The Arizona Beta Chapter of
Sigma Phi Epsilon
The University of Arizona
Michael was initiated into Sigma Phi Epsilon in 1963 and graduated from University of Arizona with a BS in 1967. He then went on to receive his C.L.U. at American College of Life Underwriters in 1972.
Brother Farley is President of Farley & Associates, Inc. (F&A), a company that provides financing and strategic business plans for small and medium size client companies. F&A and Brother Farley personally provide seed capital and help raise both debt and equity capital for the client companies. He also takes an active management role and serves as an officer and board member of the client companies.
Over the past 25 years, Brother Farley was involved with the first regional paging company that developed a system from Boston down through Norfolk, Virginia. Eventually the company was acquired by a public company. In subsequent years, F&A provided assistance to a telecommunications company that provided towers for cellular phone companies and paging companies. Several years later, F&A became involved in raising capital for Internet start-up companies of which one became a public entity. There have been numerous other ventures, one of which is a real estate holding company that has entitled a piece of property that will eventually become a regional shopping center.
In 1988, Brother Farley served as Director of Communications for George H.W. Bush for President at the Republican National Convention. His responsibilities included installation of all telephone systems, radio networks, paging equipment, and office equipment and supplies. Installation and setup included both the Superdome and the headquarters hotel for all offices and other facilities used by the George Bush for President staff. He recruited, trained and supervised volunteers that assisted at the Republican National Convention.
In January of 1981, Brother Farley was appointed Director of Advance, Office of Vice President George H.W. Bush, The White House, Washington, D.C. As a member of the Vice President’s senior staff, he directed logistical planning of the Vice President’s domestic and international travel. His responsibilities included organizing a national group of 300 volunteer advancemen and directing their activities with regard to the planning and scheduling of a Vice Presidential visit. Brother Farley directed and coordinated all contact with local citizens groups, local, state and U.S. governmental and political officials, and worked with the national news media. On international trips, his responsibilities included all contact with foreign officials and U.S. Embassy and State Department personnel. He directed the implementation of all plans by traveling with the Vice President on all domestic and international trips. (Brother Farley returned to Arizona in July of 1982.)
Brother Farley started his business career in 1969 as a specialist in family and business insurance planning with particular expertise in estate and income tax planning and business continuation planning for small to medium size businesses in Arizona, California, Louisiana and Texas. He also was a Co-General Partner and organized and sold shares in fifteen real estate syndications in Arizona. In addition, he served as a volunteer advanceman for the Reagan/Bush Committee, the George Bush for President Committee and President Gerald R. Ford.
Brother Farley has, during his career, served on numerous boards: Appointed by Governor Janice K. Brewer as a Member of the Arizona State Liquor Board for a three year term beginning January 2010; Appointed by President George H.W. Bush as a Member of the Advisory Committee on the Arts for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts; Member, Policy Forum, National Center for Research in Vocational Education; Appointed by President Ronald Reagan as Chairman of the National Council on Vocational/Education; Member, Arizona State Board of Vocational/Technical Education; Board of Trustees, Foundation for St. Joseph’s Hospital; Member, National Finance Committee, George Bush for President; Member, National Steering Committee, George Bush for President; Arizona Co-Chairman for Finance, George Bush for President; Member, Southern Arizona Association of Life Underwriters; Member, National Association of Life Underwriters; Member, Million Dollar Roundtable; Treasurer, Parents for St. Michael’s School, Tucson, Arizona; and Member, Board of Directors of the University of Arizona Foundation.
He is married to Sally and together they have three daughters and six grandchildren.