TRANSIT CONNECT WINNER: DUMMIES ON THE RUN

Image via WikipediaDon’t let the name fool you. Jerry Buffman, owner of Dummies on the Run in Ann Arbor, Mich., is actually one smart cookie. She knew that Ford’s Transit Connect was the perfect vehicle for her mobile cardiopulmonary resuscitation and first-aid instruction company the moment she saw it. Now, she couldn’t be more excited to own one.

Buffman is one of five grand prize winners in Ford’s Connect with Connect contest. Winners will receive a customized Transit Connect, the versatile new van that debuts in February at the Chicago Auto Show. With a cargo capacity of 143 cu. ft., compact maneuverability, and efficient 19 mpg city and 24 mpg highway, it’s the perfect vehicle for small businesses on the go.

That description fits Buffman’s company to a T, she said, because all of her classes are on-site—whether the venue is a child care center or assisted living facility. She needs to pack everything necessary for a class—including breathing shields, books, and bandages—along with bulky duffel bags filled with CPR dummies.

She’s adamant that her students have the opportunity and the resources to learn—no matter what type of personal challenges that represents.

“One unique aspect of my business is I don’t like putting anyone on the spot,” she said. “So I use one dummy per person so they can concentrate on learning the skills and not worry about someone watching them. Most of my classes are about 20 students, so I’m packing 20 dummies right there. And if I’m teaching infant CPR, that’s two dummies—an infant and adult—per person. I walk in that room with so many bags hanging off me I look like a pack horse. But that’s OK.”

So she needs space. And she needs it organized. The Transit Connect, she said, is a perfect solution.

“Right now, I’m just cramming everything in,” she said. “And that’s not good, because if you get to a class and you find out your package of breathing shields is empty, you panic. With the Transit Connect, there’ll be more room, easier loading—I can carry more inventory, so if I need something, it’ll be right there. It just has so much potential.”