Life at OPENLANE Veterans Day Edition: Q&A with Corey Dolliver, Director of Talent Acquisition
In honor of Veterans Day, we’re proud to feature Corey Dolliver, Director of Talent Acquisition at OPENLANE. Learn about his career journey, his time spent in the military and the work he does for the Military@OPENLANE employee resource group.
What has your journey at OPENLANE looked like?
I started with the company seven years ago as a Talent Acquisition Partner for TradeRev US — what’s now OPENLANE’s US marketplace. At the time, we were scaling sales and operations so I was quite busy. I learned a lot of skills there and got a feel for recruiting at a corporation. I began recruiting for sales and operations across the country which led me to managing a small team. When we sold our US physical auction business and then subsequently rebranded to OPENLANE, things really shifted gears. From there, I took on leading a team to hire for several additional businesses within OPENLANE. That leads us to today, where I have an amazing team that supports recruitment across the enterprise for three countries.
What is your favorite part about your line of work?
Honestly, I like the challenge. We’re a company that embraces change and so do I. Solving problems, working on hiring strategies with leaders and getting the satisfaction of finding our next Waybuilder is really fulfilling. There’s nothing like hearing the excitement from a candidate that you just extended an offer to. One of my favorite memories is reconnecting with a candidate a year after we originally spoke, and this time we had a perfect fit for her!
What is something you are most proud of during your time here?
I’m most proud of my team and their dedication. We’ve done a lot together and have faced some trying times along the way. Their resiliency never wavers.
What is the best career advice you’ve ever heard?
The best career advice I’ve ever heard is simple but powerful; Show up as your genuine, authentic self. In the military, we learned to adapt and blend in, but in the civilian world, especially at a company like OPENLANE, authenticity is key. If you’re not showing up as your true self, you’re not only doing yourself a disservice, but you’re also not allowing your team and company to truly benefit from your unique perspective and skills. This is especially important for veterans transitioning to civilian careers. Showing up with authenticity allows you to build genuine connections, contribute meaningfully, and thrive in your career.
Can you tell us more about your time spent in the military?
I joined the military simply because I wasn’t sure what I wanted to be when I grew up and I figured the military would give me that direction. While that was only partly true, it did help shape me into a more disciplined person. I spent six years in the Army National Guard. Throughout that time I was in the Infantry and was approached by the Reconnaissance group about two years in. Their unique position and level of autonomy appealed to me. I had to go through rigorous testing to apply for it and was unsuccessful on my first try. That was motivation enough to convince me to give it another shot in which I was successful and I did that until my contract was up.
What did you learn in the military that you still refer to or are able to apply in your daily life?
The first thing that comes to mind is a saying that my Staff Sergeant would always say; it’s a bit of a nod to the Marines. “Semper Gumbie” was the phrase similar to their “Semper Fi”, which means always faithful. I carry that forward when change occurs and try to remain adaptable to the situation. Just like in the military, things don’t always go according to plan in talent acquisition. We have to be ready to adapt to changing market conditions, new technologies, and unexpected challenges. That ‘Semper Gumbie’ mindset has helped me throughout my career.
Tell us about the work Military@OPENLANE does.
Military@OPENLANE is a safe place for prior or current military personnel, military spouses and military family members to connect. We celebrate Veterans Day, Remembrance Day, Memorial Day and more of course, but I think the true spirit of this Employee Resource Group is to find common ground with people who understand your experience. We aim to create a supportive community, provide resources for veterans transitioning to civilian careers and raise awareness of the unique skills and perspectives that veterans bring to the workplace.
