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74 Expert Speakers and Panelists to Share Strategies at SAF Palm Springs 2018

by | Aug 29, 2018 | Floral Industry News | 0 comments

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By Anne Holub
The countdown is on. In just two weeks, 74 speakers and expert panelists will share strategies and tactics drawn from both the floral industry and outside areas during SAF Palm Springs 2018, the Society of American Florists’ 134th annual convention. The event kicks off Sept. 12 at the Westin Mission Hills in Rancho Mirage, California with a total of 51 educational sessions and exciting events over the course of four days — and more than 400 industry members are gearing up to soak in all the profit-boosting tools that an SAF convention has to offer.

“This year’s program brings educational sessions filled with leading-edge ideas and proven success strategies for every floral business,” said SAF President Bill LaFever, PFCI, of the Bill Doran Company in Rockford, Illinois.

“Several sessions are geared to addressing the issues of finding and keeping top-notch employees and working with Millennials,” Doran added. “These two issues affect every segment of the industry.

Ready, Set, Learn

Charles Ingrum of Dr. Delphinium Designs & Events in Dallas, Texas reminds convention-goers that you’ll be taking home more than happy memories. You’ll be helping your business the second you get there.

“I am always able to bring home real solutions to real problems,” Ingrum said Ingrum, who has attended nine conventions so far. “Either through a seminar or a peer, the answer is at this conference.”

Perhaps one of the longest-running SAF convention attendees is Karen Fountain, AAF of Flowers n’ Ferns in Burke, Virginia. She attended her first event as a child alongside her mother and father.

Every year, longtime attendee Karen Fountain, AAF of Flowers n’ Ferns in Burke, Virginia said she looks forward to “networking, catching up with friends and getting a pulse of what is happening within the industry.”

“This is the only place where you can ask others (as a retailer) about what/why/how things are going so you know how best to educate my staff and customers,” she said.

And for those newbies, Fountain has some great tips:

  • Pace yourself. There is a lot to do, see and learn at SAF conventions.  Check out the schedule ahead of time and plan out your strategy in advance.  Look for the sessions that you think will deliver the most benefit to your business.
  • Take a risk. That said. don’t avoid classes you aren’t familiar with, as those tend to be the ones you usually learn the most from.
  • Say hello. One of the most important and rewarding aspects of an SAF convention: the relationships. Don’t be afraid to introduce yourself to different people and don’t be shy about asking

There’s still time to register SAF Palm Springs 2018. For details, go tosafnow.tempurl.host/annual-convention.


SAF Palm Springs 2018 features 73 speakers and panelists from inside the industry and outside experts who will lead 51 educational sessions and exciting events. From top left:

Joe Aldeguer, SAF

Mark Anderson, FloristWare

David Armellini, Armellini Express Lines, Inc.

Anna Ball, Ball Horticultural

Jenny Behlings, AAF, AIFD, PFCI, SDCF, Jenny’s Floral

Lacee Bilke, Madeline’s Flowers

Lenzee Bilke, Madeline’s Flowers

Sam Bowles, FloralStrategies

Tom Bowling, AIFD, PFCI, Syndicate Sales, Inc.

Loann Burke, AIFD, AAF, CFD, PFCI, Furst The Florist

Jo Buttram, AAF, AMF, PCF, Shirley’s Flowers & Gifts, Inc.

Rakini Chinery, AAF, AzMF, Allan’s Flowers

Theresa Colucci, AAF, AIFD, PFCI, Meadowscent

Dana Cook, AAF, Julia’s Florist

Pat Dahlson, Mayesh Wholesale Florist

Steve Daum, Floralife

Deborah De La Flor, AIFD, PFCI, CFD, De La Flor Gardens

Kate Delaney, AAF, Matlack Florist, Inc.

Brad Denham, Arizona Family Florist

Tim Dewey, DVFlora

Christopher Drummond, AAF, PFCI, Plaza Flowers

Max Duchaine, SAF

Reece Nakamoto Farinas, Beretania Florist

Oscar Fernandez, Equiflor/RioRoses

Tom Figueroa, AIFD, MCF, Nordlie, Inc.

Paul Fowle, DVFlora

Nick Fronduto, Jacobson Floral Supply, Inc.

Tim Galea, Norton’s Flowers & Gifts

Kyle Garrison, Bill Doran Company

Joshua Glass, AAF, Peoples Flower Shops

Barry Gottlieb, Coaching the Winner’s Edge

Charlie Hall, Ph.D., Texas A&M University

Marlin Hargrove, AAF, AIFD, PFCI, Pete Garcia Company

Glenna Hecht, Humanistic Consulting, LLC

Tim Huckabee, AIFSE, FloralStrategies

Zsuzsana Hutchinson, Flowers

Scott Isensee, Frank Adams Wholesale

Jim Kaplan, Chrysal Americas

Kim Kashman, Syndicate Sales

Jackie Lacey, AAF, AIFD, PFCI, Floriology

Bill LaFever, PFCI, Bill Doran Company

Vonda LaFever, AIFD, PFCI, TeamFloral

Dwight Larimer, AAF, PFCI, Design Master color tool, Inc.

Erin Largo-Wight, Ph.D., University of North Florida

Jackie Levine, Central Square Florist

Shirley Lyons, AAF, PFCI, Dandelions Flowers & Gifts, LLC

Remington Mathis, Suzann’s Flowers Remington Mathis

Klair McDermott, AIFD, PFCI, Sunshine Bouquet Company

Jodi McShan, AAF, TMF McShan Florist Inc.

Martin Meskers, AAF, Oregon Flowers, Inc.

Mike Mooney, Dramm & Echter, Inc.

Derrick Myers, CPA, CFP, PFCI, Crockett, Myers and Associates

Jamie Notter, Human Workplaces

Skip Paal, AAF, Rutland Beard Floral Group

Cameron Pappas, CPA, Norton’s Florist, Events & Gift Baskets

Kate F. Penn, SAF

Julie Poeltler, AIFD, CAFA, PFCI, Fountain of Flowers & Gifts

Ben Powell, Mayesh Wholesale Florist

Michael Pugh, AAF, Pugh’s Flowers

Kaitlin Radebaugh, AAF, Radebaugh Florist & Greenhouses

D Damon Samuel, AAF, AIFD, NAFD, NMF, PFCI, Bill Doran Company

Danny Sanchez, South Florals Group

Laura D. Shinall, Syndicate Sales, Inc.

Renato Sogueco, AAF, PFCI, BloomNet

Jennifer Sparks, SAF

Diane Thielfoldt, The Learning Café

Dominic Vercelote, Tagawa Greenhouses, Inc.

Crystal Vilkaitis, Social Edge

Mary Westbrook, SAF

Derek C Woodruff, AIFD, CF, CFD, PFCI, Floral Underground

J. Robbin Yelverton, AAF, AIFD, PFCI, CF, MCF, Blumz by…JRDesigns

Kevin Ylvisaker, AIFD, PFCI, CAFA, Smithers-Oasis

Susan E. Yoder, Seed Your Future

JUST ADDED: Charles Ingrum, Dr. Delphinium Designs & Events


Anne Holub is a contributing writer for the Society of American Florists.

 

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