Since 1994, the Ford-employees African Ancestry Network (FAAN) has served as a resource to employees of African ancestry at Ford Motor Co.
The group, launched by Ronald Goldsberry, then a vice president with Ford, was aimed at mentoring and training younger employees to move up the ranks at Ford.

“FAAN started as a dream in 1989,” said Steve Lewis, chair of FAAN. “Ronald Goldsberry wanted to make sure senior managers were providing leadership training through mentorship to make sure young African American employees had the benefit of mentorship, training and leadership development to become better employees, thus as opportunities arose they would be considered for more senior opportunities.”

FAAN, which has a member base of nearly 2,500 employees within Ford Motor Co., is the largest employee resource group within the company. However, Lewis said, FAAN still ensures that the organization focuses on increasing vehicle sales for the manufacturer.

“We have functional director of marketing, finance, purchasing and product development, and that allows us to really touch the employees at a much closer basis,” said Lewis. “Those functional leaders understand the core competition and as the leader in the organization they can assist in training and development in those areas. We make sure that we are strategically focused on vehicle sales in the African American market.

“We focus on the community. There are certain programming that we can do through Ford Motor Co. such as the NAACP Career Day where the young people can learn about better establishing their career and various opportunities, take advantage of training and seminars to make sure they are focused and are getting the things they need to be successful.”

Additionally, FAAN is involved in the Detroit Area College Engineering Program (DAPCEP) where youth who are interested in the science can learn about the opportunities and benefits of science and math.”

FAAN has partnered with various organizations including the National Black MBA Association and the National Association of Black Engineers.
One of the organization’s signature events is the annual Black History Month Celebration, this year honoring Smokey Robinson.

The event will be held on Friday, Feb. 29, at the Ford Conference and Event Center in Dearborn. The VIP reception will be held from 5 to 6 p.m.; the award presentation and keynote address will be from 6 to 7:30 p.m.; strolling supper and cash bar from 7:30 to 9 p.m.; and an afterglow from 9 p.m. to midnight.

The 2008 theme is “Cruising with FAAN: Music, Motown and Ford.” Songstress Ortheia Barnes and poet Naomi Long-Madgett will receive the Heritage Award. The Community Service Award will be presented to Aaron Dworkin, founder and president of the Sphinx Organization, and jazz saxophonist Randy Scott. Scott is also a teacher at Birney Middle School in Southfield. Aretha Franklin will receive the Special Recognition Award, the second in the event’s 27-year history. The late Coretta Scott King received the first award.

For more information, contact Alicia Woods at (313) 317-9224 or visit http://faan2008bhmcelebration.eventbrite.com.