The Louisiana Dealer of the Year award is the highest individual honor presented by LADA. It’s given to a dealer who exemplifies the very best of our industry — someone who leads with integrity, serves their community and strengthens the reputation of Louisiana’s franchised dealers.

Our 2025 Louisiana Dealer of the Year was announced at our Dealer Day at the Capitol last month, but for those of you who were not with us, we are pleased to recognize Tommy McMath of Arceneaux Ford in New Iberia as our 2025 Dealer of the Year.

Tommy began his career in the automotive industry as a salesperson at Rivers Ford in Monroe. He admits it was love at first sight, but the hours conflicted with finishing school and getting his degree.

His next adventure came in 1973 when his father-in-law was given the opportunity to purchase a small store in South Louisiana. Due to health issues, Tommy and his wife, Janie, were called down to help until he got back on his feet. They loaded everything they owned into a moving truck and moved from North Louisiana. Tommy experienced a major culture shock coming into Cajun Country, where 50% of the business was conducted in French. 

He, of course, prevailed and moved through the dealership until taking over when his father-in-law passed away. Two of his children are now in the dealership with him, carrying on the family legacy.

Tommy was appointed to the LADA board in 1990 and served as chairman of the board in 1997. He was then appointed to the SIF board of trustees, where he served as chairman from 2019-2024. Tommy currently serves on that board as the immediate past chairman.

Over the years, he has been involved with his local Rotary Club, the St. Martinville Jaycees, his NADA 20 Group, the Ford Dealer Advertising Fund, the Iberia Dealer Association, Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, the Better Business Bureau Committee and Kiwanis.

He has also been involved with the Coastal Conservation Association, the American Heart Association, First Responder Lunches, St. Jude’s Research Hospital, the Boys and Girls Club, and of course, because he’s a dealer, the local youth baseball teams.

Of all the accomplishments in his business life, serving his fellow dealers through LADA outshines them all. He says, “Only the honor of Dealer of the Year eclipses my past experience with LADA and LADA SIF.”