Standing Strong in the Face of Unfair Hiring Practices

Discrimination wasn’t an issue when Ferman Lewis started digging fire breaks in Pasadena at 15, worked at a Headstart in his late teens and performed maintenance duties in his early 20s. Yet, when he received the education and training to trade dirty dungarees for clean slacks things changed.

It’s another sad story, but this time with a happy ending. The typical scene: African American male walks into office for an interview, he is qualified. White boss asks, “Why do you want this job?” The potential candidate sells himself. Later he learns the position is filled by someone less qualified and white.

Lewis, a young black professional in 1983, encountered a similar problem. The reason he was told he wasn’t hired, in spite of his experience, “It was a special situation,” said the white interviewer. “After the interviewer left the company, he invited me to lunch and apologized for not hiring me.” This was Lewis’ first attempt at applying for a manager position and it wouldn’t be his last.

The next encounter happened in the 1991 at another company. Once again he applied for a manager’s position. “This interview took all but three minutes,” said Lewis. After watching the director of customer service sit back in his chair and throw a tennis ball at the wall during the interview, he asks me, “Why do you want to do this to yourself?” Later, Lewis learns that someone less qualified and white is offered the position.

The banking professional didn’t let rejection hinder him. In 1995 Lewis would become one of 10 employees chosen out of 2000 applicants who participated in a management training seminar in Southern California. Eventually he got the attention of some of the most recognized companies in the financial industry.

FDC Remitco, the largest payment processing company in Los Angeles, was impressed with Lewis a couple of years ago and recently awarded him monetarily for his achievements as Operations Manager. Lewis is now the second highest ranking official at the company’s Los Angeles location.

“I was refreshed and energized once I received the offer,” Lewis said. “I chose Remitco because it was an opportunity for me to manage managers and stay within my career path to be a site director. My long term goal is to manage my own business.”

Lewis manages 130 employees comprised of 10 departments from payment processing to computer room operations. When asked what enjoyment did he find in managing people, “Knowing that I provide them with clarity and knowledge for any given situation whether it be business or personally.”

Remitco services insurance, bank, credit card, and mortgage companies who no longer want to be obligated to the duty of processing their customer payments.

Lewis credits Steve Darden, friend of 32 years, with showing him “how to take a risk in his career and stepping out on faith.” He adds his friend told him, “Luck is nothing more than being prepared for your opportunity.”