Visitors to this year's Great Lakes Floral Expo will be greeted by "A World of Flowers" at the Amway Grand Plaza/Devos Place, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The 2017 conference, sponsored by the Michigan Floral Association, will be held March 3-5.
The weekend of education and networking will feature hands-on workshops, trend setting design shows, and informative business sessions. The show will get underway on Friday, March 3, with two all-day sessions covering the most common business mistakes with Tim Huckabee, AIFSE, and bridal trends with Pete Samek, AIFD.
Once again, the evening will be highlighted by "Chopped", the MFA version of the popular Food Network show. Novice designers, mentored by design professionals, will compete for the contest title.
Saturday sessions will cover bridal work, improving phone skills, creating add-ons, social media use, how to be successful owners and managers, and using botanical mechanicals. The exciting Designer of the Year run off will be held on the main stage Saturday morning; four designers from the professional division will compete.
The day's activities will conclude with the President's Reception and Cirque du Soirée Banquet. Creative costuming and flowers to wear are encouraged. Award presentations and induction of new members will be conducted.
Activities on the final day, Sunday, March 5, will start off with a Coffee Chat with industry icon, Bobbi Ecker-Blatchford, AAF, AIFD, PFCI. Sessions dealing with weddings, funerals, special events, online promotion, and wholesale training will follow.
In addition Dwight Larimer, AAF, PFCI will present the 2016 Generation of Flower Study Results compiled by the American Floral Endowment in cooperation with the Society of American Florists.
Among the other presenters on hand will be designers Tom Bowling, AIFD, PFCI; Frank Feysa, AIFD, PFCI;, Susie Kostick, AIFD, CF, PFCI; Jackie Lacey AIFD, PFCI; James Lutke; Marisa Rakowski, CF; Jerome Raska, AAF, AIFD, CAFA, CF, PFCI; Garrett Skupinski, CF, CFD, and Randy Wooten, AIFD, GMF, PFCI. Business presenters included Jami Jamison Adams, Tim Galea, and Renato Cruz Sogueco.
One of the highlights each year is the MFA design contest. Designers can earn cash prizes, certificates, and recognition in The Professional Florist magazine. The 2017 contest will have divisions for high school and college students, professionals, and Academy designers.
Once again the Trade Show Marketplace will feature new products and current industry trends. The annual book fair full of all things floral, the AIFD Showcase presented by the North Central AIFD chapter, and a Certified Florists Showcase will be on display.
In addition, the Michigan Floral Association will hold its annual meeting on Sunday, March 5. This is an opportunity for members to learn what the association has done in the past year and plans for the future.
Florists are urged to register early. For information contact the MFA office at (517) 575-0110, go to the website http://www.michiganfloral.org/greatlakesfloralexpo/, or email rod@michiganfloral.org.
The Michigan Floral Association is a full-service trade organization representing more than 400 florists, growers, and wholesalers. Located in Haslett, Michigan, MFA offers group savings on insurance, financial services, retail bank card processing and supplies, office supplies, and fleet fueling; is the sponsor of the Certified Florist (CF) program; creates and hosts the annual Great Lakes Floral Expo; conducts educational seminars throughout the year at the association headquarters and various other facilities; publishes The Professional Florist magazine; hosts the MFA web site, and interacts with state/federal government agencies. For more information on MFA, visit their web site at www.michiganfloral.org.
Source: The Michigan Floral Association