Edison, Bell, Carver, Ford. Names synonymous with ingenuity and perseverance. These people inspire me to listen to that small voice that guides and goads my intuition. That voice is rarely wrong, but my translation of intuition into action sometimes leads me to bite off a tad more than I can chew. Single-handedly covering the “Go Further with Ford” trend conference, scheduled for June 26–28, 2012, in Dearborn, Michigan, may be just such a time.

Through an odd, but fortunate, string of circumstances, I was contacted by a PR agent of the Ford Motor Co. She inquired if Quality Digest would be interested in interviewing Benny Fowler, group vice president at Ford. “Why, yes, ma’am,” I said. “We would indeed.” It turned out to be a great conversation (interview starts 7:20 into video), and I was impressed with Fowler’s apparent dedication and enthusiasm as well as his easy manner.

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