ALEXANDRIA, VA — Want to speak a different language? Go where it’s the native tongue. Surround yourself with the sound and your brain falls in sync. It “rewires” until you’re thinking on the same wavelength.
Society of American Florists (SAF) convention-goers experience a similar kind of “immersion training” — in the language of success. “It’s the best three days of educational programming your money can buy,” said Eileen Weber, AAF, of Lake Forest Flowers & Greenhouses, Lake Forest, Illinois.
Spending several days hearing best practices from successful floral business owners and other experts changes how attendees approach challenges when they get back home. “I have been attending the convention for years. I always take home new ideas to improve my business,” said Lorrie Anderson of Waldorf, Maryland. The owner of Country Florist of Waldorf called SAF's convention an opportunity “to be inspired, motivated, educated and to build my network.”
A new wave of thinking is on tap for SAF Amelia Island 2015,
Sept. 9-12 in Amelia Island, Florida. The program for SAF’s 131st Annual Convention includes 37 educational sessions and events, presented by nearly 50 floral business owners and other experts. Here’s a look at who’s speaking at SAF Amelia Island 2015:
- Bob Aykens, AAF, Memorial Florists & Greenhouses Inc.
- Jenny Behlings, AAF, PFCI, Jenny’s Floral
- Jody Brandenburg, Hardage-Giddens Funeral Homes
- Bridget Carlson, Ashland Addison Florist Company
- Dana Cook, AAF, Julia’s Florist Jim Daly, AAF, Smithers-Oasis/Floralife Kate Delaney, Matlack Florist Inc. Cheryl Denham, Arizona Family Florist Ryan Freeman, Strider Inc.
- Clara Gonzales, Tiger Lily Florist
- Charlie Hall, Ph.D., Texas A&M University
- Marlin Hargrove, AIFD, PFCI, Pete Garcia Company
- Jack Heard, Oxley-Heard Funeral Home
- Glenna Hecht, Humanistic Consulting LLC
- Tim Huckabee, FloralStrategies LLC
- Loren Hudziak, Google
- Charles Ingrum, Dr. Delphinium Designs & Events
- Kristine Kratt, AIFD, PFCI, Schaffer Designs
- David Kesler AIFD, PFCI, Floral Design Institute
- Leanne Kesler, AIFD, PFCI, Floral Design Institute
- Brandon Kirkland, Epic Flowers
- Dwight Larimer, AAF, PFCI, Design Master color tool Inc.
- Daniel Levine, WikiTrend.org/Avant-Guide Institute
- Christine McArdle, McArdle’s Florist & Garden Center
- James McArdle, McArdle’s Florist & Garden Center
- Skip Paal, AAF, Rutland Beard Floral Group
- Kate Penn, SAF
- Julie Poeltler, AIFD, CAFA, PFCI, Fountain of Flowers & Gifts
- Ben Polk, Google
- Nicole Reyhle, Retail Minded
- Rick Rivers, A Floral Boutique Florist
- D Damon Samuel, AAF, AIFD, PFCI, NAFD, NMF, Bill Doran
- Company
- Bill Schaffer, AAF, AIFD, PFCI, Schaffer Designs
- Renato Sogueco, SAF
- Gail Thomas-DeWitt, Gail & Wynn’s Mortuary Inc.
- Heather Waits, Bloomtastic Florist
- Alexandra Valentin, The Ritz-Carlton Leadership Center
- Lisa Weddel, AAF, AIFD, PFCI, L. Weddel Design
- J. Robbin Yelverton, AAF, AIFD, PFCI, Blumz by…JRDesigns
- Kevin Ylvisaker, AIFD, PFCI, KLY Floral International
For details about the convention programs and to register, 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
