Her Story
About Arlynn
Arlynn Victoria Lutner is the CEO and Owner of GDL Services LLC, a staffing services company based in Katy, Texas, that provides dependable personnel to automotive dealerships. The company works directly with dealerships to understand their staffing needs and then supplies qualified team members, including delivery drivers who support parts departments at dealership locations. Lutner also owns and operates Texas State Logistics and has built her businesses around responsive customer service, strong management, reliable staffing, and long-term client relationships. With 17 years of experience in the industry, she has developed a reputation for providing dependable employees while emphasizing fair compensation and quality service.
Lutner began her entrepreneurial journey by establishing Texas State Logistics as a DBA with her parents before transitioning the operation into GDL Services LLC. While growing the family business full-time, she simultaneously pursued her education and career in emergency medical services. She attended Houston City College, where she earned EMT-B and EMT-I credentials, and continued her paramedic education at Wharton County Junior College. Her professional experience includes serving as an EMT-B with Acute Medical Services and as a Paramedic with Rosehill Fire Department and Colorado County EMS. Throughout this period, Lutner continued expanding the family business, frequently using her days off to visit prospective clients and work alongside her father to establish new accounts.
Lutner takes pride in creating a reliable organization built on trust, consistency, and a commitment to its employees and customers. She credits her success to continually challenging herself to improve the company, pushing beyond established boundaries, and remaining dependable in every professional commitment. Her approach to leadership is grounded in the values of truthfulness, family, and faith, which guide both her business decisions and personal life. Through GDL Services LLC and Texas State Logistics, Lutner continues to build upon her family's entrepreneurial foundation while providing automotive dealerships with staffing solutions designed to meet their evolving operational needs.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Arlynn
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to constantly pushing the boundaries and looking for ways to improve and strengthen our company. I believe in never becoming complacent and continuously seeking opportunities to grow, refine our operations, and provide greater value to our clients and employees. Above all, I prioritize reliability and take pride in following through on my commitments, building trust, and maintaining the consistency that has been essential to our company's growth and reputation.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I have received is that the worst answer you can get is “no,” but you will never know the answer unless you are willing to ask. I have learned to be confident in pursuing opportunities, initiating conversations, and advocating for myself and my business. Even when the answer is no, taking the initiative can open doors, create valuable connections, and lead to opportunities I may not have otherwise discovered.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering this industry is to never be afraid to step up to the mark and take on new challenges. Be willing to step outside your comfort zone, take calculated risks, and accept greater responsibility, even when you may question whether you are ready or capable of handling it. Growth often comes from taking those opportunities and learning along the way. Trust in your abilities, have confidence in yourself, and recognize that you are capable of achieving more than you may initially believe.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in my field is balancing employees’ expectations for higher wages with dealerships’ desire to control staffing costs. This creates an ongoing need to find the right strategies for communicating the value of dependable, qualified personnel and demonstrating why competitive pay rates are important for attracting and retaining strong employees. I see an opportunity in developing effective approaches that help dealerships understand the long-term value of investing in their workforce while creating fair compensation that benefits both the employees and the businesses we serve.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that are most important to me in both my work and personal life are truthfulness, family, and faith. I believe in being honest and transparent in my interactions and staying true to my word. Family is at the heart of everything I do, and my faith provides the foundation that guides my decisions, relationships, and approach to life.
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