Marshall Manley

Born in 1940, Marshall Manley lived with his parents and an uncle behind their candy store in Newark, New Jersey. They moved to Brooklyn when Manley was two, after his father found work as a machinist. When he was old enough, Manley helped his family by shining shoes on the Brighton Beach boardwalk. Later, he sold ices from a pushcart and held many other jobs, including delivering buttons in New York's garment district.

Even though his parents never completed high school, education was a priority in Manley's life. He attended Stuyvesant High School in Manhattan and then Brooklyn College. From there, he went on to earn a law degree from New York University. He joined a law firm in California and was made a partner within five years. He next joined the law firm of Manatt Phelps Rothenberg Manley & Tunney as a senior partner. Within six years, he helped enlarge the firm from 6 attorneys to 60.

In 1978, Manley joined the New York law firm of Finley, Kumble and built its California operations from one attorney to 175 by 1985. Manley became co-managing partner of the firm, which by then employed 800 lawyers. In 1985, he joined City Investing Company as president and CEO in order to liquidate the $8 billion manufacturing, services, and financial conglomerate.

When the liquidation was finished, Manley became president and chief operating officer of The Home Group, Inc. and chairman of its financially troubled subsidiary, Home Insurance Company. Within one year, Manley took Home Insurance from $280 million in losses to $230 million in profits, later becoming CEO. In 1991, he sold The Home Group for $1 billion and set up M82 Group LLC, a private investment banking and consulting service.

Throughout his business career, Manley has adhered to the values he learned as a youth. "It is important in all matters to be honest," he says. "Don't get carried away by your own psychology. On the other hand, be sensitive to other people's points of view. However, when you decide that your idea is intellectually correct, move forward and see the job to its conclusion."

Of his Horatio Alger Award, Manley says, "It tells me how lucky I was. It gives me a better appreciation of getting the most out of life and doing the most I can for those in need."