Michael D. Day, Co-Founder

INVESTOR / BAMBOO ROD MAKER / PHILANTHROPIST / LAWYER / HUSBAND / FATHER

Michael is a paper asset investor and philanthropist with offices based in Avon, Connecticut. He invests in domestic and foreign securities. His philanthropic interests primarily concern mindfulness and environmental conservation.

In terms of mindfulness, he follows the works of Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, Martin Seligman and Cal Newport. The ability to focus one’s attention in an increasingly chaotic world, driven by technological communication, is becoming a rare quality. Yet, as the late Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi noted, “…attention is our most important tool in the task of improving the quality of experience.” (Flow, The Psychology of Optimal Experience.)

A staunch conservationist, Michael is particularly interested in cold-water streams and rivers, fish and birds. Michael fly fishes extensively throughout Connecticut’s four seasons, from humid summer afternoons to snow storms. During these excursions, he collects anecdotal evidence that he uses to guide conservation initiatives. He and his family live a short distance to the famed Farmington River and many of its tributaries. He has a particular interest in fishing these waterways. All of his fly fishing excursions provide Michael with just as many unique birding opportunities throughout Connecticut’s four seasons. 

Michael is the owner of Fly-By-Day, LLC, where makes split-cane (bamboo) fly rods. Each and every part of his rods are made from raw materials in his shop. Bamboo culms are split, baked and planed. All metal stock is machined and fabricated into rod components on a lathe and milling machine. Cork grips and reel seats are turned on a lathe. The result is a unique, heirloom quality piece of functional art and excels in specific fly fishing applications, from large rivers to small streams. With such customization, a single rod can take over one hundred of hours to complete. His rods are made available as charitable donations to organizations that support the philanthropic interests of The Day Project. Michael’s artistic roots and interests in working with his hands can be traced back to his mother, who was crafter and made beautiful knitted scarves and handbags.

Michael is also a lawyer and previously managed a team of attorneys engaged in state and federal litigation. He developed a national appellate practice and litigated cases on appeal before all CT appellate courts, multiple federal circuit courts and the US Supreme Court. He achieved the rare distinctions of being AV Preeminent® rated by Martindale-Hubbell® and chosen to Super Lawyers® by Thomson Reuters. These distinctions are bestowed on less than 5% of practicing attorneys.

The Day Project is Michael’s and his wife’s contribution to move humanity forward in the areas of environmental conservation, mental health, and major illness.