Home » Wanted: SAF Award Nominations
Wanted: SAF Award Nominations
group of award winners receiving awards

Jan. 31 marks the first deadline for SAF’s 2019 Awards with membership applications and Tommy Bright Award nominations due. PFCI honored its 2017 and 2018 inductees during SAF Palm Springs 2018. Pictured on stage from left: Lynne Tischler, AAF, CPFD, PFCI; Renato Cruz Sogueco, AAF, PFCI; Rocio Silva, AIFD, PFCI; Carolyn Minutillo, AIFD, EMC, PFCI; Klair McDermott, AIFD, PFCI; Kathy Jones, AIFD, SDCF, PFCI; Adam Havrilla, AIFD, CFD, ICPF, PFCI; Christopher Drummond, AAF, PFCI; and Lesleighan Cravens, AIFD, PFCI.

Pop culture’s awards season kicked off Sunday with the Golden Globes honoring achievement in television and film. Though the floral industry’s version may feel like eons away, now is the time to nominate individuals worthy of recognition — and apply for honors yourself.

The Society of American Florists recognizes excellence in the floral industry with a range of awards and professional designations and will bestow its 2019 honors during the Stars of the Industry Awards Dinner at SAF Amelia Island 2019, SAF’s 135th annual convention, Sept. 18-21, at the Ritz-Carlton in Amelia Island, Florida.

SAF’s Professional Floral Communicators-International has the first deadline – with PFCI membership applications and Tommy Bright Award nominations due Jan. 31.

PFCI Membership

Do you love talking about flowers, floral design or the business of flowers? Do you present programs to garden clubs or other professionals? Then you’re three-quarters of the way to earning the PFCI designation. The only thing left to do: fill out an application.

Tommy Bright Award 

Presented in honor of Ethel “Tommy” Bright, PFCI’s most prestigious designation signifies a lifetime commitment to commentating excellence in the floral industry. The Tommy Bright Award is awarded annually to a member of the Professional Floral Communicators-International. Click here for information on nominating a PFCI member for the Tommy Bright Award.

The following Awards applications are due March 1:

American Academy of Floriculture 

The American Academy of Floriculture honors members who have committed time and energy to bettering both the floral industry and their local communities. The application requires community and industry service documentation and two recommendation letters from AAF members.

Century Award

Any business or organization that has served the floral industry for 100 years or longer qualifies for this award recognizing longevity.

Nominations are due for the following SAF Awards by March 1:

Floriculture Hall of Fame

As the industry’s highest honor, SAF’s Floriculture Hall of Fame establishes a symbol of recognition that encourages high standards of service and responsibility in members of the floral industry.

Paul Ecke, Jr. Award

Established in 1984, this award is given to a person in recognition of exemplary devotion to profession, industry and community. Previous named SAF’s Golden Bouquet award, this award was renamed in 2002 in memory of Paul Ecke, Jr., AAF.

Gold Medal Award

Honors the originator or introducer of a widely distributed plant or flower that has become established as an outstanding product of significant horticultural and commercial value.

John H. Walker Award

Named in honor of SAF’s former long-time Executive Vice President, the John H. Walker Award recognizes floral association executives for the role they play as leaders of the industry.

Floral Management Marketer of the Year application deadline: June 4.

Judges look for unique, innovative and successful marketing efforts undertaken in the last five years to increase sales, customer base and/or customer perception of a business, including but not limited to advertising, direct mail, public relations, merchandising and display and image enhancement. The entry form requires a narrative of the campaign’s successes and sample sets of promotional materials if any were used. The winner receives $5,000, a presentation at SAF Amelia Island 2019 and a cover story in Floral Management. Apply here.

For Awards applications and information, visitsafnow.tempurl.host/awards or contact SAF’s Jenester Corbin at awards@safnow.org.

Safnow Login


SAF Members only. Please login to access this page.

Not a member? Click here to find out why you should join SAF today.

Email :


Password :


Lost your password?

(close)