Third Annual 'Tom Butler Retailer Of The Year' Finalists Announced

Teleflora has announced the final 10 nominees in consideration for the 3rd Annual Tom Butler Retailer of the Year Award.  This year’s recipient will be announced and honored at the American Floral Endowment (AFE) Fundraising Dinner on September 7th in conjunction with the SAF Palm Beach 2017. In 2015 Teleflora established the Honorary Award to honor Tom Butler, Teleflora’s past Chairman, who dedicated his life’s passion to the floral industry. The Award recognizes a retail florist and Teleflora member that best embodies Tom’s legacy. In addition to running a first-class retail operation, award winners show the highest level of commitment and service to their local community, are a dedicated ambassador to the floral industry, and provide leadership and guidance to fellow florists. This year’s contenders are:

• Jo Buttram of Shirley’s Flowers & Gifts, Rogers, Arkansas
• Rakini Chinery of Allan’s Flowers, Prescott, Arizona
• Debbie Gordy of Compton’s Florist, La Porte, Texas
• Barbara Gould of Gould’s Flowers, Lockport, New York
• Pat Gustaf of Gustaf’s Greenery, Sioux Falls, South Dakota
• John and Sally Kobylinski of In Bloom at Orlando Florist, Orlando, Florida
• Shirley Lyons of Dandelion’s Flowers & Gift, Eugene, Oregon
• Paul Raimondi of Raimondi’s Florist, Baltimore, Maryland
• Jerome Raska of Blumz by JRDesigns, Detroit, Michigan
• Kent Whitnah of Capitol Hill Florist and Gifts, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Check out the final nominees at MyTeleflora.com. Some brief biographical information about Tom Butler, known as “Chief Champion of Florists”:

Tom Butler served as the Chairman of Teleflora since 1995 and led Teleflora in its mission to serve as a trusted business partner, friend and innovator to independent retail florists across the U.S. and Canada.

To read the rest of the story, please go to: Society of American Florists