Monday, February 1st, 2010
As chief engineer for the all-new Ford Edge, Elaine Bannon is
committed to building a vehicle that will stir emotion. She is leading
the vehicle team with the hottest new entry into the red-hot crossover
market, working to ensure the right combination of great looks and
outstanding performance.
Join Elaine right here for a live chat on February 10 at 12:15 p.m. CST.
“There are a lot of great vehicles out there, but only a select few
can make you feel confident, powerful and sexier,” says Elaine. “Edge
becomes an extension of your personality. It delivers on all counts,
from its bold design, to its balanced ride, fun-to-drive character and
confident handling.”
Elaine, who joined Ford Motor Company in 1984, brings a wealth of
engineering and management expertise to the Edge program. Her influence
is evident in the superb craftsmanship of the Edge’s interior and
exterior. As principle lead for Global Craftsmanship, Elaine helped
elevate the company to a new level of quality in fit and finish. The
Global Craftsmanship team was instrumental in the development of the
critically acclaimed 2004 Ford F-150. Before taking on her current
assignment, Elaine was chief engineer for Ford’s commercial trucks,
helping integrate the expansive medium and heavy truck lineup into one
cohesive business unit.
The Detroit-area native holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical
engineering and an MBA, both from the University of Michigan. Elaine
says raising her young son and writing poetry helps her see issues from
many perspectives. Elaine, who enjoys working the pit crew during her
husband’s motorcycle road races, takes on each challenge with the
belief that there is no finish line.
“Spending time with my husband on race weekends makes me appreciate
the effort it takes to get to the top of your game – no matter what the
area,” says Elaine. “Commitment to a skill and the enhancement of that
skill takes tenacity, passion and positive energy – whether you’re
confronted with greatness or adversity.”
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Tags: Chief Engineer, crossover, Elaine Bannon, Ford Edge, Ford Motor Company, Global Craftsmanship, Live Chat
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Friday, January 22nd, 2010
You may have heard that Ken Block recently teamed up with Ford. In 2010, Ken will campaign a Ford Focus in the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) and a Ford Fiesta in Rally America and X Games. You
can read more about that and watch a teaser video by
clicking here to go to that theFordStory article.
At 1:45 p.m. EST on January 22, 2010, you’ll have a chance to participate in a live chat with Ken right here. He’ll be answering questions and sharing some of his experiences.
Ken’s rally career began in 2005. His skill and car control were quickly apparent and he was aptly named Rookie of the Year in the Rally America Championship. Since then, he has continued to race in the series, boasting a healthy number of podium appearances, as well as X Games medals.
In addition to his performance in the car, Ken has been a driving force in shining a spotlight on the sport of rally in the United States. Before entering motorsports, he co-founded DC Shoes, a worldwide leader in performance skateboarding shoes and a renowned action sports brand.
His keen sense of marketing not only helped elevate DC to their current status, but it has also allowed Ken to achieve global fame as a national rally driver through his very successful viral video campaigns. Ad Age named his Gymkhana TWP film the No. 4 Viral Video of 2009.
In 2010, Ken goes global. He will compete in both Rally America and X Games in the United States with a Ford Fiesta, and WRC in a Ford Focus RS.
We make it easy for you to share this story with your friends; simply click on the “share this” method of your choice at the top right corner of this page. You can also click here to sign up for updates from Ford Motor Company, and click here to add an RSS feed to your regular homepage. Tags: FIA World Rally Championship (WRC), Ford Fiesta, Ford Focus, Ken Block, Live Chat, Rally America, X Games
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Wednesday, October 28th, 2009
Mike Hardie has responsibility for what may be one of the most challenging aspects building vehicles: Quality. Specifically, he develops the quality plan to drive quality processes and discipline throughout the design and production of Ford vehicles.
Join the live chat here on Friday, October 30, at 11:30 a.m. EST to see what Hardie has to say about quality, and what the team is doing to protect and improve quality at Ford.
During his career at Ford, Mike has held many positions in problem solving, reliability engineering and statistical applications. Prior to working at Ford, Mike was in the aerospace business, developing aircraft simulation systems for military programs.
Hardie, a native of Salem, Oregon, holds a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon, and a masters degree in Engineering Management from the University of Michigan.
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Tags: Ford, Ford Motor Company, Ford Quality, Live Chat, Mike Hardie
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