of ATVs, motorcycles, side-by-sides and Sea-Doos. A new building for Covington Powersports opened in 2014 and has ranked as high as #4 nationally. “We’ve expanded the Powersports building three times and added a boat display for the Sea-Doo Switch. Honda cars started out on Highway 190, and we moved into this building in 2008. We’ve expanded this building at least three times as well,” McCants said.

McCants, her staff and her businesses are active members of local organizations and worthy causes. McCants has served on the St. Tammany Parish Hospital Foundation board for 12 years, two as chairperson. She has held 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.

There are no plans to slow down progress. The physical footprints and inventory of each location is ever evolving and continuing to expand. Walk into any of the showrooms to experience McCants’s version of the perfect shopping experience. She and her team await the chance to assist throughout the entirety of the purchasing process.

“Honda has some new models – redesigned CRV, HRV and Pilot are all coming soon. We will have them in stock, or you can put your name on one arriving soon and come pick it up,” she said. “We are grateful for the overwhelming support of the St. Tammany community and beyond!”

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

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