ALEXANDRIA, VA – The American Floral Endowment (AFE) has elected Mike Duvall of Home Depot, and Laura Shinall of Syndicate Sales, Inc., to the Board of Trustees.
Mike Duvall has been in the floriculture industry for more than 35 years. Mike graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in Horticulture, where he studied under Dr. Michael Dirr and Dr. Allen Armitage. He began his career as a store manager at Pike Nurseries in Atlanta. Since then, Mike has been with Home Depot for over 20 as a store manager and most recently, as a Senior Live Goods Merchant. Mike is also a recipient of the Ram’s Horn Horticulture Award from Farmingdale College in New York for accomplishments in, and contributions to the horticulture industry. Mike is also an active participant in the Home Depot Foundation and recently traveled to Indo, Calif. to partake in a home building project for Habitat for Humanity. Mike will serve on the AFE Production and Post-Harvest Research, and Development Committees.
Laura Shinall brings over 25 years of experience to AFE. A graduate of DePauw University, Laura began her career as a Wholesale Floral Supply Manager at Kennicott Brothers in Milwaukee, WI. She then served as an Account Executive at Syndicate Sales, Inc., and as the Athletic Director at Frederica Academy in Georgia. Most recently, Laura returned to Syndicate Sales, Inc., where she now serves as the Director of Marketing. Laura is a past member of the Society of American Florists Convention Committee and will be serving on the AFE Education and Public Relations Committees. Laura also is an active volunteer in her community, has served on the Board of Trustees at Frederica Academy and is a current member of the Board of Stewards at St. Peter’s Church in Mount Pleasant, S.C.
About AFE The American Floral Endowment is an independent nonprofit organization that funds research and scholarships in floriculture and environmental horticulture for the benefit of growers, wholesalers, retailers, allied organizations, and the general public. To learn more about AFE visit www.endowment.org and www.facebook.com/americanfloralendowment.
Source: American Floral Endowment
