ALEXANDRIA, VA — The Society of American Florists will honor seven professionals with induction into the American Academy of Floriculture (AAF) during the Stars of the Industry Awards Dinner on Sept. 12 at SAF Amelia Island 2015, the association's 131st Annual Convention in Amelia Island, Florida.
The 2015 AAF inductees are:
- Loann Burke, AAF, AIFD, PFCI, of Furst Florist and Greenhouses in Dayton, Ohio
- Bridget Carlson, AAF, of Ashland Addison Florist Company in Chicago, Illinois
- Rakini Chinery, AAF, AzMF, of Allan's Flowers in Prescott, Arizona
- Kate Delaney, AAF, of Matlack Florist, Inc., in West Chester, Pennsylvania
- Marlin Hargrove, AAF, AIFD, PFCI, of the Pete Garcia Company in Atlanta, Georgia
- Martin W. Meskers, AAF, of the Oregon Flowers, Inc., in Aurora, Oregon
- Marcia Wilson, AAF, of Breen's Florist in Houston, Texas
AAF members have earned the prestigious rank by committing their time and energy to both the floral industry and their local communities. AAF members are vetted for volunteering and leadership service to the industry and their communities, and each application must be submitted with several letters of recommendation from local community professionals and peers in the industry.
“The Academy’s stringent requirements make AAF an achievement recognized throughout the floral industry,” said SAF Awards Committee Chairman Leo Roozen, AAF, of Washington Bulb Company, Inc. in Mount Vernon, Washington.
An overview of each inductee’s accomplishments follows:
Loann Burke, AAF, AIFD, PFCI
An award-winning floral designer and event specialist with Furst Florist and Greenhouses in Dayton, Ohio, Loann Burke, AIFD, CFD, PFCI, has been in the floral industry for more than 30 years.
A popular speaker and designer, Burke frequently presents product demonstrations, hands-on workshops and design seminars throughout the country for wholesalers, garden clubs and civic organizations. In 2014, she presented her program “The Language of Flowers” on the main stage at the American Institute of Floral Designers National Symposium in Chicago.
Burke was inducted into AIFD in 2005, and into Professional Floral Communicators—International (PFCI) in 2008. Her work has been featured in national print ad campaigns and industry publications, including Floral Management, Florists’ Review, Canadian Florist, Floriology and IDEA.
Burke currently serves as design director for OASIS Floral Products and is the North Central Regional Representative to the National Board of AIFD and AIFD Foundation. She is also the past chairman of certification for AIFD and the past president of the North Central Chapter of AIFD.
Since 2013, Burke has been an events team member for CityLink Center, a network of local social service agencies, and she was a project team member for the beautification effort Go Cincinnati in 2010. In 2015, she volunteered to create personal flowers and centerpieces for “Night to Shine,” a prom for students with special needs, co-sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation. The event fell just one day before Valentine’s Day.
She holds a bachelor’s degree with distinction in horticulture from Purdue University, and a master’s degree in marketing from Wright State University.
Bridget Carlson, AAF
Bridget Carlson, AAF, joined Ashland Addison Florist Company in 2005. Before coming into the business, Carlson refined her marketing, public relations and promotions experience with national brands such as Gerber Products Company, Pillsbury and Tyson Foods. From 2001 to 2004, Carlson worked in public relations and member communications roles at FTD, Inc. During that time, she became familiar with the floral industry and inspired by its many family businesses.
After her four-year tenure at FTD, Carlson transitioned to her current role with Ashland Addison, an 83-year-old family owned and operated business. There, for more than a decade, she has managed the Chicago business’ consumer and event websites, and performed all marketing, promotions, public relations, advertising and communications functions. In 2007, Florists’ Review and the Wholesale Florist & Florist Supplier Association
named Ashland Addison “Retail Florist of the Year.” In the floral industry, Carlson has served as the chairman of SAF’s former Consumer Marketing Committee and on the organization’s Member Joint and Retailers councils. She has shared her own experiences through multiple platforms, including SAF conventions, and in industry publications such as SAF’s Floral Management. Within her community, Carlson has held volunteer leadership roles at Rainbow Preschool, Stormonth Elementary and through the Girl Scouts. She has also volunteered with Northshore Newcomers, a community social group, among other organizations.
Carlson earned a bachelor’s degree in creative writing from Marquette University.
Rakini Chinery, AAF, AzMF
Transplanted to Arizona from New England, Rakini Chinery, AAF, AzMF, has made the high desert of Prescott her home for more than 25 years. She began working at Allan's Flowers in 1989; 10 years later, she and her husband, Jim, purchased the shop and Chinery quickly realized that her passion for flowers would become a lifelong pursuit.
An Arizona Master Florist, Chinery is committed to continuing her education and helping others enhance their own knowledge. In fact, her shop provides all eligible employees with the opportunity to complete their Master Florist Certification.
Chinery is president of the Arizona Teleflora Unit and secretary of the Arizona State Florists Association (ASFA). In 2014, the association inducted Allan’s Flowers to the Arizona Floral Hall of Fame, marking a highlight of Chinery’s career.
Her strong community spirit has resulted in partnerships with local chapters of organizations such as Big Brothers Big Sisters, as well as the Yavapai Humane Society, among many other groups.
In 2013, Chinery organized florists in Arizona to come together and spend three days designing floral tributes for the 19 Granite Mountain Hotshot firefighters who lost their lives while battling a raging fire, a massive undertaking that involved sourcing products and overseeing the creation of hundreds of designs and memorial tributes.
Kate Delaney, AAF
Kate Delaney, AAF, began her career nearly 20 years ago when she applied for a part-time sales position at Matlack Florist in West Chester, Pennsylvania. That part-time job grew into a passion for the business and for the floral industry; she has been the manager of Matlack Florist since 2007.
A firm believer in the importance of continued education, Delaney can often be found attending local seminars and events relating to the floral industry and general business practices. She has served in a number of volunteer leadership roles within SAF, as a member of the Convention Committee, as well as the Retailers and Consumer Joint councils. She also is an active participant in SAF’s Congressional Action Days.
Since 2010, Delaney has headed her company’s commitment to the local food bank through fundraising and food drives, involving the community and shop employees. She is a member of Chester County Coalition Against Driving Under the Influence, the Greater
West Chester Chamber of Commerce and the Chester County Chamber of Business and Industry, among other groups.
As a local business leader, Delaney is a member of the West Chester Area School District PTA, and she is dedicated to supporting her local school district as a sponsor of The Daily Local News Newspapers In Education program.
Marlin Hargrove, AAF, AIFD, PFCI
Marlin Hargrove, AAF, AIFD, PFCI, has been an influential leader in the floral industry for 35 years. In addition to his years in the retail sector, he has held management and design positions in the wholesale and manufacturing sectors of the industry. Currently, he is a design consultant for the Pete Garcia Co., in Atlanta, Georgia.
An active member of American Institute of Floral Designers (AIFD) and a member of the Professional Floral Communicators-International (PFCI) Board of Trustees, Hargrove travels extensively, sharing his passion for flowers through his unique style and candor.
He has held volunteer leadership roles with the Georgia State Florist Association (GSFA), and presented on a range of topics to many high-profile industry groups and conferences, including the annual AIFD Symposium and SAF conventions as well as garden clubs across Georgia. In 1990, GSFA named Hargrove “Designer of the Year.”
Hargrove is active in his church through his work with the Breakfast Club group, a mission program that feeds the homeless. He also works closely with the youth of the church as a chaperone and Sunday school teacher, and with Moving in the Spirit, a youth empowerment charity that promotes character building through dance. Hargrove also is dedicated to the recovery community of Atlanta, working with people, including inmates of the Fulton County Jail, who struggle with addictions.
A graduate of Georgia Southern University, Hargrove received formal design training through the Shelton School of Floral Design and Phil Rulloda’s advanced studies program.
Martin W. Meskers, AAF
Martin W. Meskers, AAF is president of Oregon Flowers, Inc., a wholesale cut flower nursery in Aurora, Oregon. After SAF Amelia Island 2015, he will become president of SAF. Meskers grew up in Holland and received an education in bulbs and flowers before working in the family bulb business as a third-generation grower. In 1979, he moved to the United States. Two years later, he married Helene. Together, they started Oregon Flowers in 1985. In recent years, the Meskers’ children, Jacinth and Tyler, have rejoined the family business; they shared their story in the February 2015 cover article for SAF’s Floral
Management magazine. Their third child, Claire, is not involved in
the business. Meskers has served in a number of important volunteer leadership roles within SAF, including as a member of the group’s Growers Council, Board of Directors and Executive Committee, as well as its Convention and former Business and Economic Trends committees. He is also active with the Oregon
Association of Nurseries, the Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers and the North American Lily Society, among other groups, and is a past recipient of an innovator award from Greenhouse Manager.
An active member of his local community, Meskers has been a volunteer at his local St. Patrick’s Catholic Church for 20 years. He donates time, energy and flowers to many local groups, including St. Vincent de Paul Food Bank and the North Marion School District.
Outside of work, Meskers enjoys soccer — playing, watching and coaching. His favorite team is Manchester United.
Marcia Wilson, AAF
Marcia Wilson, AAF is the owner of Breen’s Florist, a full-service florist operating in Houston, Texas for more than 70 years. She gained much of her knowledge and skills from her father who purchased Breen’s in 1986. As a business owner, she is hands-on and actively supervises daily and financial operations, sales and marketing, as well as personnel. Under her leadership, the second-generation business has expanded to include three retail locations.
Wilson, who has more than 30 years’ experience in the floral industry, is a member of the Texas State Florists’ Association, the Allied Florists of Houston and the Great Lakes Group. An FTD Master Florist, she has participated in numerous industry events and conferences, where she can often be found sharing her deep well of knowledge on the floral industry and marketing.
A committed community member, Wilson has held leadership roles with the Professional Referral Organization of Women (PROW), the Houston Executive Roundtable (HER), Charter 100 (a networking organization for women) and the Federation of Professional Women. In addition, for five years, she was a board director of the Cancer Survivors Fund. She is also active with local arts organizations, including the Houston Art Festival.
In 2014, HER presented Wilson with its Leah Lewis Award for outstanding contributions. PROW recognized her as a “woman of excellence” in 2007.
Wilson earned a bachelor’s degree from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas. She has one son and daughter-in-law.
To apply for AAF membership induction in 2016, visit safnow.org/aaf. For SAF Amelia Island 2015 information, visit safnow.org/annual-convention.
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The Society of American Florists is the leading organization representing all segments of the floral industry. SAF is proud to provide marketing, business and government services to its members, including growers, wholesalers, retailers, suppliers, importers, educators, designers and allied organizations. The association was chartered by an act of Congress in 1884.
Source: The Society of American Florists
