Cordell Criswell (second from left) with his store team and Navy Reserves recruiter.
When you feel like you belong on a team, you want to share the important moments in life with your team members. For O’Reilly Installer Service Specialist Cordell Criswell, his important moment was swearing in with the Navy Reserves. Cordell is a new addition to our Franklin Boulevard store in Gastonia, North Carolina, but Store Manager Brendon Surber said, “he’s made a positive and lasting impression on everyone he’s met so far.”
After two deployments in the Navy, Cordell left active duty in 2025. Because his mother works for an O’Reilly supplier, Cordell’s family has had close connections with O’Reilly for years, so he had grown up hearing the story of how you can work your way up from the counter to CEO. Joining Team O’Reilly was a natural next step, and his store team feels fortunate to have him. “Cordell is a great example of what we look for in a culture fit,” Brendon said. “I feel that his experience in the Navy prepared him for many aspects of the job. He is always on time, in uniform, and eager to work. He handles conflict very well and always has a positive mood.”
Cordell at the parts counter with his Navy Reserves recruiter, after enlisting.
When Cordell began to miss the camaraderie of the military, the Navy Reserves gave him an opportunity to continue to serve without returning to active duty. He chose to be sworn in after his shift so he could include the store team in the experience. Regional and local leadership stayed at the end of their workday, too, and some team members even came in on their day off to support him.
Cordell’s experience is a shining example of the O’Reilly culture value of teamwork and its supporting behavior: build and be part of a positive team. If you’re looking for a civilian company that values your military experience, click the button below to find the best way to join our ranks at O’Reilly.