Executive Board Member of Irwindale Chamber of Commerce

Founder and owner of Ford Benefits Group LLC

I approached Doris Ford after hearing of her recent business growth and was very curious to get her story. It is a heart-warming story of a hardworking El Salvador immigrant woman with humble beginnings achieving the American dream. From 2019 to 2024 Ford Benefits Group has defied the COVID period challenges and grown on average 25%-50% in sales. When asked about her career success, I was surprised to learn that she never thought about becoming an insurance broker. 

Doris’ mother brought the family to Southern California when she was 13. Like many immigrants, she did not speak English. To help the family, as soon as she learned the language she started working at a fast-food restaurant. For close to 6 years, she worked 3 jobs to help her single mother, Bloomingdale at night as a customer service representative, Northeast Valley Health Corporation during the day as a medical records clerk, and at Bob’s Big Boy on the weekend as a waitress.

It was with a passing thought that Doris walked into Kaiser Permanente Panorama City’s, HR office to submit her application. With a typing score of 45 words per minute, she was hired on as a temp pharmacy assistant. When Kaiser offered her a full-time position, Doris left her other jobs.  It was at Kaiser Permanente that Doris started her Healthcare career.  Kaiser offered her the opportunity to continue her education at DeVry University, where she double majored in business administration and information systems. 

In 2007 Doris took a cross-country vacation, came back and submitted her resignation, then switched to Anthem Blue Cross to do inside sales.   After one year she was awarded Top Sales of the Year.  Doris proudly recalled the fully-paid trip to Las Vegas with her husband. Riding on the momentum of success, Doris was promoted to regional sales manager two and a half years later. 

After the passing of the Affordable Care Act in 2013 many private health care positions were eliminated, including hers. But with years of experience under her belt and the uncanny ability to land on her feet, she was soon hired by Covered California for Small Business to sell their products.

In 2019, after much prayer Doris took a leap of faith and launched her own insurance agency with the encouragement of colleagues in the Health Insurance Industry.  She hired a business coach to help develop her vision, feasibility plan and company name.  Ford Benefits Group was founded in January 2019.  And like before, success came quickly.  Ford Benefits Group doubled and tripled in sales after only 1.5 years, even during the difficult COVID period where many small businesses were struggling to merely survive. Doris said, “I set my goals on my knees every morning and ask God for His guidance. And I attribute my success to the Lord.” She added, “These days I let worship songs inspire me as I ask God to give me the heart to help people.” 

While working at her corporate job, Doris joined the Irwindale Chamber of Commerce in 2014, but her management soon terminated the membership. Determined, Doris returned on her own in 2019 and became a Chamber Ambassador. That year her business also began to experience doubled and tripled growth. In 2022, the then CEO, Nicole Shahenian, did not waste any time to invite the rising star to join the board of directors. 

And this was how the Doris Ford story unfolded. In the course of 40 something years, the 13-year-old immigrant girl with no English, worked multiple jobs concurrently, got a few college degrees, started her own business and succeeded, then become an executive board member for the chamber of commerce that she volunteered at. 

And this was where she and the writer met - two immigrants struggling through their tender years with no English, joining up at the Irwindale Chamber to help the local business community. 

By Lily Phan

Irwindale Chamber of Commerce President/CEO