Quentin Farley – Star City Six

The Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC; ptac.unomaha.edu) is part of the Nebraska Business Development Center (NBDC), based at the University of Nebraska – Omaha. Quentin Farley, CPP, CVC is a consultant at NBDC PTAC.

Tell us a little about your business.

My office is in Lincoln and my service area is the southeast seventeen counties in Nebraska. The mission of PTAC is to assist businesses who are interested in expanding their business in the government marketplace. I provide one-on-one, confidential counseling to assist with registrations, market research, solicitation review and marketing strategies for federal, state, and local government contracting. Since my position is funded by state and federal governments, there is no charge for my services.

How did you get started in the business?

After spending over 30 years in the marketing communications business, I was looking to do something different. The position with NBDC PTAC was recommended to me by a career counselor who thought the requirements of the position fit my traits. I was a little hesitant at first, given all the regulations, registrations, processes, and procedures involved, but great training opportunities were provided by NBDC. I have completed the two years of required courses and counseling to become a Certified Procurement Professional (CPP) and love working with small business!

Tell us a little about your family.

My wife and I have been married over 33 years. We have two children and two granddaughters who all live in Lincoln. I grew up in southeast Nebraska and have 10 siblings, most of whom still live in the area.

What is your favorite thing to do on a day off?

I love watching documentaries, going to the Durham Museum for lectures, working on family history, and spoiling my granddaughters.

What is the most unique or interesting thing about you that most people probably don’t know?

My great grandfather used to play cards with Jesse James.

Who inspires you?

Mike Kneale. Mike’s second career was in motivational speaking and I had the great pleasure of working with him in creating his video series on leadership. Many years after we had worked together, he would visit me after checkups with his oncologist. I would always try and steer the conversation about him and his family but he would always turn it around to be about me and build me up as an individual. He was such a positive influence in many lives.

If you could choose only one descriptive word to be remembered as, what would it be?

Trusted.

What is your favorite book or the last good book you read?

Empire on the Platte by Richard Crabb. It is a fascinating book on the conflict between open range ranchers and farm settlers in the late 1800s. The book is based on a true story in Nebraska.

What is your favorite movie?

The Wrecking Crew. It is a fun documentary on a group of studio musicians that were the driving force behind many of the hit songs in the 60s and 70s.

What is your favorite TV show?

American Experience on PBS.

What is your favorite local restaurant?

El Toro. They have great Mexican food and Pablo makes the best blue margarita in town!

If you could have dinner with one famous person from the past or present, who would it be?

Loving history as much as I do, I would say Thomas Jefferson. He was a very intelligent, complex, and contradictory individual.

If our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so?

Phone: (402) 4752-1177; Email: qfarley@unomaha.edu; Website: ptac.unomaha.edu.