Blog

When Josh Williams was selected to join Ford Motor Company's Rising Leaders program earlier this year, it marked the beginning of an exciting opportunity. The selection process was rigorous, the expectations were high, and the experience promised to challenge participants in new ways. Now, after months of learning, collaboration, and personal development, Josh has officially graduated from the program and returned with experiences that will influence both his leadership journey and the future of the Mark William's Automotive Group. While earning a place in the program was certainly an achievement, completing it provided something even more valuable. It offered an opportunity to step outside the day to day responsibilities of dealership operations and gain a broader perspective on leadership, business growth, and the future of the automotive industry. Rising Leaders brings together a carefully selected group of future dealership leaders from across the country. With only twenty participants in each cohort, every individual is chosen because of their accomplishments, leadership potential, and commitment to professional growth. Throughout the experience, participants engaged with Ford executives, explored operational strategies, discussed industry trends, and developed leadership skills that extend far beyond the showroom floor. For Josh, one of the most memorable aspects of the program was the caliber of the people involved. "Being a part of the Rising Leaders program has been the best experience of my professional career," Josh said. "I have been a part of some great programs in the past and I can confidently say this was the most talented group of individuals I have ever worked with." Those relationships quickly became one of the defining elements of the experience. The program created an environment where participants could openly exchange ideas, discuss challenges, and learn from one another's experiences. Every conversation offered a different perspective and every session provided opportunities to expand both knowledge and understanding. Leadership development is often associated with training and education, but some of the most meaningful growth happens through relationships. Being surrounded by ambitious, talented professionals creates opportunities to learn in ways that books and presentations simply cannot replicate. Josh found tremendous value in those connections. "I made lifelong connections with the people in this program as well as executives at Ford Motor Company." Those relationships will continue long after the program's conclusion, creating a network of leaders committed to helping one another succeed. Beyond the connections, the experience offered participants unique access to Ford's culture, innovation efforts, and future vision. Exclusive tours and immersive learning opportunities provided a deeper understanding of the company's history while also highlighting where the industry is headed in the years ahead. For the Mark William's Automotive Group, the significance of this achievement extends beyond one individual. Every investment in leadership ultimately benefits the entire organization. Strong leaders create stronger teams. Strong teams create better experiences. Better experiences create lasting relationships with customers. That philosophy has always been central to how the Mark William's Automotive Group operates. The lessons gained through Rising Leaders reinforce the importance of continuous improvement and lifelong learning. Regardless of experience level, there is always another opportunity to grow, another perspective to consider, and another way to improve. As Josh completed the program, he returned with more than knowledge. He returned with fresh ideas, renewed motivation, and a greater understanding of what it takes to guide an organization into the future. Perhaps most importantly, the experience strengthened his commitment to the Ford brand and the future of the dealership. "I am very proud to be a future Ford dealer and I am excited to carry our Auto Group into the future." Those words reflect the purpose behind programs like Rising Leaders. They are not simply about developing leaders for today. They are about preparing leaders for tomorrow. As we reflect on Josh's journey from selection to graduation, we are reminded that growth is not measured by a single accomplishment. It is measured by the willingness to continue learning, improving, and investing in the future. This chapter may be complete, but the impact of the experience is only beginning.

Autumn brings a sense of renewal and wonder to the open road. The crisp air, fiery foliage, and golden sunlight create the perfect backdrop for adventure, especially when shared with your dog. A road trip from Cincinnati to Gatlinburg, Tennessee, captures the best of the season as you journey through charming towns, forested hills, and the majestic Smoky Mountains. With pet-friendly stops, scenic overlooks, and cozy places to stay, this trip promises a beautiful blend of relaxation and exploration. Preparing for the Road Before heading out, make sure both you and your dog are ready for the ride. Bring essentials like a sturdy leash, harness, food, water, and waste bags. Include your dog’s favorite toy or blanket to help them feel secure in new environments. Since fall weather can shift quickly, pack an extra sweater for yourself and a light jacket for your dog if needed. Plan frequent rest breaks so your dog can stretch, sniff, and enjoy the crisp autumn breeze. The drive from Cincinnati to Gatlinburg is just over five hours, following I-75 south, then I-40 east toward Knoxville, before turning onto US-441 south into the Smokies. As you travel, the forests explode with color crimson maples, golden oaks, and amber hickories forming a glowing mosaic across the hills. Exploring Cades Cove Cades Cove is one of the most stunning sections of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and its 11-mile loop road feels like a living postcard in autumn. The trees shimmer with color, and the surrounding meadows glow in the soft afternoon light. You might spot white-tailed deer grazing in the fields or black bears foraging in the woods. Dogs are allowed on the loop road if they are leashed, making it an ideal scenic drive with plenty of photo stops. The early morning fog adds to a dreamy quality, and the quiet moments of sunlight breaking through the mist create perfect opportunities for photography. The Peace of Cherokee Orchard Road For a more tranquil experience, drive along Cherokee Orchard Road and Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. This peaceful area is less crowded but just as beautiful, with colorful leaves arching over narrow mountain roads. Autumn is an active season for wildlife, so watch the woods for movement and keep your dog safely leashed. You can stop at small pull-offs to take short walks or simply enjoy the view from your car. The soft sound of rustling leaves and the scent of pine and earth make this one of the most atmospheric routes in the Smokies. Kuwohi and the Beauty of the High Country Kuwohi, the highest peak in the Smoky Mountains, is an essential stop for fall travelers. Although dogs cannot climb the observation tower, the road leading up offers breathtaking views of the mountain range. The rolling hills stretch out in every shade of red, orange, and gold, and in the mornings, low clouds drift through the valleys like misty rivers. Bring your camera and take short walks at safe roadside areas. Each turn reveals a new view of the changing landscape, and your dog will enjoy the fresh mountain air as much as you do. Sweet Stops in Gatlinburg After a long day of exploration, reward yourself with a visit to Kilwin’s in downtown Gatlinburg. Their autumn flavor pumpkin spice, caramel apple, and cinnamon capture the season perfectly. Enjoy a treat at one of their outdoor tables while your dog rests by your side. Watching the sunset over the mountain rooftops with a cup of hot chocolate or a piece of fudge in hand is a memory worth savoring. Resting in Pet-Friendly Comfort Finding a place to stay with your dog in Gatlinburg is easy. Many hotels and cabins welcome pets, including Motel 6 Gatlinburg Smoky Mountains, Laurel Inn Motel, and Gatlinburg Town Square Resort. Some even provide treats, beds, or fenced areas for pets. A cozy mountain cabin with a fireplace makes a perfect retreat after a day of exploration. Tips for a Smooth Trip Keep your dog’s comfort and safety in mind throughout the journey. Always use a leash no longer than six feet and clean up after your pet. Carry a portable water bowl, snacks, and towels for muddy paws. Because autumn leaves can be slippery, pay attention on walks and avoid steep, damp paths. Wildlife encounters are common, so observe from a distance and never allow your dog to chase or bark at animals. For longer hikes, research nearby trails outside the national park where dogs are permitted. Experiencing Gatlinburg in Autumn The town of Gatlinburg transforms in fall. Streets are lined with pumpkins and cornstalks, and the mountains rise behind a canopy of color. Many restaurants offer outdoor seating, letting you enjoy a warm meal while your dog lounges nearby. Browse the local artisan shops or take a short walk along the riverfront. Even simple activities, like sitting by a stream or walking under a canopy of orange leaves, feel magical during this season. Capturing Autumn Memories Bring your camera or phone to capture the vibrant moments of your journey. Whether it is your dog surrounded by scarlet leaves or the view from a mountain overlook, these images will remind you of the beauty of the season. Cades Cove, Cherokee Orchard Road, and Kuwohi are all perfect backdrops for photos that celebrate the spirit of autumn. The Perfect Ending to a Fall Journey A road trip from Cincinnati to Gatlinburg in autumn is a celebration of color, comfort, and companionship. From the peaceful drives through golden forests to cozy evenings in a mountain cabin, every mile offers something to cherish. Traveling with your dog adds joy and spontaneity to the experience, turning every stop into a shared memory. As the season fades, you will look back on this journey as a highlight of fall time when the mountains glowed, the air was crisp, and your loyal companion was by your side. Pack your bags, grab your leash, and set out to discover the beauty of the Smokies in their finest season.

There’s something timeless about the open road. But as destinations grow more remote and travelers prioritize flexibility, today’s road trips demand more than just a full tank and a paper map. They need a vehicle that’s as adaptable as the adventurer behind the wheel. Enter the 2025 Ford Explorer, a midsize SUV designed to make road trips more comfortable, immersive, and efficient than ever before. This post is all about how the Explorer enhances every phase of a national park journey from the long highway stretches to backcountry car camping highlighting a dream route through four of the most captivating parks in the U.S. West: Crater Lake National Park, Redwood National and State Parks, Lassen Volcanic National Park, and Yosemite National Park. 1. Comfort That Lasts 10 Days, Not Just 10 Miles Let’s start with what traveler’s care about most on a long road trip: comfort. The 2025 Ford Explorer interior isn’t just designed to seat people it’s designed to support them for hours at a time. Heated, ventilated front seats with lumbar support reduce fatigue on multi-hour drives. The tri-zone climate control system means everyone driver, front passenger, and rear seat passengers can adjust their own temperatures. Acoustic glass and cabin insulation block road noise, so you can enjoy quiet views or your favorite road trip podcast without turning the volume up to 11. The available massage front seats in higher trims offer rare luxury in an adventure SUV. Whether you’re climbing toward Crater Lake’s rim or gliding down into Yosemite Valley, the Explorer’s ergonomic seating and ride-smoothing suspension make sure you get there refreshed not wrecked. 2. Sleeping Under the Stars? The Explorer Has Room for That One of the biggest perks of a vehicle like the Explorer is the ability to turn it into a mobile basecamp. Thanks to the fold-flat second and third rows, you get a nearly 7-foot-long, flat sleeping surface in the rear cargo area perfect for one or two people on a sleeping pad or small air mattress. Bring a blackout sunshade kit and some battery-operated fans, and your Explorer becomes an instant mobile bedroom. Interior lighting dimmers make winding down easy, while 12V and USB charging ports ensure your devices stay powered overnight. Want to elevate your experience? Add a rooftop tent system with ladder access and camp in style. Camping at places like Gold Bluffs Beach in Redwood National Park or Manzanita Lake in Lassen becomes easier when your “tent” is already built in. 3. Tech That Actually Helps You Explore The 2025 Explorer is loaded with practical tech not gimmicks. You’ll use every bit of it as you navigate remote national parks: SYNC 4 with voice recognition makes changing your destination, playing music, or adjusting settings easy while driving. Wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto turn your infotainment screen into a live dashboard for apps like Gaia GPS or AllTrails. Over-the-air updates mean you’ll always have the latest maps, performance tweaks, and navigation options even mid-trip. Need to locate your car in a dark trailhead lot? The FordPass App lets you flashlights, honk the horn, or unlock the doors all from your smartphone. In unpredictable weather or terrain, this kind of connected convenience becomes peace of mind. 4. Driving Confidence Across All Terrain Each national park on your route throws something different at you: Crater Lake: High elevation and potential snow even in summer Redwood: Foggy, narrow roads through ancient forests Lassen: Unpaved roads and geothermal terrain Yosemite: Traffic, elevation shifts, and steep valley walls The 2025 Explorer adapts to all of it. Its Terrain Management System lets you switch between modes like “Normal,” “Trail,” “Snow/Sand,” and “Sport.” Pair that with available Intelligent 4WD and Hill Descent Control, and you’ve got the versatility to handle everything from soft sand to gravel switchbacks. Also, trailer sway control and up to 5,600 lbs. of towing capacity mean you can bring a lightweight teardrop camper or utility trailer if you’re hauling outdoor toys or extra gear. 5. Storage That Keeps You Ready for Anything You’ll be surprised how well the Explorer organizes road trip life. Here’s what helps: Underfloor storage in the rear cargo area keeps tools, emergency gear, or valuables out of sight. Tie-down hooks and a cargo management system help secure your gear when bouncing around on forest roads. Roof rails make mounting bikes, kayaks, or even a rooftop cargo box simple. With a total of 87.8 cu. ft. of cargo space, you’ll have room for tents, sleeping bags, food, and even your paddleboard. 6. Bonus Tip: Enjoy the Journey The national park circuit from Crater Lake to Yosemite is more than just destinations. It’s about winding roads through Oregon pines, misty coastal mornings, volcanic lakes, and high mountain passes. With the Explorer, your journey becomes part of the adventure: Pull over safely at scenic overlooks with confidence. Stream road trip playlists through a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system. Take breaks without scrambling to find food the wide console storage holds snacks, utensils, and travel mugs. Final Thoughts Whether you're a solo traveler or a family of explorers, the 2025 Ford Explorer is built to enhance every aspect of the road trip experience. From smart storage and advanced driving modes to creature comforts and connected tech, it’s the ultimate partner for your next national park adventure.

It’s a question we hear often: “Can you really take a long road trip in an electric vehicle?” For years, the assumption has been no or at least, not easily. Critics often pointed to limited range, scarce charging stations, and long charging times as reasons why electric vehicles (EVs) weren’t made for long-distance travel. But that mindset is quickly shifting, and for good reason. With vehicles like the 2025 Ford Mustang Mach-E, electric travel isn't just possible, it’s practical, exciting, and refreshingly convenient. As infrastructure improves and EV technology continues to evolve, the Mach-E is proving that road trips and electric vehicles go hand in hand. Here’s how this all-electric SUV makes every mile count, and why it might just be your best companion for your next open-road adventure. 320 Miles of Possibility Let’s kick things off with the numbers: the Mustang Mach-E can go up to 320 miles on a full charge. That’s more than enough to travel between major cities like Cincinnati and Nashville, or to spend an entire weekend exploring backroads and small towns without needing to plug in every few hours. What’s more, the Mach-E's intelligent regenerative braking system and overall energy efficiency help you squeeze more range out of every drive. Regenerative braking means the vehicle can recover energy typically lost during deceleration and reuse it to extend your trip. In practical terms, that means you can coast through city traffic or descend mountain roads while topping up your battery. It’s not just about the advertised range it’s how effectively the vehicle performs in real-world conditions. Planning Made Effortless In the past, planning a road trip often meant mapping out gas stations along the route and hoping for minimal delays. With an EV like the Mustang Mach-E, planning is smarter, easier, and more intuitive. Thanks to Ford’s built-in trip planning system and its partnership with the BlueOval™ Charge Network, the guesswork is gone. All you need to do is enter your destination, and the car’s system will chart the best route based on your current battery level, expected terrain, and even weather conditions. It highlights optimal charging points along the way factoring in speed, elevation, and expected energy consumption. Whether you’re heading through mountainous terrain or flat highways, the system adjusts dynamically, keeping your route efficient and stress-free. You no longer must be a logistics expert to take an EV on a long trip your car does the thinking for you. Recharge Without the Wait EV skeptics often point to long charge times, but the Mach-E shuts down that argument fast literally. With DC fast charging, the vehicle can add about 60 miles of range in just 10 minutes. So, while you take a breather, stretch, or grab that brisket sandwich from Buc-ees, your Mach-E is doing the same thing, getting recharged and ready for the next leg of the journey. Comfort Meets Function Let’s face it, comfort matters on long road trips. No one wants to be stuck in a cramped car for hours. Thankfully, the Mach-E offers a surprisingly spacious and well-thought-out interior that combines form and function. The cabin is roomy, modern, and minimalist, with plenty of legroom for both front and rear passengers, plus ample cargo space for your luggage, cooler, or camping gear. Features like heated seats, dual-zone climate control, and available panoramic glass roof make long drives feel more like scenic getaways than endurance tests. And when it comes to in-cabin entertainment and connectivity, the Mach-E has you covered with a massive 15.5-inch touchscreen, SYNC® 4A system, and wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™. Whether you’re navigating your playlist, checking traffic, or calling a friend, it’s all seamless and hands-free. In short: you’re not just driving you’re traveling in comfort and style. Tech That Drives with You Long road trips can be exhausting, especially on wide-open interstates or through hours of stop-and-go traffic. That’s where Ford BlueCruise comes in. This semi-autonomous driving technology allows for hands-free driving on pre-mapped highways, known as Hands-Free Blue Zones, giving you a break when you need it most. BlueCruise uses a combination of cameras, sensors, and real-time data to help keep you centered in your lane and safely distanced from the car ahead. It’s not about giving up control, it’s about having intelligent assistance that makes driving less tiring and more enjoyable. This is especially useful during those long stretches between destinations, when fatigue sets in. With BlueCruise, you stay alert and engaged, but your car shares the load, making those miles fly by. No Stress, All Electric Charging infrastructure has come a long way, especially with Ford’s growing support network. Whether you're headed through major cities or rural landscapes, the Mach-E helps eliminate range anxiety with smart software, reliable performance, and transparent trip planning. The result? You spend more time enjoying the view and less time worrying about your charge level. Why the Mustang Mach-E Works for Road Trips So why does the Mach-E work so well for long-distance travel? It’s not just the impressive range or fast charging. It’s the thoughtful integration of everything from driver-assist features to interior comfort, from trip planning tools to sustainable performance. This vehicle doesn’t just check the boxes; it redefines what long-distance travel can look like in an EV. It’s fun to drive, packed with tech, and it looks good doing it. More than anything, it’s proof that electric travel doesn’t have to feel like a compromise. With the Mustang Mach-E, it feels like an upgrade. Your Next Trip Could Be All-Electric So, if you’ve ever wondered whether an EV can handle your next vacation, weekend escape, or cross-country journey wonder no more. The 2025 Mustang Mach-E proves that electric road trips aren’t just viable, they’re better. They’re smoother, quieter, smarter, and more sustainable. And they offer an experience that goes beyond the ordinary. Whether you’re chasing sunsets down the coast or venturing off the beaten path, the road is wide open and this time, it’s electric. So go ahead plug in, plan out, and hit the road. Your adventure awaits.