Board of Directors 2023-2025
President
Heather is first generation born in the United States. Her parents were both born and raised in Aberdeenshire, Scotland before moving to the States in their late 20s. She grew up surrounded by Scottish parents, aunts and grandparents, which led to her love of history. Heather has a BA in European history, MA in Museum Studies, certificates in non-profit management and leadership and is currently the executive director of a historical society in CA. She is a former Scottish step, highland and country dancer and has served as a commissioner and VP-West for Clan Farquharson. Heather is excited to see Clan Farquharson, USA move into a future that better supports its commissioners and welcomes its members.
Vice President West
Mike has been the Utah Commissioner since 2011. Before that he was a Highland Athlete and in 2009 was the C Class National Sheaf Toss Champion. He retired from throwing and became the Commissioner when his dad could no longer run the Clan tent. He is extremely proud of his Heritage and appreciates what his ancestors went through so that he might not only exist, but also where he exists.
Mike is very patriotic and loves football, hockey, rugby, golf and swimming. At work he manages a team of Blood Donor Recruiters for a local non-profit blood organization. His wife and he are both Paranormal Investigators and will talk ghosts with anyone willing to listen. He likes to cook, and attempted his own homemade Haggis recipe. His wife and he have just about perfected the Scotch Egg and she makes award-winning Short Bread Cookies. He served a 2-year church mission to Connecticut and Rhode Island where he learned to be outgoing, and how to approach people. He has been a socialite ever since.
Vice President East
Stuart was born (1952) and currently lives in Connecticut. He has also lived in NY, TX, MI, IN, and CA. Stuart has been a CFUSA Commissioner and/or Vice President since 1997.
He descends from William Farquharson (b. ~1740) and Anna Mason (married 1762) Aberdeenshire. Four of his great-great grandsons (brothers) and their mother immigrated to New England in ~1890 from St. Andrews. Their grandfather, James, and several generations of his descendants are buried in St. Andrews Cathedral Cemetery (16 people from 1793 to 1950). His wife Susan (nee Wilson of the Gunn Clan) and he have been fortunate to have visited Braemar and our late Chief Alwyne Compton Farquharson several times over the last 30 years, thanks to his father’s initiating a correspondence in the 1960s.
He has written one book “The Jacobite Rising of 1715 – A Clan Farquharson Perspective”, and is in the process of writing “The Jacobite Rising of 1745 – A Clan Farquharson Perspective” as suggested by our late Chief. He also wrote a number of short stories for The Cairn (CFUSA Quarterly Newsletter) from 1998 to 2005. Stuart also has a PhD Chemistry: University of Texas. Faculty positions: Abilene Christian U, Michigan State U, Purdue U. DoD Contractor: Chem-Bio Analyzers and Medical Devices (Two current contracts are keeping me from retiring.) He has published over 150 scientific articles including one in Science (the #1 scientific journal), one with Nobel Laureate Henry Tauby, one with Priestly Winner F. Albert Cotton, and one with Stephen A. Morse, lead investigator for the CDC regarding the 2001 anthrax attacks.
Stuart was fortunate to have been trained by Olympic Diving Coach Phil Moriarty and Olympic Gymnastics Coach Abie Grossfeld, which led to a verbal invitation to try out for 1980 USA Diving Team. He won 3 gold medals for Team USA Ultimate Frisbee Team, and one National Championship in Ultimate Frisbee with Boston Team (The latter is harder to achieve, yet my wife won 5!).
He has had a privileged life, but by no means did he have a privileged upbringing. All of his family and relatives are blue collar tradesmen, many serving in the military. He paid for all of his education with money earned as a carpenter, beginning at age 13.
Secretary
Colin has been the Central Florida Commissioner of CFUSA since 2017. He sets up a Clan tent at the Central Florida Highland Games and Mount Dora Scottish Festival each year and hopes to do more in the future. He is from Glasgow originally and has lobbied hard over the past few years for the Clan to move forward into a more productive future.
Treasurer
John started his journey with Clan Farquharson as many have by genealogy and research. John has served CFUK as the Editor of the Lionsface newsletter and as a committee member.In 2022 at the CFUK AGM in Ballater, John was appointed the Lieutenant to the Chief of Clan Farquharson for North America, by Philip Farquharson of Invercauld and Monaltrie and serves as a Invercauld Highlander.John is a US Navy, US Army Veteran and has served in the Persian Gulf and Afghanistan. John has a Bachelors degree in Business Administration from Indiana Wesleyan University and worked in railroad management for the last 15 years.
Lieutenant to the Chief
John started his journey with Clan Farquharson as many have by genealogy and research. John has served CFUK as the Editor of the Lionsface newsletter and as a committee member.In 2022 at the CFUK AGM in Ballater, John was appointed the Lieutenant to the Chief of Clan Farquharson for North America, by Philip Farquharson of Invercauld and Monaltrie and serves as a Invercauld Highlander.John is a US Navy, US Army Veteran and has served in the Persian Gulf and Afghanistan. John has a Bachelors degree in Business Administration from Indiana Wesleyan University and worked in railroad management for the last 15 years.
Newsletter Editor
Colin has been the Central Florida Commissioner of CFUSA since 2017. He sets up a Clan tent at the Central Florida Highland Games and Mount Dora Scottish Festival each year and hopes to do more in the future. He is from Glasgow originally and has lobbied hard over the past few years for the Clan to move forward into a more productive future.
Website & Social Media Chair
William Guy Finley spent most of his life thinking his family was Irish. After a Masonic historian emailed him about the “family plot” he had no idea existed, he started putting the pieces of his family history together. Guy traces his family back to Alexander Findlay, one of the first settlers in DuPage County, Illinois, by way of Boston out of Belfast in 1821. By trade, he runs his digital marketing and creative agency WTG, specializes in small local business marketing strategy, and is also an avid photographer and licensed drone pilot. Guy also volunteers with several non-profits, including acting and directing for a community theatre he’s been a part of most of his life and where he met his wife, Jane. Jane and Guy each have a grown child and live with their two dogs in Elkhorn, Wisconsin.
Membership Chair
Jim is the Commissioner for the great state of Oklahoma! He is a Finlay by blood, Camp being an adoptive name of his paternal grandfather. His uncle, Calvin Camp, and he have been running their Clan Farquharson tent at the Highland Games and festivals across the state, for two years. They hope to grow our membership across Oklahoma and surrounding states. Jim is an RN in Anadarko, OK, has been married to his beautiful wife, Stacy, for thirty years and has four awesome children.
Western USA Commissioner
Mike has been the Utah Commissioner since 2011. Before that he was a Highland Athlete and in 2009 was the C Class National Sheaf Toss Champion. He retired from throwing and became the Commisioner when his dad could no longer run the Clan tent. He is extremely proud of his Heritage and appreciates what his ancestors went through so that he might not only exist, but also where he exists.
Mike is very patriotic and loves football, hockey, rugby, golf and swimming. At work he manages a team of Blood Donor Recruiters for a local non-profit blood organization. He spent many years as an Official for USA Swimming and now officiates at the High School swim level. His wife and he are both Paranormal Investigators and will talk ghosts with anyone willing to listen. He likes to cook, attempted his own homemade Haggis recipe. His wife and he have just about perfected the Scotch Egg and she makes award-winning Short Bread Cookies. He served a 2-year church mission to Connecticut and Rhode Island where he learned to be outgoing, and how to approach people. He has been a socialite ever since.Mike has been the Utah Commissioner since 2011. Before that he was a Highland Athlete and in 2009 was the C Class National Sheaf Toss Champion. He retired from throwing and became the Commissioner when his dad could no longer run the Clan tent. He is extremely proud of his Heritage and appreciates what his ancestors went through so that he might not only exist, but also where he exists.
Mike is very patriotic and loves football, hockey, rugby, golf and swimming. At work he manages a team of Blood Donor Recruiters for a local non-profit blood organization. He spent many years as an Official for USA Swimming and now officiates at the High School swim level. His wife and he are both Paranormal Investigators and will talk ghosts with anyone willing to listen. He likes to cook, and attempted his own homemade Haggis recipe. His wife and he have just about perfected the Scotch Egg and she makes award-winning Short Bread Cookies. He served a 2-year church mission to Connecticut and Rhode Island where he learned to be outgoing, and how to approach people. He has been a socialite ever since.
Western USA Commissioner
Carried acquired her commissioner status from past president Jim McKeehan. She has enjoyed bringing her daughter up to know her heritage and helping others learn about all things Scotland. Carrie’s husband loves manning the tent as much as she does. Carrie also enjoys riding horses.
Western USA Commissioner
Kimberly and Christopher have been Idaho Commissioners since 2022 and have help from their young son, Tore. They all have Scottish ancestry, but her husband and son are mostly Scottish. They visited Scotland on their honeymoon and loved everything about it. Christopher is a diesel mechanic and Kimberly is a disabled veteran and stay at home mom. She has a BA in Art History and is an artist, which she plans to pick back up when her son goes to school. They love to camp, fish, ATV ride, garden, and enjoy breweries, wineries, and good food. They also brew beer and make their own wine from grapes they grow. They are new to convening, but plan on being at the games in Nampa and Boise. They hope to expand to Parma, Payette, and Mountain Home in the future.
Central USA Commissioner
Pat has been the Ohio Commissioner since 2019. While COVID put a big dent in his plans for the state games and members, he is eager to get things rolling! He is descended from the Coutts sept through his great-grandfather Alexander Coutts. He lives in Cleveland with his two daughters Charlotte and Lucy, their dog Pooka, and their cats Madeline and Louise. If you’re in the Ohio/PA area and wish to help at any of the games, please reach out!
Central USA Commissioner
Since 2019 Richard has had the distinct honor of representing our noble Clan as Commissioner for the Great State of Texas. While growing up listening to stories of our history from his beloved great-grandmother, Lillie Finley Warner, a deep and perpetual sense of pride for our ancient line was instilled in him. From tales of the 1745 rebellion onward, our clan has lived up to its motto: “Fide et Fortitudine”. By faith and Fortitude. Fast forward to the present, and our clan has stretched beyond the seas. But holding onto those most core of values, he is confident we will continue our incomparable legacy for centuries to come.
Central USA Commissioner
Lexi is the commissioner for Kansas and Missouri and lives in the Kansas City area. Her mother’s maiden name is Farquhar, and through her, she ahs traced her roots to Scotland. Lexi joined Clan Farquharson as a commissioner after a trip to Scotland in 2018. There she visited Braemar Castle and learned so much about our clan history. Though she joined the clan at the start of COVID when games were canceled across the country, she looks forward to finally bringing Clan Farquharson further into the midwest around the Kansas City area.
Eastern USA Commissioner
Stuart was born (1952) and currently lives in Connecticut. He has also lived in NY, TX, MI, IN, and CA. Stuart has been a CFUSA Commissioner and/or Vice President since 1997.
He descends from William Farquharson (b. ~1740) and Anna Mason (married 1762) Aberdeenshire. Four of his great-great grandsons (brothers) and their mother immigrated to New England in ~1890 from St. Andrews. Their grandfather, James, and several generations of his descendants are buried in St. Andrews Cathedral Cemetery (16 people from 1793 to 1950). His wife Susan (nee Wilson of the Gunn Clan) and he have been fortunate to have visited Braemar and our late Chief Alwyne Compton Farquharson several times over the last 30 years, thanks to his father’s initiating a correspondence in the 1960s.
He has written one book “The Jacobite Rising of 1715 – A Clan Farquharson Perspective”, and is in the process of writing “The Jacobite Rising of 1745 – A Clan Farquharson Perspective” as suggested by our late Chief. He also wrote a number of short stories for The Cairn (CFUSA Quarterly Newsletter) from 1998 to 2005. Stuart also has a PhD Chemistry: University of Texas. Faculty positions: Abilene Christian U, Michigan State U, Purdue U. DoD Contractor: Chem-Bio Analyzers and Medical Devices (Two current contracts are keeping me from retiring.) He has published over 150 scientific articles including one in Science (the #1 scientific journal), one with Nobel Laureate Henry Tauby, one with Priestly Winner F. Albert Cotton, and one with Stephen A. Morse, lead investigator for the CDC regarding the 2001 anthrax attacks.
Stuart was fortunate to have been trained by Olympic Diving Coach Phil Moriarty and Olympic Gymnastics Coach Abie Grossfeld, which led to a verbal invitation to try out for 1980 USA Diving Team. He won 3 gold medals for Team USA Ultimate Frisbee Team, and one National Championship in Ultimate Frisbee with Boston Team (The latter is harder to achieve, yet my wife won 5!).
He has had a privileged life, but by no means did he have a privileged upbringing. All of his family and relatives are blue collar tradesmen, many serving in the military. He paid for all of his education with money earned as a carpenter, beginning at age 13.
Eastern USA Commissioner
Colin has been the Central Florida Commissioner of CFUSA since 2017. He sets up a Clan tent at the Central Florida Highland Games and Mount Dora Scottish Festival each year and hopes to do more in the future. He is from Glasgow originally and has lobbied hard over the past few years for the Clan to move forward into a more productive future.
Eastern USA Commissioner
Hello, I am C.A. Wortley, the North East Commissioner. I joined Clan Farquharson USA in 1987 and became the Commissioner in 1995. At that time, I was a full-time performer on the touring festival circuit, traveling as far as Oklahoma, Florida, and Scotland to perform at Highland Games and Celtic Festivals. During the New England summers, I would also attend nearby games with the clan tent in tow. I often juggled between playing music on stage with my Martin D28 guitar and representing the Farquharson clan on clan row.
However, after September 2001, the tours stopped, and I spent my time running a small kilt shop in rural western Maine and working in law enforcement. In 2006, I went to a lonely mountain to record, write, and search for the meaning of life. After several years of not finding it, I returned to Portland with my studio and held various interesting jobs. I even teamed up with an old friend from Ireland to play at pubs. The last ten years of my working life were spent supervising a security team serving cruise ships at the Port of Portland.
Nowadays, I spend my time split between protecting cathedrals, recording audio and video, puppeteering with Punch & Judy puppets, playing with British model trains, and serenading anyone who wants to listen with my Irish Bouzouki on a bench in the Old Port. And of course, I’m back to traveling with the “wee Farquharson tent” to as many Highland Games as possible.
Eastern USA Member
John Finlay lives in Morristown, NJ with his wife and 3 children. He has always been interested in his Scottish heritage, an interest that’s been passed down for generations. In 2018 his wife and he made the pilgrimage to Braemar, where he signed the Clan guestbook, and hiked the Invercauld Estate. He plans to get back in the next few years and bring the family to witness the Braemar gathering and games.
Stateside, he has attended the Tartan Day parade in NYC several times, the last few wearing his Farquharson kilt. Sadly, they stopped holding the Bonnie Brae games in NJ, and he has not made the trek to the CT games, which are next closest.
Committees
Executive
President, VP-West, VP-East, Secretary, Treasurer
Nominating
President, VP-West, VP-East, Membership Chair, Commissioner Representative, Member Representative
Finance
President, Treasurer, Membership Chair, Commissioner Representative
Communications
President, VP-West, VP-East, Secretary, Treasurer
Membership
President, VP-West, VP-East, Membership Chair, Commissioner Representative, Member Representative
Development
President, Treasurer, Membership Chair, Commissioner Representative
Community Education
President, Treasurer, Membership Chair, Commissioner Representative