ALEXANDRIA, Va. — David Armellini, the president and CEO of Armellini Express Lines Inc. in Palm City, Fla., was named the 2014 SAF Paul Ecke, Jr. Award honoree. The Society of American Florists (SAF) presented the award, which represents exemplary devotion to profession, industry and community, on Aug. 16 in Marco Island, Fla., during SAF's 130th Annual Convention.
“For more than two decades David Armellini has used his impressive knowledge of transportation, logistics and communications to introduce new ideas to the family business and industry – and also to give back to the community,” said SAF Chairman and Awards Committee member Robert Williams, II, AAF, PFCI, of Smithers-Oasis – North American Operations in Kent, Ohio.
Immediately after Hurricane Katrina ravaged the Gulf Coast in 2005, people living in Ocean Springs, Miss., came together to collect donations for the storm victims – blankets, shampoo and baby food, but also larger items such as coolers, wheelchairs and heavy equipment to remove debris. With local airports shutdown, however, organizers couldn’t find a way to get the supplies to those in need.
“That’s when David Armellini stepped in,” Williams said. “He offered the use of an Armellini Express Lines 18-wheeler and coordinated with local officials and charities to make sure the storm victims received the supplies they desperately needed.” That humanitarian outreach was repeated in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy in 2011 when Armellini was instrumental in securing donated goods for people in need and trucking them to New Jersey.
“Those efforts are trademarks of both Armellini Express and David Armellini,” said Williams.
Founded by Jules Armellini in 1945, Armellini Express is the country’s largest transporter of fresh cut flowers with terminals in Florida and California. Over the course of his career, Armellini has worked in all aspects of the family business including safety, scheduling, maintenance and floral transport sales. In 1993, he was promoted to executive vice president of sales and marketing, and soon after his scope of responsibilities expanded to include all subsidiaries.
During his tenure, Armellini has significantly expanded the company and implemented many state-of-the-art innovations. He has introduced tracking technologies and company-wide communications systems to improve cold chain management and increase efficiency. These innovations have benefited not only the wholesaler, but retailers and consumers as well with better quality, longer lasting flowers.
His has helped develop and implement a system to ensure compliance with federal transportation regulations – an ongoing priority for transportation companies and a critical component in the seamless transfer of flowers. He has been instrumental in developing ways to reduced shrinkage through better refrigeration and packing techniques. Armellini also directed the overhaul of the company’s website which led directly to improved customer service.
Within the floral industry, Armellini has long been considered an intelligent, thoughtful and forward thinking leader who uses his personal experiences to inform and guide discussion to help improve the industry as a whole. He is a former president of the Wholesale Florist & Florist Supplier Association, as well as a former member of the SAF Government Relations Committee and the Produce Marketing Association’s Floral Data Standard Committee. He currently sits on the board of the Florida Trucking Association.
Armellini’s commitment to the industry and community can also be seen in his many acts of generosity over the years. He has provided transportation services for many SAF conventions, including this one here in Marco Island, making sure the flowers you see in banquet rooms and throughout the hotel are fresh and long lasting.
He was instrumental in helping SAF with several presidential inaugurations by coordinating transportation and logistics. In the aftermath of 9/11, he provided transportation support to get flowers to memorial services and remembrance events in New York and Washington, DC., and his trucks also provided flowers for services immediately following the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995.
A graduate of Lynchburg College in Lynchburg, Va., Armellini is a dedicated member of his local community, serving on the Stuart-Martin County Chamber of Commerce, the advisory board of the Wells Fargo Bank and the Executive board of The Pine School in Hobe Sound, Fla.
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
