Mary Westbrook, editor in chief, Floral Management
The Society of American Florists’ Floral Management magazine has a new top editor — someone who is very familiar to longtime readers.
Mary Westbrook was named the magazine’s editor in chief earlier this fall. Westbrook takes over from Kate Penn, SAF’s new CEO as of Nov. 1, following the retirement of longtime association head Peter Moran. Penn had been editor in chief of Floral Management since 1990.
Sheila Santiago, who joined SAF in 1992, also was promoted to director of publishing to better reflect her extensive contributions to SAF publications, including Floral Management and two of the association’s weekly newsletters.
Sheila Santiago, director of publishing
Westbrook joined SAF as a writer in 2003 and worked on the magazine staff, including as managing editor, until 2006. After working for other publications and earning her master’s degree in creative writing, she returned as a contributing writer in 2012 and later became the publication’s senior contributing editor.
“There was no doubt in my mind as to who the next editor of Floral Management should be —Mary Westbrook has been a mighty force on the magazine’s masthead for several years, not only writing the cover stories and some of our readers’ favorite columns, but also in influencing the topics we write about and how, exactly we approach our coverage,” said Penn. “She is also the lead editor of SAF’s popular Wednesday E-Brief, so she really has her finger on the pulse of what’s going on in the floral industry.”