Floral industry association leaders gathered at the Marriott Cool Springs in Franklin, Georgia, for the National Alliance of Floral Associations (NAFA) annual meeting, October 1 – 3, 2016.
The meeting kicked off with the National Designer of the Year competition. Contestants from Colorado, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, Texas, Tennessee, and Wisconsin competed for the coveted title. The contest is open to one representative from each NAFA member in good standing.
The winner and 2016 Designer of the Year was Alan Masters, AIFD, from the Texas State Florists' Association who works at Compton's Florist, LaPorte, Texas. He won $1,000 and a first place trophy cup.
Second runner up was Paul Latham, AIFD, owner of Fleur de Lis Events and Design, Louisville, Kentucky, representing the Tennessee State Florists' Association, who won $100 cash and a plaque. First runner up was Thaddeus Servantez, AIFD, representing the Floral Association of the Rockies. Owner of Westminster Flowers, Westminster, Colorado, he won $300 cash and a plaque.
NAFA would like to thank BloomNet and the Floriology Institute for sponsoring the design contest prize money and awards dinner.
CAPTION: Posing with their awards are, from left, second runner up Paul Latham; AIFD; 2016 NAFA Designer of the Year, Alan Masters, AIFD, and first runner up Thaddeus Servantez, AIFD.
Source: National Alliance of Floral Associations (NAFA)
