| Ford's effort to protect the environment is clearly | | | | Lawrence. He said that his career started |
| manifested in their production of environment | | | | delivering newspapers. After that, he became a |
| friendly vehicles. This concern for the environment | | | | bag boy for Dillon's grocery store in the area. He |
| has led the company to produce hybrid cars and | | | | left the job after he was inspired by then |
| vehicles which run on alternative fuel as well as | | | | President John F. Kennedy to become an |
| clean diesel engines for their larger vehicles. | | | | astronaut. He was at that time taking up liberal |
| Ford's Chief Executive Officer Alan Mulally recently | | | | arts but then he switched to aeronautical and |
| made the company's dedication towards | | | | astronautical engineering at the University of |
| protecting the environment his topic while talking | | | | Kansas. After he switched courses though, he |
| at the Lied Center in Kansas City. He talked about | | | | was told that he is not fit to be an astronaut |
| the power of working together and the need for | | | | because he is slightly color blind. |
| it. During the course of his speech, he also shared | | | | After he graduated from the University of |
| his experiences in life to those present during his | | | | Kansas, he was told by a professor at the |
| speech. | | | | university to try to get a work at Boeing. The |
| The Chief Executive Officer of the United States' | | | | said professor has then recently left Boeing. After |
| second largest car manufacturer claimed that he | | | | that, he was hired at Boeing and after some |
| loves the idea of working together. In fact, | | | | years joined Ford Motor Company as the new |
| working together is the main topic of his talk. He | | | | CEO. In connection with him being the current |
| talked about his tenure as the President and the | | | | CEO of Ford, he also talked about their company's |
| Chief Executive Officer of Boeing Commercial | | | | effort to protect the environment. He talked |
| Planes. Mulally said that it is of utmost importance | | | | about several alternative fuels which are aimed to |
| that a leader should put people first and include | | | | reduce the amount of damage that vehicle |
| everyone on the project as well. And to make it | | | | emissions are doing to the environment. He also |
| possible, Mulally said that communication is needed | | | | tackled and dissected his thoughts on the |
| and is entirely very important for the whole | | | | problems that are being faced by the auto |
| process. "The biggest problem with communication | | | | industry pertaining to the use of alternative fuels. |
| is the illusion that it occurs," says Mulally. "The fact | | | | For example, he cited the use of bio-ethanol, while |
| that you say something and expect them to | | | | using ethanol as substitute for gasoline; it will need |
| know what it means; that's arrogant," says the | | | | a lot of raw materials to supply the country with |
| Kansas University alumnus. | | | | its needed fuel. |
| Mulally stressed out that there is a need for | | | | That is why Ford, with Mulally at the helm, is |
| coworkers to be on the same page. They should | | | | developing technologies that will reduce the |
| be able to work on a single plan with everyone | | | | dependency of the auto industry on petroleum |
| pitching in on the job at hand. Mulally said that | | | | products. Several Ford models with Ford fenders |
| when a problem surfaced in the workplace, he | | | | and other Ford auto parts are already offered |
| wants to be working with people who can find a | | | | with a hybrid version to reduce the amount of |
| way to address the situation and solve the | | | | gasoline that they have to consume. |
| problem. He also said that he saw that kind of | | | | While there are already environment friendly |
| people at the institution. "There is not an institution | | | | vehicles out in the market, Mulally thinks that it is |
| in the world that has more motivated, more | | | | not enough. "The auto industry only accounts for |
| skilled and neater students than the University of | | | | 15 percent of carbon dioxide emissions, so the |
| Kansas," says Mulally. | | | | whole country needs to work together," says |
| During his speech, he recounted his experiences in | | | | Ford's CEO. |
| life as a young man working odd jobs in | | | | |