ALEXANDRIA, VA — The members of the Society of American Florists (SAF) have elected eight members to positions on its Retailers, Wholesalers and Growers Councils. New council members begin their terms at the close of SAF Marco Island 2014, SAF's 130th Annual Convention, Aug. 13-16 in Marco Island, Fla. Results of the SAF board elections, which take place during the annual convention and via absentee ballot, will be announced on Aug. 16 at the association’s Annual Business Meeting during SAF Marco Island 2014.
Newly-elected SAF Council members are:
Retailers Council: Jessica Cosentino, AAF, Cosentino's Florist, Auburn, N.Y.; Tim Galea, Norton's Flowers & Gifts, Ypsilanti, Mich.; and Kristen Gainan-Graves, Gainan's Floral & Greenhouses, Billings, Mont.
Jessica Cosentino Kristin Gainan-Graves
Jessica Cosentino Tim Galea Kristen Gainan-Graves
Wholesalers Council: Nick Fronduto, Jacobson Floral Supply, Inc., Boston, Mass.; Dave Legge, D.W.F. Wholesale Florists, Denver, C.O.; and Ken Wilkins, Delaware Valley Floral Group, Sewell, N.J.
Nick Fronduto Dave Legge Ken Wilkins
Nick Fronduto Dave Legge Ken Wilkins
Growers Council: Patrick Busch, Len Busch Roses, Plymouth, Minn.; and Ray Greenstreet, Greenstreet Growers, Tracys Landing, M.D.
Patrick Busch Ray Greenstreet
Patrick Busch Ray Greenstreet
The following council members are continuing their terms of office.
RETAILERS COUNCIL: Robert Aykens, AAF, Memorial Florists & Greenhouses, Inc. Appleton, Wisc.; Vince Butera, AAF, AIFD, PFCI, Butera The Florist, York, Pa.; Bridget Carlson, Ashland Addison Florist Company, Chicago, Ill.; Dana Cook, Julia's Florist, Wilmington, N.C.; Cheryl Denham, Arizona Family Florist, LLC, Phoenix, Ariz.; Chad Freytag, Freytag's Florist, Austin, T.X.; Manny Gonzales, Tiger Lily Florist, Charleston, S.C.; Charles Ingrum, Dr. Delphinium Designs & Events, Dallas, T.X.; Mandy Majerik, AIFD, PFCI, HotHouse Design Studio, Birmingham, Ala.; Tony Medlock, AAF, AIFD, PFCI, PJ's Flowers & Events, Phoenix, Ariz.; and Skip Paal, AAF, Rutland Beard Floral Group, Catonsville, M.D.
WHOLESALERS COUNCIL: Bradley Beck, AAF, DESIGN MASTER color tool, inc., Boulder, C.O.; Paul Fowle, Transflora/DV Flora, Doral, Fla.; Gustavo Gilchrist, Kennicott Brothers, Chicago, Ill.; Bob Hamacher, Roses & More, Inc., Spokane Valley, Wash.; Bill LaFever, Bill Doran Company, Rockford, Ill.; Bob Otsuka, San Francisco Flower Mart, San Francisco, Calif.; Ben Powell, Mayesh Wholesale Florist, Doral, Fla.; Laura D. Shinall, Syndicate Sales, Inc., Charleston, S.C.; Jacque Sir Louis, Smithers-Oasis – North American Operations, Kent, Ohio; and Gayle Smith, Chrysal USA, Portland, Ore.
GROWERS COUNCIL: Andrew Bishop, Ph.D., Green Leaf Plants (Aris Horticulture, Inc.), Lancaster, Penn.; Ben Dobbe, Holland America Flowers, LLC, Arroyo Grande, Calif.; Wilja Happe, Farmers’ West Flowers & Bouquets, Carpinteria, Calif.; Steve Kennicott, Kennicott Kuts, LLC, Waterford, Wisc.; Michael Klopmeyer, Ph.D., Darwin Perennials, West Chicago, Ill.; Janet Louie, Green Valley Floral, Salinas, Calif.; Jeff Mast, Banner Greenhouses, Nebo, N.C.; Michael Mooney, Dramm & Echter, Encinitas, Calif.; Dave Self, Wyld West Annuals, Inc., Loxahatchee, Fla.; and Carlos Manuel Uribe, Flores El Capiro S.A., Medellin, Colombia, S.A.
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
