After attending the Future Midwest Conference in Royal Oak last weekend, I have more confidence that Michigan will rebound from recent issues.  This first time event attracted over 600 attendees, and showcased some really cool companies that are located here in Michigan.  The biggest surprise for me, was what is going on in Dearborn at Ford Motor Company.  I have never been a huge fan of the auto companies.  I was under the belief that they had become fat and not set in their ways, not adapting to a new business world.  With one presentation, by Scott Monty, the Global Digital and Multimedia Manager at Ford, changed my whole perception.  What got me so excited was on two folds of what Ford is doing. 

The most impresive was how they have incorporated technology into their cars.  They started with the Sync system, and have evolved that into the Ford Touch.  These systems are letting the driver stay connected to the world through their phone like no other time.  For more information on the Sync Technology, see the April edition of Fast Company article.  My second surprise was how Ford has used social media and the web to connect to their customers.  The best example of this is the Ford Feista Movement, were they gave 100 people a car that has never been in the US, to drive for a year.  The 100 were asked to talk about the car.  They even started to produce their own videos on the car.  The results of the movement was Ford received 10,000 pre-orders for a car that most have never seen.  Don’t get me wrong, Ford still has a long way to go, but they are moving in the correct direction. 

General Motors also had a very impressive presentation, and are doing some really cool things with social media.  Check out the SXSW Chevy Road Trip.  One last company that I would like to recognize is Current Motor Company, out of Ann Arbor.  They just launched their first Electric Scooter.  These bikes have a top speed of 70 mph and can go up to 80 miles on one charge.  This is a great example of Michigan Company being in front of the trend and working to make our world a better place.  Michigan will come out of our recent problems a better, leaner, and more humble state, that will again be one of the hubs of innovation and invention.  I am proud to be here to be part of it.