Geri Lynn | Geri Lynn Nissan

Joseph L. Waitz III | Waitz and Downer
December 12, 2018
Roddie Matherne | Pelican Waste & Debris
December 12, 2018
Joseph L. Waitz III | Waitz and Downer
December 12, 2018
Roddie Matherne | Pelican Waste & Debris
December 12, 2018

 

Geri Lynn Nissan’s origin goes back to 1985. Over the years, they have been a premier dealership and auto service center in the Bayou Region. Since officially becoming Geri Lynn Nissan in June of 2016, the dealership has been named the #1 Import for Houma-Terrebonne in 2016, #1 Volume Dealer in 2017, has achieved the Nissan Award for Excellence and qualified for J.D. Power Dealer of Excellence for 2019. Their personable charismatic owner, Geri Lynn, has influenced and positively impacted many individuals since she first started working at the dealership in 1987.

What is the biggest challenge you have faced over the years and how did you meet it? “I have five children, so being a mom and working are very difficult to juggle. But having a dealership helped in some ways because I was always able to step out and go to field trips. When I needed to be with my kids, I always could be with my kids. So for me, that helped.


Being a woman in the car world is very difficult. The institution generally does not take you seriously. They just don’t respect you very easily. You have to really work for them to respect you. I’ve been insulted so many times. I’ve cried a lot of tears over the insults I’ve received from manufacturers, banking institutions or anybody else that the dealership works with; they can be very insulting to a woman. It’s taken me a long time just for the industry to respect what I do. It doesn’t help that I have a super humorous personality that makes people not take you seriously. I do funny commercials, so people have this image that I’m just this funny, not serious, not so smart person, and it’s just my personality is like that. Probably not until I had my own dealership with my own name that the industry stepped back and showed some real respect. They realized I might actually know what I’m doing a little bit.”

What is on the horizon for you?

“I try to take it a day at a time. I did just purchase a small piece of property that I’ll probably utilize to open a little used car place. I am building an all new facility for Nissan that’s right next door. I have that on my plate right now, but it’s fun and exciting. It’ll be twice the size of this dealership.


I’m really just happy here. I’m happy being a mom and a grandmother. I love my dealership, and I like to be very involved with my employees. I like to really connect with them and know what’s going on in their lives. To do that, I have to spend a lot of time here at the dealership. I’m happy with where I’m at and really enjoying it. It’s time to just really be thankful for what I have, be thankful for these unbelievable people that I get to work with every day and just enjoy them and my customers. It’s fun and really good.”

Other than your phone, what is something you need to get through each workday?

“A lot of energy. I have to be on top of my game and be quick. I have to be able to make decisions really fast, so I have to think and move fast. I have to be creative. I have to keep the dealership at the top of its game. I like to come up with new ideas—new ways to market, new ways to reach people—but more than anything, I like to be on that show room floor, hands on.”


What piece of advice do you share with your employees/coworkers regularly?

“I’m very personal with my employees; they know me well. I’m honest with them just about life in general, whatever it is. What I tell them is to just never give up in any part of your life. The things that that make your life successful—in your relationship with your children or with your friends—those same traits make your work life successful. Those same traits work with your customers and coworkers. So we utilize the same types of interactive skills with each other as we do in our personal life. I also tell them have faith in God; just love God with all your heart.”

Who are your greatest influencers? How do you feel knowing that others list you as theirs?


“Of course, my parents. My parents were very hardworking and instilled that in me at a very young age. My sister and I would clean our house. We were completely responsible for all the housekeeping at a maybe eight years old…It was overwhelming, but we did it. Both of us and my brother are very hard working today. So, we all have a lot of drive and a lot of on perseverance.

I’ve always lived passionately. When I raised my children, when I worked in my life or even just studying, I have always been passionate about what I do. I think that kind of has a life of its own. It’s not that I did anything; I think it just affects people.”