Go Further with Ford - Day Three

Day Three was all about driving. There were six events for us to experience on the Ford test track, each showcasing the 2013 vehicle line. While most of the other attendees were thrilled about this, I was apprehensive. After all, I didn't get my license until I was 23 and I still drive like a little old lady. I like a swanky ride as much as anyone but my need for speed is pretty close to nil. Still, I was pretty excited to see how the interiors looked with all the tech we'd been learning about and check out the, uh, safety features. Lame, I know! 

Me with Cathy Herard and Lori Cunningham from Well Connected Mom.

I basically followed these two around, since they're crazy speed demons. I mean, awesome drivers. 

Lori let me be her ride-along for the Police Interceptor. I must admit we dorked out, especially when we realized we chose the car without a working siren. Boo! We had to make our own siren sounds, naturally, and witty banter about catching the bad guys.

The new Mustangs are pretty. As if you didn't know that! 

The view from waiting in line for the F-150 SVT Raptor Offroad drive was a bit daunting. We don't have hills in Kansas! I'm always laughing about the incline features on 4WD vehicles here. 

Also daunting: having to wear a weird balaclava like thing and helmets. Oh, yikes.

Having survived the offroad test, I drove the totally-more-my-speed Focus Electric. Someday I'll have an electric vehicle. Someday…

I took way more photos but my computer seemed to eat them. The most hilarious event was the relay race on the Technology Midway where you had to parallel park hands-free using Park Assist and open the trunk with the hands-free liftgate, all while handing off a baton and running. I even came close to winning a speed test in the 2013 Escape but was beaten by Lori, of all people, by a split second. Rats! I've got to practice.

All in all, seeing Ford's new product line and getting to drive the cars is awesome but what I really love about this event is learning about the thought process and innovation that runs through the company. Seriously, every Ford employee I spoke to was excited about the direction the company was headed in, and not in an obsequious way at all. They seem genuinely vested in making Ford a company that continues to be ahead of the curve, not just in earnings, but intellectually. Impressive.

See more about Go Further with Ford: Day One, Day Two and Day Two (TechShop Detroit).

In accordance to the FTC Guidelines and the WOMMA Code of Ethics, I am disclosing that Ford paid for my travel and lodging.. No other compensation was provided. All opinions are, as usual, entirely my own.

Go Further with Ford - TechShop Detroit

After a very brief respite in the hotel, we were hustled over to TechShop Detroit, a membership-based DIY workshop featuring state of the art equipment to create almost anything you can dream up. Ford has partnered with TechShop in the hopes of giving innovators at any stage of life the platform and tools to create the technology of the future. Our bus driver couldn't find the place so we missed the introductory remarks but I wriggled my way into the auditorium just in time to see Ford CEO Alan Mulally speak.

He wants Ford to lead the way in innovative thought and mentorship, as well as being at the top of the American automaker continuum. I didn't realize Mulally was a Kansan but his down to earth quality and tendency to use "neat" as a modifier was kind of a tip-off. He seemed genuinely enthusiastic about the company's global position and his confidence was infectious. Also, he was rocking kind of a Bing Crosby look that was totally endearing.

I loved the variety of food stations and cocktails that represented different Detroit cuisine. I chowed down with the lovely Lori of Well Connected Mom and of course we had to photograph our food. 

In the three times I've been to Ford, I've never managed to get a photo with Scott Monty, so I grabbed the chance! Even without a tie, the guy shows everyone up…

TechShop was nothing if not inspiring. They had everything from laser cutters to industrial sewing machines, including a huge and super clean wood shop, screen printing stations, sandblasting, 3D printers… I took a zillion photos to show its amazingness to my husband, who would actually do wonders with a maker space. In fact, Wichita would be a great community to have a satellite TechShop due to our predominantly aircraft engineering/manufacturing industry. 

Outside, we were treated to gourmet ice cream floats (I spiked mine with rum from the more traditional bar!) and a performance from Portland-based band Blind Pilot, courtesy of Ford SYNC, Microsoft, Gracenote, HD Radio and Pandora. A good time.

See more about Go Further with Ford: Day One, Day Two and Day Three.




In accordance to the FTC Guidelines and the WOMMA Code of Ethics, I am disclosing that Ford paid for my travel and lodging.. No other compensation was provided. All opinions are, as usual, entirely my own.

Go Further with Ford - Day Two

The second day at Go Further with Ford started with a big breakfast and a warm welcome from two phenomenal women: Sheryl Connelly, Manager of Global Trends and Futuring, and Marisa Bradley, Consumer Media Communications Manager. We all tweeted about their fabulous shoes, naturally. 

The day's agenda was packed: trend sessions revolving around four topic areas- Streamline and Simplify, Accessible Design, Eco-Psychology and Urbanization. Each session included panel discussions with pertinent guest speakers and Ford experts, as well as breakout sessions with hands-on demos.

The first stop on my list was Streamline and Simplify, where we learned more about the constancy of technology and how companies work together to improve the "conversation" you have with your vehicle. This conversation is often literal, with many apps using voice recognition and the cloud to keep your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel but it can extend to biometric data being collected while you drive to enhance safety. 

(l-r): John Hendricks, Director of User Experiences for the Windows Embedded Division at Microsoft, Gary Clayton, Chief Creative Officer at Nuance, and Parrish Hanna, Ford's Global Director of Human Machine Interface.

This black monolith is called a Technical Discovery Kit (TDK) and it is like a car in a box that developers can use to test functionality without bringing a huge car into the lab. There were several of them set up to give us an idea of how they work. We saw how SYNC can use Google translators to allow you to have an almost real-time interaction in a foreign language and how I could pull up the New Pornographers on Pandora just by asking. So cool!

The second session was Age of Accessible Design. I enjoyed hearing the panelists talk about the need to bring good design to the masses at an affordable price. Predictably, they all had snazzy shoes.

(l-r): Ari Goldberg, CEO of StyleCaster, Gretchen Gscheidle, Director of the Insight and Exploration Group at Herman Miller, design wunderkind Christian Siriano, artist/architect Adam Kalkin and J Mays, Ford Group President of Design and Chief Creative Officer.

I wanted to geek out on Christian Siriano but we were whisked off to a special secret (no photos allowed!) design studio to see how they sculpt new models out of clay in life size. Pretty impressive stuff, especially when you consider how far in advance they are designing. It's almost like living in the  future…

My third session was Eco-Psychology, which I was really excited about. The public perception of environmentalism and how you can shift towards a greener thought process is something I truly believe in. The speakers had a lot to say about the importance of companies of Ford's magnitude taking an environmentalist stance because it changes mass opinion, especially over time. Baby steps to green is a powerful motivator.

(l-r): Cher Fischer, Peter Glatzer and Adrian Grenier of SHFT.com, John Viera, Ford's Global Director of Sustainability and Vehicle Environmental Matters, Liz Heller, Strategic Partnerships and Initiatives at TOMS, and Tim Sexton of E2.

The breakouts for this session were really interesting. We got to see samples of naturally-derived plastics in development. We also got to visit the wind tunnel for a demonstration of aerodynamics and how it affects fuel efficiency.

Steve Parks, Senior Aerodynamics Engineer with Vehicle Energy Management Engineering for Ford and Lincoln, demonstrates aerodynamics with smoke in the wind tunnel.

I also got this blurry photo of me with Adrian Grenier, who has really remarkable hair. He's also pretty passionate about the environment and filmmaking, which only serves to make him cuter. 

The final session for the day was Urbanization. I'll admit that I didn't think it would be very pertinent to me since Wichita is hardly a bustling metropolis. Carol Coletta is a dynamic speaker, though, and had plenty to say about why communities need to court creative innovators. Amen! She was funny and smart and had a fantastic dress and shoes, too.

I was also really impressed to discover that Ford has a Manager of Social Sustainability, David Berdish (shown between Ford's Kristin Schondorf and Carol Coletta below), who is charged with ensuring their brand promise is the same for employees worldwide. Berdish was lead designer of the Ford Human Rights Code of Working Conditions, which was adopted in 2003 and continues to evolve under his supervision. These guidelines articulate Ford’s commitment to social sustainability and human rights throughout its global operations and $90 billion supply chain. Color me impressed.

See more about Go Further with Ford: Day One, Day Two (TechShop Detroit) and Day Three.

In accordance to the FTC Guidelines and the WOMMA Code of Ethics, I am disclosing that Ford paid for my travel and lodging.. No other compensation was provided. All opinions are, as usual, entirely my own.

Go Further with Ford - Day One

Last month, I was in Michigan for Ford's annual trend conference. This year's was called Go Further with Ford, echoing their global brand promise, and it was inspiring, as usual. Not just from a gearhead persective, though. While it's true that attendees learn about Ford vehicles and the technology that goes into them, the event is less of a sales pitch than a peek into the think tank in Dearborn. Ford wants to be more than just another American automaker– they'd rather be known as a global innovation factory based in the US.

The opening cocktail reception and dinner was held at Ford Field, home of the Detroit Lions. We were treated to impeccable service, a tour of the stadium (including the swanky locker rooms and a chance to kick a field goal!), a moving keynote discussion by Bill Ford and David Kirkpatrick and a huge dessert buffet featuring the most adorable teeny tiny bottles of milk, as modeled below by the always dapper Scott Monty.

Back at the hotel, there was a hospitality suite with a DJ, arcade games and booze so you could mingle with new friends and old. I especially enjoyed watching the editors of PC Mag and Gadget Review face off in buck shooting:

See more about Go Further with Ford: Day Two, Day Two (TechShop Detroit) and Day Three.

In accordance to the FTC Guidelines and the WOMMA Code of Ethics, I am disclosing that Ford paid for my travel and lodging.. No other compensation was provided. All opinions are, as usual, entirely my own.

#FordGreen NAIAS Recap

I had a great time in Detroit, albeit missing the first dinner and introductions due to infernal air travel delays. It truly was a whirlwind adventure– I spent nearly 12 hours in airports for a two day trip, ugh– and I learned so much about the way Ford is rethinking not only automobile design but also global manufacturing and production.

I've never been an American car girl but there are several Fords I would definitely consider, having seen them in action. I am very anxious to see the 7 seat C-Max hit the road, it has some amazing features including a hands-free tailgate. Gimmicky, yes, but admit it- it's smart! Ford is also unveiling an app that will allow electric vehicle owners to schedule their recharging via mobile, even calculating the optimal hours for cheaper power. It also has a double GPS so you can map your way to your vehicle, which sounds silly but would definitely make mall or stadium parking a little less stressful.

I was a bit snap-happy, since there was so much to see, so I made a Whrrl in lieu of posting a hundred photos for you to scroll through.

More check-ins at North American International Auto Show

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Here's the video that was used in the Ford presentation, featuring Ed Begley, Jr. discussing the greening of Ford. And butterflies:





Sadly, our test drives were snowed out so I can't tell you much about the handling of the new Fords. I did like the interiors of the Flex and the F150, which were crazy spacious.

I was invited to participate in this program by Clever Girls Collective, Inc. in partnership with Ford and Ogilvy PR. Ford Motor Company paid for my travel and accommodations at the 2-day Driving Green Technology event, I was not compensated in any other manner for my time. My opinions posted here are my own.

Driving Green with Ford at NAIAS

Because I am one of the luckiest girls in the world– and a member of Clever Girls Collective– I am headed to Detroit next week for a whirlwind two day adventure. I'll be one of a hundred green, tech and lifestyle bloggers from all over the world (ten countries in all) participating in an exclusive Ford World Headquarters Tour, including a special Green Driving Technology Event, and media-only preview of the North American International Auto Show. Exciting, no?

I am excited to learn about Ford's sustainability initiatives and, of course, to test drive some of their new models. I am also anxious to hear Stewart Brand, author of counterculture classic The Whole Earth Catalog and, more recently, Whole Earth Discipline), speak about the importance of environmentalism meshing with technology. It's refreshing to hear about companies taking a forward-looking approach as they consider their impact on the planet as well as their bottom line.

Look for the #FordGreen hashtag on Twitter to keep up with our progress next week.

I was invited to participate in this program by Clever Girls Collective, Inc. in partnership with Ford and Ogilvy PR. Ford Motor Company paid for my travel and accommodations at the 2-day Driving Green Technology event, I was not compensated in any other manner for my time. My opinions posted here are my own.