Almost three years ago, Sam De La Garza was appointed to the position of Product Marketing Manager for the all-new Ford Fiesta. He is responsible for the development and implementation of the Ford Fiesta launch and its marketing.

As you might expect, Sam has a lot to say about the new Fiesta. Join him here on Tuesday, August 31, 2010, at 1:30 p.m. EST for a live chat.

Along with getting involved, Sam wanted to make sure the Fiesta launch team had a way of celebrating every success, so he started using a high-five as the rallying cry for Fiesta. In 2008, he even started a weekly meeting, “Bagels and B-Cars,” to keep the team up to date on the latest news about the segment.

“I love to see how people first react to the car, to get their first impressions,” he said. “They’re always blown away by how awesome it looks. When they get inside they are just as excited by the overall design of the interior.”

Sam was born in Raleigh, N.C., and grew up in West Bloomfield, Mich. He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Southern California, then went on to earn an MBA – with a marketing concentration – from Washington University in St. Louis.

A former officer in the U.S. Army, Sam was stationed at Fort Hood in Texas with the 1st Cavalry Division for four years. Prior to joining Ford in 2005, he served for three years in sales positions with an automotive finance company.

“For me, Ford’s culture has been all about empowerment,” observed Sam. “When mid-level managers are charged with making strategic decisions, it fosters an organization that reacts more quickly to competitive and market pressures. This positive culture has enabled us to deliver the Fiesta – a small car without compromise.”