I don’t watch a whole lot of TV myself, but I have stopped on Jim Cramer’s “Mad Money” a few times. The guy is incredibly smart, and has more energy than a nuclear powerplant at peak capacity. That said, Jim was having “Invest in America” week and talked about how awesome Ford is. Jim REALLY believes in Ford – why? Because of Alan Mulally. Enjoy!

Part Two:

Well, I guess it had to happen sooner or later. I was really starting to get used to the Fiesta Movement – it was a way of life really. (Really).

During the movement my months were based around my missions, and my days were based largely around the Fiesta in some way or another. I planned my social life around trying to involve the Fiesta – and of course always offered to drive so everyone could enjoy the Fiesta even just a little bit.

Although I do still have my Fiesta (I’m 1 of 9 agents that was designated a “Fiesta Expert,” and I now am tasked with responding to public questions from Ford’s website), it isn’t quite the same. I enjoyed the missions… the fun, the games, and the friends.

I also met some truly amazing people because of the Fiesta Movement. I think above all this will be the part I will cherish from the Fiesta Movement. Honestly – aside from the once-in-a-lifetime experience(s) that the Fiesta Movement provided, I think I will remember the people above all else. I can now say that I have friends stretching coast to coast, top to bottom.

I have friends at Ford, fellow agents, folks at various media outlets and even out in the general public. Some of the coolest people were some of my “followers” that have e-mailed me over the months. Seriously, I had “followers.”

How cool is that?

I’m just a normal guy that happens to love Fords, and was lucky enough to be selected to be a part of one of the most momentous social and business related movement of all time. Colleges will be teaching students about the Fiesta Movement for years and years to come. Businesses will be struggling to grasp exactly what the Fiesta Movement was all about… and how Ford managed to not only pull it off so extremely well, but how they even came up with it in the first place.

People (myself included) are already asking Ford what their “next Fiesta Movement” will be, and businesses (if they want to be relevant) need to be asking themselves the very same question.

Ford found a way to connect with its customers in a way no company ever has before on such a grand scale. Then, to take it to the next level, Ford connected the customers by coming full circle right back to the rest of its customers.

Ford said, “Hey, we have an amazing product in the (European) Fiesta, and we have so much confidence in this product that we are going to put it in the hands of 100 uncensored media-savvy folks and let them tell the world what they genuinely think.”

Ok, I paraphrased that… but you get the point. Ford even picked some agents that were very vocal about NOT owning, having ever owned, or even wanting to own a Ford vehicle. I know they were genuine too because I got to know one of them during training.

I cornered said agent on the final day of the movement and very plainly asked, “So, what’s the verdict?”

His reply? “Well, (with a grin on his face), we liked the Fiesta so much my wife and I are getting a Ford Edge any day now.”

Ford needs stories like this. Ford needs to show Americans that times have changed and we aren’t dealing with the Ford products of yester-year – it’s time for the perception about American (especially Ford) automobiles to catch up with reality. The reality is Ford is producing some of the most technologically advanced, safest, most fun and best engineered vehicles on the road today.

But I digress… I must say in conclusion that I find myself eternally grateful to Ford and Connie Fontaine for creating the Fiesta Movement. I can quite literally say that I now have a career
( www.LeftLaneNews.com ), friends, and memories to last a lifetime.

Thank you Ford – and don’t forget about us…I know I won’t forget about you anytime soon.

-Mark Kleis
“Super” Agent 67

Well, the time has come. Man times flies when you’re having fun. My final mission vdeo…for the month of entertainment is finally done. It’s a how-to video on creating “invisible/magical” designs on your car with Meguiar’s Ultimate Quik Wax.

It was fun to make, and I think you will get a real kick out of how it turns out. Seriousl though…watch the whole thing.

I’ve neglected my precious viewers here on my blog for far too long.

I know excuses don’t fix anything, but I hope they will at least lend a little explanation.

I’ve been extremely busy with work at www.LeftLaneNews.com writing articles, reviewing cars, updating the buyer’s guide, and traveling as well.

I also have some stuff coming together for the end of the Fiesta Movement, so I just haven’t found the time of day to put something worthwhile together for you guys.

Sorry!

That said, I ran a charity 5k mud run on Sunday and I’m feeling it now. I’ve been so busy with work the last two months I’ve only made it to the gym once… so to say it was a brutal few hilly, muddy miles would be quite the understatement.

Before that, I had a great time working the Car Crazy Showcase at SEMA for Meguiar’s by prepping all of the cars that went on the show. What a great honor and experience that was.

Coming up? I have some plans for some video stuff for the Fiesta, and hopefully in the relatively near future a special comparison/review of the US Fiesta and its competition as well. Stay tuned!

Keeping to their tradition of innovation and being leaders in safety (Ford has more 5 star crash tested vehicles and more Top Safety Picks than any automaker in America), Ford has now released airbag-style seatbelts after 10 years of research!

I’m still waiting for either the pictures or photos from the event, but in a nut shell, I was recently invited by Scott Monty to speak at the DMA09 conference in San Diego. DMA (Direct Marketing Association) is the largest organization in the world centered on social media and direct marketing and I was able to speak in regards to my Fiesta Movement experience.

It was really pretty awesome with a full blown stage, lighting, HD cameras, crews etc all in the San Diego Convention center. Our particular panel went very well and got extremely positive feedback on Twitter after the fact.

I also got to hang out at a lounge with Scott Monty from Ford and several other social media elite for a bit. It was great to get others’ perspectives on the Fiesta Movement, and of course, to finally meet Scott. Scott is practically a God in the world of social media…

I’ll be posting my final mission video soon as my filming will likely take place this Tuesday… so sad that my missions are over

Luckily the Fiesta Movement did get extended until December, though. That gives me more time to hide the car from Ford…

I have been incredibly busy with a lot of different things in my life, mostly positive, and sadly the blog took the back burner.

So, to bring everyone up to speed…

It appears I will be keeping the Fiesta until the LA International Auto Show in December….and extra few months! I am SO STOKED about this, you have no idea. I really was dreading giving the car up, and now I can prolong it a bit longer!

Speaking of the Int’l Auto show… I will also be at the show to A.) Join the fellow Fiesta Agents for a special event and the unveiling of the US Spec Fiesta with Ford Motor Company. I hear there will be something fun planned, and I am incredibly excited about this. PLUS, I will be there as an official representative of LeftLaneNews.com…which leads me to my next point: I got a full-time position with LeftLaneNews as a News Editor and as the Buyer’s Guide Editor. I am VERY, VERY excited about my new role with LLN and I cannot wait to make a positive impact there. I hope my readers here will follow my work on LLN as well, of course

I also was offered an opportunity to work with Meguiar’s at SEMA in Las Vegas…which just so happens to be the largest car show IN THE WORLD…no big deal or anything, right? That should be a lot of fun and I look forward to this very much!

Furthermore, I am also in the midst of hunting for a new place to live, and I am hopefully going to make an offer on a condo very soon. I will be sure to update the world when the details are available. I am very excited about this too

Aside from that, I have some very cool stuff going on with the Fiesta that I cannot publicly reveal…yet…. so stay tuned

Mark Kleis
Agent 67

I went to a special gathering in the Ford Focus community recently and Ford showed up to film us and get our story. They put this awesome video together.

I’m the guy with the black shirt and bad 5 o’clock shadow talking about the community

This is the mission video from Fiesta Movement mission #5, themed “Adventure,” and formally titled “Afternoon O’ Balloons.”

It was an incredible experience, and of course the best part was crashing into 3 separate trees during the landing- literally uprooting one of them! Sorry environmentalists! lol