Doug Bates, AIFD, CF, CFD, Designs by Vogts

Doug is the owner and lead designer for Designs By Vogt’s in Sturgis, MI. Doug has received numerous awards in the floral industry, including the Michigan Designer of the Year 2012, Young Person of the Year 2013 and multiple Design Academy wins. Doug enjoys sharing his experience and talents in workshops and stage presentations for local and regional floral events. 

Casey Black, Jet Fresh Flower Distributors

Casey Black is a dedicated 4th generation floral professional whose passion for sales was ignited through when he sold Cutco knives at age 15 and was able to secure his Mom a brand-new set of her favorite cooking knives through sales goals. After exploring different career paths, Casey later joined the family floral business at Jet Fresh Flower Distributors in 2010.  Starting in the cold floral cooler pulling orders and making deliveries, then to managing the warehouse and logistics, Casey later progressed to the role of Assistant Sales Captain. In this position, he co-manages a team of over 8 sales representatives and 4 international flower buyers. 

Beyond sealing deals, Casey excels in sourcing a diverse range of products, including American-grown flowers, flowers from Italy, Canadian grown products, and tropical blooms from Thailand, Ecuador, and Costa Rica. Always on the lookout for unique flowers, Casey actively cultivates relationships with growers, buyers, and fellow floral professionals. His dedication to the industry is matched only by his love for travel, during which he seeks out new floral treasures. Outside of work, Casey enjoys exploring the world with his wife, Michelle Black, and perfecting his golf swing. 

Ryan Black, Jet Fresh Flower Distributors

Ryan Black, Marketing and Media Director of Jet Fresh Flower Distributors and Jet Fresh FlowerGrowers, S.A. Ryan’s role is to develop, design, and deploy all of Jet Fresh Flowers, Jet FreshFlower Growers, and affiliated brands’ marketing content and strategies.

Since 2012, he’s invigorated the wholesale flower industry with his graphic designs,  self-produced videos and content, company merchandise, and memorable trade shows and events which have all amassed great success for Jet Fresh Flowers worldwide.

4th-generation in the flower industry, Ryan has been hands-on gaining a unique sense of the flower business in its many forms. From working inside a wholesale flower warehouse to installing weddings and events—even designing and selling flowers for a retail flower shop—Ryan has a truly enriched perspective of the flower industry and the many stages in which flowers are appreciated, thus allowing him to market wholesale flowers so successfully. 

Although Ryan has worked around flowers his entire life, he’s always been an artist first. In 2011 he graduated from FAU with a B.A. in Communications focusing on his creative passions of Computer Animation and Graphic Design where he then combined his knowledge and experience to make Jet Fresh’s marketing a household name

Irving Casiano Flores, Flower Shop Network

Irving Casianois originally from Northern Mexico and came to the United States in 2003, in pursuit of the American dream. Irving works at Flower Shop Network, Inc., where he’s received numerous awards for his outstanding performance, including the prestigious Salesperson of the Year Award. Despite his young age, Irving has achieved great accomplishments in the floral industry. In 2022, he was named Supplier Employee of the Year by the Great Lakes Floral Association. Irving’s career in the floral industry goes back ten years. Since joining Flower Shop Network, he has participated as a supplier at several floral conventions such as Great Lakes Floral Association, TexasState Florists Association, Florida State Florists Association, Tennessee State Florists Association, SAFAnnual Convention, SAF Profit Blasts, Next Gen Live, and many more. Irving loves the floral industry, has a passion for traveling, and enjoys being involved in the community. 

Michelle Castellano, AAF Mellano and Company

Michelle Castellano Keeler is currently Vice President of Mellano & Company, a flower grower and distributor based out of Oceanside, California. She has been a member of the California Bar since 2000 and maintains a private mediation practice. She currently sits on the Board of Directors for Mellano Enterprises as well as the Society of American Florists in Alexandria, VA. Michelle is also a board member of Frank Toyota/Subaru/Hyundai on the Mile of Cars in San Diego.

She received her bachelor’s degree at the University of San Diego and her juris doctorate from California Western School of Law. In addition, Michelle holds an L.L.M. from Pepperdine University and studied international mediation at Humboldt-Universitat in Berlin, Germany.

Prior to Mellano & Company, Michelle practiced family law and she previously clerked for the Honorable Ronald H. Domnitz in San Diego Superior Court. Michelle enjoys representing several agricultural interests at the local, state and national level and proudly represented the California & Florida flower growers at the United Nations Montreal Protocol Meetings since 2003.

Troy Conner, Kendall Farms

Alejandra Fernandez, Dummen Orange

Megan Gerace, GravityFree

Megan Gerace is the floral account executive of GravityFree. She has been with GravityFree since 2019 after returning to Florida from California where she was knee-deep in destination marketing, working at two lodges just outside of Yosemite National Park. She was drawn in to GravityFree initially by the smart and passionate team, but getting to connect with the florists that they work with is what really solidified her desire to work with them. Spending the last few years working with retail florists around the country and seeing how vast, diverse and unique the floral industry is has continued to motivate her to become more active and involved in making a mark on the industry.   

The highlight of her every day is supporting small and/or local businesses. She loves seeing the impact that flowers can have on a person and a community, and knowing that she is supporting those businesses to help make that happen makes her job worth it.   

Erik Hagstrom, Albin Hagstrom & Son

Erik Hagstrom is the General Manager of Albin Hagstrom & Son, Inc. in Pierson, FL. Pierson is known as the “Fern Capital of the World”. Albin Hagstrom is a family-owned business, and Erik grew up there where he worked in the shed after school and summers, and then every job between, mostly unpaid, until an opening in the family business brought him back to agriculture. Erik has now been at Albin’s for 26 years. This summer, Albin’s will celebrate 95 years of growing fresh-cut greens for the floral industry. Albin Hagstrom is a proud member of Certified American Grown, Society of American Florists, Floral Greens Farmers of Florida, CalFlowers, and many local organizations.

Holly Haveman, Kennedy’s Flowers and Gifts

Holly is the Co-Owner and Brand Manager at Kennedy’s Flowers and Gifts. She is a world traveler who has been involved in the floral industry since birth. She studied Supply Chain Management in college, and describes herself as a business woman at heart, and an artist on demand. After spending years working for a Fortune 500 company, she went on to backpack and live nomadically around the world. Holly has worked in flower shops in Singapore and Australia, and brings a global perspective to her local family flower and gift shop, Kennedy’s, in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Brian Kusuda, Jimmy’s Flower Shop

Brian Kusuda is a third-generation florist at Jimmy’s Flowers in Ogden, Utah. He is the vice president of his family’s company, which employs more than 60 full-time and part-time employees at three locations, as well as a growing wholesale division that he helped start in 2014. He handles the business, financial and human resource operations for the company and is also one of the primary buyers of fresh flowers and hard goods. 

Ellie LaFever, PFCI, Flower Clique

As a born and bred flower child, Ellie knows the floral industry through osmosis. From washing buckets and answering the phone to designing sympathy pieces and large-scale weddings, her creative progression and love for flowers have blossomed into her role as Creative Director for Flower Clique. The synthesis of her knowledge of the floral industry, a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Interior Design, and her graphic design studies were integral in shaping the new perspective that she brings today. Her passion for educating the modern-day consumer on the value of the floral professional is a constant mission she’s working toward. Her weekends are spent learning new skills, wine-tasting, and taking her chiweenie, Roma, on new adventures. 

Jen Linehan AIFD, CF, CFD, Beautiful Blooms by Jen

Jen Linehan AIFD, CF, CFD is from Sylvania, OH. She is the owner of Beautiful Blooms by Jen which she founded 15 years ago. She started in the industry as a Floral Design Instructor at a local high school, while designing weddings from her house. After teaching 5 years, she opened a full retail floral shop and in 2019 expanded it to include gifts as well.  Jen was inducted into AIFD during its annual Symposium in July of 2023.

JD Lecuona, Deliflor Americas

Juan David Lecuona is the commercial director of Deliflor Latin America. With 15 years of experience in the industry, Lecuona has expertise in marketing, merchandising, sales and public relations. He is a graduate of the University of Florida and has served as an SAF volunteer leader in many roles, including as the SAFPAC Golf Tournament chair. Deliflor is a chrysanthemum breeder and has received multiple SAF Outstanding Varieties Competition awards, including“Best in Show.

Regina Mancini, Rosaprima

Regina Mancini is a Senior Account Executive at Rosaprima. Rosaprima is a renowned company dedicated to growing the world’s most luxurious roses. Beyond our commitment to floral excellence, I am particularly enthusiastic about our leadership in corporate social responsibility and the sustainable farming practices we have implemented over the years. Join me on this journey towards a more sustainable floral industry, where beauty is not just in the flowers but in the conscientious practices that define our work

Carmen Marquez, Ball SB

Paul Miller, AIFD, PFCI, Sunshine Bouquet Company

Paul Miller AIFD, PFCI, has been in the floral industry for over 50 years.  His vast flower knowledge has taken him through the United States, Canada, and South America to teach a variety of design and floral industry seminars.    

Paul has been a featured in U.S. and Japanese floral trade, and he has served as a design show panelist, judge, commentator and floral consultant.  Paul has served as president of the Southwest Region of AIFD and the national Education and Membership Committees. Recognized in Arizona’s Floral Hall of Fame, Paul was named Arizona State Designer of the Year, and was the runner-up in the FTD’s America’s Cup Competition.  

Paul shares his creativity with sincerity and enthusiasm that continues to inspire and motivate audiences.  An experienced and resourceful visionary, Paul is a constant source of ideas pushing the boundaries of floral innovation, yet it’s down-to-earth approach to floristry makes him relevant in any setting.

Lisa Nason, Kennicott

Lisa Nason is the Director of Marketing for Kennicott. With over 24 years of marketing and analytics experience Lisa is working on brand positioning, marketing strategy, and growth optimization at Kennicott.  She has a passion for communication, thinking outside the box, and has a willingness to pitch in to get the job done.  Lisa enjoys exploring the outdoors with her family, gardening, and reading. 

Dani Pritt, Cactus Flower Florists

Dani Pritt, a skilled 18 year floral industry veteran, seasoned buyer, office manager and team leader. She has worn most all of the hats in her business roles. Respected for her strategic prowess in negotiating and procurement, Dani knows hard work and also finds time for family moments and enjoys the vibrant energy of live concerts. 

Ana Ramirez, Danziger

Laura Walsh, PFCI, Smithers Oasis

Laura Walsh is the Director of Marketing for Smithers-Oasis North American Floral. Having spent her life in agriculture, she joined the floral industry five years ago and brings over 17 years of marketing experience. Laura has her business undergraduate degree and her MBA from Kent State University. Over the years, Laura has taught marketing courses at the collegiate level and enjoys coaching and mentoring young business professionals. Laura resides near Smithers-Oasis’ corporate headquarters in Kent, Ohio. She is married to her husband Tim, has a collection of fur babies, and enjoys yoga and floral design.

Lori Wilson, PFCI, Flower Clique

As the Director of Community for Flower Clique, Lori brings her background of 20+ years in education and her passion for connection to our ever-changing industry. Her focus is on helping business owners lead their team with excellence, with emphasis on sales and leadership effectiveness, employee motivation, and transformative mentoring. Lori’s undeniable passion for ongoing education has led to roles as a presenter and panelist at the Society of American Florists and Texas State Floral Association. She is the co-host of the top floral podcast, The Business & Pleasure of Flowers, has over ten years of experience in the floral industry, and is the mother to three wonderful children. 

Angélique Witcher, Accent Decor

Angélique Witcher is currently the Marketing & Content Manager for Accent Decor. With over a decade’s worth of experience marketing B2B brands, and an extensive social media, retail and communications background Angélique leads content & branding efforts for Accent Decor’s tailored segments among their flower, plant, & home customers.

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

Derek joined the floral industry at the age of 16 where he began learning floral design in vocational school and working for a local florist. Since then, he has continued to study the trade through institutes such as Michigan State University, the Michigan Floral Association (MFA), and the American Institute of Floral Designers (AIFD). In 2008 he launched his own business, Floral Underground, which has gone through many a metamorphosis to become the business that it is today. Derek is a captivating speaker who finds particular joy in helping audiences find inventive ways to use new and existing products. As an industry educator, Derek has a “big picture” perspective on industry trends, and how florists can make the best practical and artistic use of materials. He enjoys presenting on stage, in hands-on workshops, and also online to audiences of floral designers and consumers alike. In addition to being an educator, Derek considers himself a “competition designer” spending many years polishing the practice of live floral design competition. This love of competition has won him numerous awards both in and out of the industry, including the MFA’s Chuck Bannow Award, MFA’s Designer of the Year (twice), AIFD’s Bobbi Cup (Thrice), Chicago’s Best in Blooms Competition, second runner-up on a national television floral design competition reality show called: “The Arrangement”, was the winner of the 2016 Sylvia Cup Design Competition, and was the runner up in the 2018 America’s Cup Competition.