Forward Together: The People of OPENLANE

Employee Appreciation Day may have passed, but at OPENLANE, recognizing the people behind our success isn’t limited to just one day. It’s part of who we are.

Our team powers the technology, partnerships, and innovation that make wholesale easy. LaneLink Business Operations Manager Kelsea Murff says it best: “One of our best strengths is our people.” That belief shows up every day in how we collaborate, how we solve problems and how we support one another.

To celebrate what makes OPENLANE special, we’re letting our employees share what our values look like in action. 

Forward Together

At OPENLANE, moving forward together means shared purpose and alignment — both internally with our teams and externally with our customers.

Vice President of US Marketplace Operations Dustin Cruz describes it as being “all in lockstep and moving in the same direction.” It takes a unified effort to deliver on our mission and create the best possible experience for our dealers. 

Marketing Specialist Ashley Stephens adds that it’s about “being on the same team—and having an all-hands-on-deck attitude.” Whether someone is new to the organization or has been here for years, progress requires collective commitment. It takes everyone being on board to truly move forward.

Driven Waybuilders

Our people don’t just follow the path, they build it. 

Senior Site Reliability Engineer Abdullah Fyttahi describes a Drive Waybuilder as someone willing to explore “new or untested waters and go where others have not gone before.” That mindset fuels new ideas across OPENLANE.

Relationship Associate Tamia Greer shares that Waybuilders “think outside the box and create something new.” Because of that drive, our teams continuously deliver enhancements and advanced solutions, including Al-enhanced tools that provide deeper insights and help customers make smarter decisions.

Relentless Curiosity

Innovation starts with asking better questions.

Kelsea Murff explains that Relentless Curiosity is “at the heart of OPENLANE, asking questions and fully understanding our customers so we can create more seamless and connected solutions.” It’s about digging deeper to uncover real needs.

Talent Acquisition Partner Landon Sinis compares it to “peeling back the onion” to understand the full impact of our work. As Dustin Cruz puts it, getting to the true pain point is where our teams go to work. We don’t stop at surface-level answers; we seek meaningful insight that drives meaningful progress.

Smart Risk-Taking

At OPENLANE, Smart Risk-Taking means making thoughtful data-informed decisions that balance customer needs and business priorities. It’s also what allows us to innovate with intention and confidently try new approaches that move our customers and the industry forward. 

Dustin Cruz explains it as balancing “the business needs and customer needs,” using data to understand trade-offs, whether that’s “financial component” or “a speed component for a customer experience.” In other words: we move with purpose, and we move informed. As Dustin puts it, “Let’s make one decision and let’s make it the right way.”

Ashley Stephens adds that Smart Risk-Taking can mean being “not 100% comfortable,” but feeling supported by the team around you. Abdullah Fyttahi reinforces the mindset: it’s the ability to build a solution while “understanding any consequences, and properly accounting for those consequences before moving forward. 

Together, that’s what Smart Risk-Taking looks like at OPENLANE: data-informed decisions, supported teams and learning as we go and improving with every step.

Fearless Ownership

At OPENLANE, we empower employees to take initiative, make informed decisions and grow through every experience.

For Landon Sinis, Fearless Ownership means taking pride in your work and accountability for outcomes, even when things don’t go as planned. “It’s always a learning opportunity,” he shares.  

Abdullah Fyttahi connects this mindset of failing forward: when challenges arise, we adapt, learn and keep moving. That confidence to act is rooted in a culture where employees feel supported by their teams and leaders.

A Culture Built by Our People

What truly sets OPENLANE apart is the environment our employees create together.

“Everyone is always willing to help,” says Tamia Greer. “They’re always giving insight and opinions.” That openness fosters collaboration  and trust.

Ashley Stephens puts it simply: “My favorite thing about OPENLANE? The people. I feel supported, heard and seen here.”

And that’s what makes the difference.

To every OPENLANE employee: thank you for your curiosity, your ownership and your commitment to moving Forward Together. We’re building the future of wholesale, and we’re doing it because of you.