In the daily rush of managing a plant that produces nearly 1,000 vehicles a day, it's easy to become lost in schedules, metrics, and production goals. But sometimes, something drops into your world that reminds you why you do what you do.

For me, that something was a letter that landed on my desk this past January.

I rarely get mail at work anymore — most communication moves through emails, texts, or calls. So when I spotted an envelope addressed to "Ford Michigan Assembly Plant" and "Plant Manager," I was curious. Who takes time to write letters now?

As I unfolded the paper, I had no idea I was about to embark on one of the most meaningful experiences of my career at Ford.

The letter was from Ryan Lockwood, a father from northern Ohio. Within the first few paragraphs, I realized this wasn't a typical Bronco enthusiast writing to share feedback or ask about features. This was a dad on a mission — a mission centered around his daughter Evie, who has non-verbal autism.

When I read about how Evie had chosen Azure Gray for their 2025 Bronco Heritage Edition and wanted to name it "Bluey," I felt something tug at my heart. This father was hoping — against what he probably thought were all odds — that we could somehow get this Bronco built in time for Evie's 16th birthday in April.

I sat there, staring at the photos Ryan had included. There was Evie, beaming in the back seat of their Bronco. Her smile said everything words couldn't.

“There was Evie, beaming in the back seat of their Bronco.”

Greg Christensen, Michigan Assembly Plant manager

Read Ryan Lockwood's Letter

"How can we make this happen?" I asked myself.

Not if we could make it happen, but how.

I immediately picked up the phone and called our scheduling team. The vehicle hadn't even been assigned a VIN yet, but that didn't matter. I explained the situation, and I could hear determination in their voices, too.

"We'll figure it out, Greg," they assured me.

Within days, we had an assembly date set for late February. Sienna Gibson, our Plant Communications Coordinator, called Ryan with the news. He later told us he was floored to receive a call.

"I did not expect to hear back," he admitted.

As word spread around the plant about Evie's Bronco, something happened. Our team, who assembles hundreds of vehicles every day, rallied around this Azure Gray Heritage Edition. They weren't just assembling another Bronco; they were assembling Bluey for Evie.

The day Bluey rolled off the line was special. Our leadership team gathered for photos, some holding signs that read Built for Evie. Someone even brought a stuffed animal for the hood.

“The day Bluey rolled off the line was special.”

Greg Christensen, Michigan Assembly Plant manager

In an industry that measures success in volume and efficiency, we were measuring it in the joy we knew would come to a teenager in Ohio.

What struck me was how this letter — a tangible piece of paper with typed words — had created such a ripple effect throughout our plant.

In his letter, Ryan mentioned that the Lockwoods had been Jeep Wrangler drivers for decades before switching to Bronco in 2023. That's not something I take lightly. When someone trusts us with their family's adventures after being loyal to another brand for so long, that's a responsibility.

The Lockwoods picked up Bluey on March 5 at their dealership — weeks ahead of Evie's April birthday. I wish I could have been there to see her reaction when she found the Built for Evie sign and photos we included inside. Ryan told us "she started squealing" with excitement. For a nonverbal person, that's as clear a thank you as you can get.

We invited the Lockwoods to visit Michigan Assembly, and on March 21, I finally met the family whose letter had made such an impact on me and our team. Watching Evie tour the facility where Bluey was born was a reminder of why manufacturing matters. We're not just assembling vehicles — we're building memories and creating connections.

Ryan's words from his letter stay with me: "Your plant's work goes deeper than just assembling a vehicle — it helps create joy and connection for families like mine."

In the midst of production targets and launch dates, it's easy to forget that every vehicle rolling off our line is headed to become part of someone's story.

Sometimes, it takes a letter to remind us why we do what we do. The Lockwoods didn't just get a new Bronco that day — our team got something, too. We got to see the real human impact of our work.

And every time I see an Azure Gray Bronco Heritage Edition now, I wonder if it might be Bluey, cruising down an Ohio road with Evie in the back seat, smiling.

Greg Christensen is the Michigan Assembly Plant manager.