An interview with Deployed Logix Sales Director, Jean-Louis Gomes.
CHALLENGE ACCEPTED
EUGENE / JUNE 11, 2020 – Jean-Louis Gomes, DLX Sales Director, isn’t the type to succumb to doubt or disbelief. As a multi-racial African immigrant, Jean-Louis faced obstacles related to racism throughout his education and career. He always approached prejudice with an I’ll prove you wrong attitude and has a resumé that reflects an enduring commitment to be the best. As Jean-Louis put it: “Never tell me ‘I dare you’ because I will do it. Especially if you double dare me.”
A LITTLE BOY FROM AFRICA
Jean-Louis, known around the office as JL, was born in Dakar, Senegal. Both of his parents are from Cape Verde – a group of Islands off the West African coast that were formerly a Portuguese territory. At 7-years-old, when JL and his family immigrated to the United States, he already spoke three languages: Cape Verdean Creole (similar to Portuguese), French, and Wolof (a West African dialect). He would add English to his repertoire within a short time of being enrolled in an English-speaking school.
He recounts having to adapt to a new normal, in a new and unfamiliar country, and watch his family do the same: “In Africa my dad was an architectural engineer and my mom worked in a furniture manufacturing lumber yard. We made good money. We owned a house, a telephone, and a car…my dad had a motorcycle and a boat. He gave all that up so that we could have a better future in the land of opportunity. We went from being upper middle class in Africa to being lower middle class in the U.S.” Despite his multiple degrees in Africa, JL’s dad would have to start over in the States and took a job as a painter. When JL was 10 his father fell from a three-story building and broke his neck. He watched his mother struggle to make ends meet, working three jobs to support their family. At 13 JL began to misstate his age on job applications so he could help earn income for his household. From a young age JL developed a “hustler” mentality, and he credits these experiences to his drive today.
FAITH OVER FEAR
Facing fears is one of JL’s specialties and it has propelled his success in the personal and professional realms. At 18 he wanted to join the military and was initially drawn to the Marines. However, in true JL form, he decided to become a Medic for the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division to confront two of his biggest fears: heights and gore. He would later become a Combat Medic at Fort Bragg in North Carolina. After a brief hiatus as a civilian he returned to work at Fort Bragg as an EMT, where he fell in love with the idea of living life in the fast lane. Within six years he would advance from EMT, to Paramedic, to Shift Leader, to Training Officer, to Lead Paramedic, to Assistant Chief, and finally to Chief of EMS at one of the largest military bases in the world – a position he held for 12 years.
FAMILY FIRST
Having a child at a young age gave JL’s life a whole new meaning. He knew he had responsibilities larger than himself and did everything in his power to ensure that his family was taken care of. “I have devoted myself to my wife of over 33 years, my four wonderful children, and two beautiful granddaughters,” JL gleamed. He never let them see him sweat or struggle. When times got tough, he pressed on – always believing his faith and family would see him through it: “I used my experiences to teach my children that all things are possible with God first, family by your side, and friends you can count on.”
GRATITUDE IN UNEXPECTED PLACES
As with many moments in his life, JL was driven to become an EMS Director when challenged. One day a colleague at Fort Bragg said, “They’ll never hire an uneducated foreigner as an EMS Director.” Instead of getting angry at the comment, JL got motivated. He made a choice early on in life to respond to racism in a way that would help, not hinder, his career, relationships, and the representation of immigrants. “If they said I couldn’t…I did it. I got every certification I thought I would need. I did every job. I worked overtime. I stayed behind. I shadowed the lead paramedics and hung around the smartest guys even if they didn’t want me to. I learned from the best, and some of the folks that I thought would never be my friends became some of my best friends. When the [EMS Director] position became open, I made sure I would be hired because I was the best fit for the job.” The first thing JL did after being promoted to EMS Director was call the man into his office who had made that negative comment. The man thought he was going to get fired but JL simply thanked him and said, “Because of you, I am here.”
MAVERICK AND GOOSE
So how does a Director of EMS become the Sales Director for an industry leading shelter company? In 2006 JL was participating in an emergency management training in North Carolina when in walks 24-year-old JJ Urhausen, now the president of DLX. He was sporting aviator-style sunglasses and a flight suit: the whole look was very Tom Cruise. The two connected over their common interest in disaster response. Thus began a more than decade-long working relationship and JJ’s pursuit of JL that would eventually land JL the Sales Director position at DLX. When JL agreed to take a position at DLX it was a leap of faith, but one he took with a belief in the business and the people behind it: “I watched JJ go through a lot of what I did. When people said he couldn’t – he did. Sometimes people still try to chop him down and he just continues to rise above. It’s my job to make sure we fly together. I really am the Goose to his Maverick.”
A HUSTLER BY DEFINITION
JL’s work hard, play hard mentality combined with the value he places on honesty, loyalty and perseverance makes him a walking representation of what DLX stands for. A little boy from Africa, who came to the United States with next to nothing, would go on to meet four presidents and accomplish every goal set out before him. When asked to share his advice on success he said, “Face your fears, arm yourself with the most knowledge, and then surround yourself with people who challenge you.”
