Alumni Awards - Young Alumni Achievement Award — Mike Farquhar ’94
Mike Farquhar, a 1994 Central College graduate, is the young alumni achievement award winner, designed for an alumnus who has graduated from Central College in the last 15 years and has demonstrated significant professional and personal accomplishments since graduation.
Mike earned a B.A. in accounting, obtained his CPA certificate and worked for KPMG Peat Marwick in Des Moines before joining Pella Corporation in 1995. His Pella Corporation career is comprised of many roles including responsibilities in finance, corporate development, manufacturing and marketing. As director of operations, he was responsible for the assembly and supply plants at the Pella site, as well as the custom product manufacturing plant in Shenandoah, Iowa. In 2005, Mike was named General Manager of Pella’s Architect Series® Business Unit. In that role he managed all aspects of one of Pella’s major product lines, including product planning and development, engineering, marketing, brand development and finance.
A year ago, Mike was named to the position of President and Chief Operating Officer (COO) of EFCO, a Pella Company, in Monett, Mo. EFCO is an industry-leading manufacturer of windows, doors, storefronts and curtain wall products for the commercial market. As EFCO President and COO, Mike has responsibility for all functional areas of the EFCO business including manufacturing, sales, marketing, customer service, engineering, information technology, finance and human resources.
While living in Pella for 17 years, Mike contributed to the community through numerous volunteer activities. He was a volunteer EMT and coached youth soccer, baseball and football. He served on the strategic planning committee of the Pella Christian Opportunity Center and was on the board and served as treasurer for the Pella Community Day Care. He was also a member of the Pella Christian Grade School finance committee. He was an active member in his church and a teacher in its children’s ministry.
At Central College, Mike serves on Central’s National Advisory Council, Economics/Accounting/Management department advisory council and volunteers as a student mentor. A former president’s associates member, Mike and wife Wendi ’95 also have been generous financial contributors to the college and are members of the cornerstone society.
