Klingler College of Arts and Sciences Recipients
Entrepreneurial Award
MISSY FARREN, ARTS '82
New Rochelle, N.Y.
“Do what you love, and love what you do” is Missy’s formula for success. Day in and day out, she creates a highly sought-after, results-driven public relations and marketing agency that melds her passions and experience in the travel and hospitality, consumer products, and sports worlds.
Missy Farren & Associates Ltd. was born in 1994 after Missy’s work as vice president of marketing for Swatch USA, where she resurrected the waning watch brand. Success paved the way for Missy to form the type of PR agency she always sought: one in which motivated people who develop creative, smart ideas not only make a meaningful difference for clients but have fun along the way.
Missy’s formula makes her and the agency adept at putting clients on the map and influencing consumer decisions. From launching Olympic campaigns and promoting athletes to marketing recreation brands and some of the world’s finest travel destinations, Mfa is a name respected by big names such as Olympian Shaun White, Burton Snowboards and Disneyland. In addition to its campaign owing to the Cayman Islands’ resurgence after Hurricane Ivan, the agency has worked with nonprofits, including the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.
No matter who the client or extent of the workload, Missy always finds time to serve her community. A supporter of programs for the Coalition for the Homeless and stoked.org, Mfa has increased its work with these organizations in the wake of Super Storm Sandy, helping support storm clean-up and developing a “Thanks for Giving” campaign last fall to make the holidays brighter for storm victims.
In 2012, Mfa was named one of Outside Magazine’s Best Places to Work — an honor Missy earned through a formula that drives her success.
Get to Know: Missy Farren
Hometown: Larchmont, N.Y.
Favorite book: Time and Again by Jack Finney
Someone past or present she’d like to have dinner with: Bruce Springsteen
In grade school Missy wanted to be a lawyer or a TV news show anchor.
Most influential in Missy’s life: Her mother Mary T. Farren, she is strong, kind, smart and funny.
