The vast midwestern prairie expanding in every direction for miles and miles is a far cry from the one-lane Maui roads that loop the Valley Isle. However it is a road of opportunity and growth for the Maui Prep graduate who is now helping power one of Ford’s top-performing regions.

Cruising the Lower Road

Olivia Bozich and her family, parents Jim and Dana, and younger brother Carter ’24, joined the Maui Prep ‘ohana in 2014. Originally from just outside of Chicago, the Bozichs had planned for their time on Maui to be temporary: just a few school years before returning to Illinois for Olivia’s high school years. However, after just one semester back on the mainland, the family realized how much they missed island life. They returned to Lahaina, where Olivia had already made a strong impression both in and out of the classroom.

At Maui Prep, Olivia was an accomplished student-athlete. She swam competitively for both Maui Prep and Lahaina Swim Club-remaining part of a record-holding Pueo relay team to this day–and also ran cross country and track, qualifying for state competition. She served as Student Senate President during her senior year and was active in the National Honor Society and Interact Club.

As a member of the Class of 2020, Olivia saw her senior year cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic. Thanks to the swift action and creativity of the Maui Prep administration, however, she and her classmates were still able to enjoy an in-person Prom and Commencement ceremony in late July, before the students began their college experiences. Those two capstones to an abbreviated senior year remain legendary in school history; Prom ended just hours before Hurricane Douglas was expected to skirt north of the Hawaiian Islands, and Commencement wrapped just hours before reduced Maui County gathering limits took effect due to a spread in coronavirus cases (See "A Corona-Commencement" on page 17).

Olivia credits Maui Prep’s close-knit student-teacher relationships and leadership opportunities among peers for the smooth transition she’s made from high school to college and into the corporate world. “The small student-to-teacher ratio at Maui Prep really impacts your learning and how you approach being a student,” Olivia mentions. “For example, in my AP US History class [taught by Dr. Liz Turcik], there were only eight of us. It allowed for smaller, meaningful discussions — not large lecture-style classes.”

The intimate classroom setting gave her the confidence to speak up and share her insights. “Also, it prepared us to deal with different personalities since we saw the same people every day,” she jokes.

Now into her professional journey, Olivia finds herself regularly drawing on the skills she developed at Maui Prep—especially those that once seemed minor. She points to the school’s annual student-led conferences, held each May, as formative for her growth in professional settings. “I hated them back then,” she recalls. “But you’re basically leading a meeting with your parents and teachers, creating an agenda, following through — that was huge for my confidence.”

And even the island’s ecosystem played a role in shaping her worldview and appreciation for unique learning experiences. “We went snorkeling at Honolua Bay — not your typical science field trip.”

Shifting Gears in Madison

Olivia set her sights on the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where she matriculated in fall 2020. Freshman year was far from traditional with post-COVID protocols in place on campus, including all online classes, dorm visitor restrictions, and scheduled dining times. But she embraced the challenge, undaunted by life among 35,000 undergraduate classmates. “I was ready to push myself and be in a faster-paced environment.”

A natural storyteller and sports enthusiast, she majored in journalism and communications and landed a coveted on-campus job as a Brand Communications Assistant for Badger Athletics. Over the next three years, Olivia immersed herself in the world of collegiate athletics—planning and posting content on UW's official social media, writing recaps for the university’s main sports website, managing event logistics, and assisting visiting teams in sports ranging from basketball to swimming to women’s volleyball. “Going to Wisconsin was the best decision I ever made. I loved every minute.”

Her time in Madison sharpened her skills in public relations, customer service, planning, and communications—all of which would become invaluable in her next step.

A New Lane at Ford

Despite vowing to avoid the automotive industry—partly to differentiate from her dad’s career—Olivia applied for a position at Ford Motor Company. “He told me, ‘Just apply. You don’t have to be a business major. Give it a shot.’”

It paid off.

Now an Ownership Zone Manager for Ford Motor Company, Olivia oversees 13 dealerships across Eastern Oklahoma, North Texas, and Western Oklahoma—a zone anchored by Tulsa and Oklahoma City. 

Based in Dallas, she spends the bulk of her workweek on the road, meeting with store owners and managers to consult on how to boost revenue, streamline operations, meet performance targets, and fully leverage Ford’s national programs.

Olivia serves as a liaison between the corporate office and the dealerships—bringing top-down goals to life on the ground.  Olivia is able to work from her home a few days each work, planning for programs and assignments from the the top executives in Dearborn that help owners preserve brand trust and reliability. Her corporate managers also supply her with a scorecard that allows her to set and track company and regional goals. Olivia’s brand management experience at Wisconsin has also carried over into her new position as she offers insight into her stores’ public and customer relations.

 

“The challenge is that we’re recent grads, and the owners know that,” she shares. “Many of the management teams have been doing this probably longer than we’ve been alive.” Being young—and often the only woman in the room—has presented challenges, but Olivia is undeterred. “Just being in the store, showing that I care — that’s how I earn their respect.” Olivia certainly has her work cut out for her as her region is the top-performing sales region among the country’s 21 regions, thanks largely in part to the region's affinity for Ford’s popular F-150 truck. 

As Olivia reflects on her days roaming the Maui Prep campus, she would not change much about the experience that laid the foundation for her success today. “Looking back, I wish I had taken more time to just enjoy the moment instead of always worrying about the next thing,” she offers to the Maui Prep students who are navigating the same challenges and experiences she faced six years ago. “Honestly, if someone told me a year ago I’d be going to Oklahoma every week, I would have thought they were crazy. So, keep your mind open, and don’t stress too much — things will work out.”

The Road Ahead

From her early days on the Lower Road to life on the fast lane with Ford, Olivia’s journey has been anything but ordinary. And she’s not done yet. With an eye on pursuing an MBA in the future and a growing foundation in corporate strategy and regional consulting, Olivia Bozich ’20 continues to chart her own course—powered by drive, perspective, and the roots she planted at Maui Prep.