JULIUS MARCHWICKI: ENDURANCE RUNNER BRINGS LESSONS FROM HIS SPORT INTO CONNECTIVITY JOB

• Julius Marchwicki, product manager, mobile application connectivity, is responsible for bringing the most popular mobile applications in use today to vehicles for customer use
• Marchwicki, an avid runner, takes the lessons he learns while hitting the pavement into the lab to work on new technologies
• A Chicago native, Marchwicki loves having the opportunity to work with innovative technology and some of the best technology companies in the industry

For Julius Marchwicki, it’s easy to draw parallels between his job and his favorite hobby. Ford’s product manager for mobile application connectivity, an endurance runner who has competed in four half-marathons, finds that his job is often like training for a race.

“To run in a marathon, you have to be committed to training every day,” explains Marchwicki. “In the world of consumer electronics, features like SYNC® require a similar commitment. It’s really easy to fall behind if you don’t keep working at it everyday. Both require a constant commitment to stay on top.”

Marchwicki has played an integral role in bringing Ford’s SYNC application programming interface (API) to life, which allows SYNC to harness the power of smart phones and mobile operating systems to bring applications to the vehicle environment.

“SYNC is a product that lets Ford keep up with the pace of the consumer electronics industry and mobile application industry. These APIs let Ford push forward in weeks instead of months, and it’s a completely flexible system that can drive Ford and other partners to bring features and functionality into the vehicle from the phone itself,” Marchwicki explained.

More than anything, Marchwicki saw a need for a technology that would fill a gap for customers. “A couple of years ago, we saw this explosive growth in mobile applications and smartphones – the phone became the ultimate device,” he said. “We wanted to develop a product that allowed customers to use those applications, integrated into a vehicle in a way that makes sense.”

Gadget guru
Even away from work, Marchwicki keeps up to date with the latest in technology. He owns an iPhone, which is his primary gadget, but relies heavily on his Suunto watch, a running computer that gives him real-time feedback on his heart rate, speed and distance during his training runs. He then downloads the data to his computer to chart his progress.

Besides running, Marchwicki keeps active by golfing – he claims he’s terrible, but has unlimited potential. He also plays ultimate Frisbee and enjoys being a part of the Detroit community, attending art shows, events and watching local bands perform.

Personal Insights and Fun Facts

• Julius is a diehard Northwestern football fan
• He’s fluent in Polish
• Julius will run his fifth half-marathon in April
• He has always loved Mustangs and owns a 2007 GT with the California Special package
• He received his bachelor’s in computer engineering from Northwestern University

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About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 200,000 employees and about 90 plants worldwide, the company’s automotive brands include Ford, Lincoln, Mercury and Volvo. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford’s products, please visit www.ford.com.

Jan. 7, 2010