This year’s ‘World of Flowers’ -themed Great Lakes Floral & Event Expo (GLFEE), held between 1-3 March at the DeVos Place in Grand Rapids, was bursting at the seams with excitement, design talent and attendees.
The conference brought over 370 attendees this year, representing 16 different states as well as Ontario, Canada. With a full agenda including business seminars, design classes, main stage shows, and a jam-packed trade show.
Attendees left filled with new product ideas from the 34 trade show vendors, new design ideas from the design contest and main stage shows, and new business strategies shared by industry experts.
Back by popular demand was the Friday night Mix & Mingle which provided attendees the opportunity to meet new people, network with fellow industry professionals all while playing BINGO for prizes that included the grand prize of a Certified Florist (CF) manual with one round of testing.
Saturday was a day filled with Hands-On design classes featuring Sympathy, Weddings, Photography and Social media tips. Kate Penn, Derrick Myers, Tim Huckabee, Shirley Lyons, Bob Negen, Renato Sogueco, Jackie Lacey and ladies from Flower Clique all shared cutting edge business tips with the attendees.
One of Saturday’s Highlights was the Main Stage live Designer of the Year contest sponsored by FloraCraft and CalFlowers. This year’s winner, Kate Holton CF, Kennedy’s Flowers & Gifts, Grand Rapids MI will have her designs featured in The Professional Florist magazine. Amber Kirkland CF, CFD, The Velvet Touch Events, Detroit, MI won the Chuck Bannow ‘Best of Show’ for her first place in the Tribal Floral Spirit themed entry. Visit www.glfee.com to view all design contest winning designs.
Saturday evening’s Recognition Banquet featured floral design using flowers from around the world. New Certified Florists (CF) were celebrated, and the 2024 Design Contest winners were announced. GLFA Industry awards presented at the banquet included:
Lifetime Achievement: Tim Galea, Norton’s Flowers & Gifts, Ypsilanti, MI
National Service: Derrick Myers, Crockett Myers & Associates, Glen Burnie, MD
Retailer of the Year: Beautiful Blooms by Jen, Sylvania, OH
Retail Employee of the Year: Carol Simmermeyer, Four Seasons Florist, Brookville, IN
Wholesale Employee of the Year: Jessica Regentin, Kennicott Brothers Company, Warren, MI
Young Person of the Year: Kymbra Tucker CF, Banner Flower House, Kokomo, IN
Special Recognition: Tony Vear, Mains Importing, Hillsdale, MI
Special Recognition: Ron Chludil, Denver Wholesale Florist, Flint, MI
GLFA Past Presidents Award sponsored by Floriology powered by BloomNet – Samantha Belonga, St. Ignace In Bloom, St. Ignace, Michigan.
The Sunday Luncheon and Annual meeting brought everyone together to review the Associations past year and share a hot plated lunch.
Attendees were inspired by Dr. Breigh Jones-Coplin Keynote address: Soil to Self: Nurturing, Growth, Empowerment, and Blossoming our Roots. After the Keynote, Jerome Raska AAF, AIFD, CF, PFCI asked everyone to place a flower into a large urn along with a pledge to donate to the Great Lakes Floral Foundation. The event raised over $4000 to support the education of future florists and guarantee the future of Michigan’s flower industry.
The next ‘Ignite & Inspire’- themed GLFEE will take place between 28 February – 2 March 2025, at the Amway Grand Plaza and Devos Place, Grand Rapids, Michigan.
The Great Lakes Floral Association is a full-service trade organisation representing more than 400 florists, growers, and wholesalers.
Located in Haslett, Michigan, GLFA offers group savings on insurance, and credit card processing; is the sponsor of the Certified Florist (CF) program; creates and hosts the annual Great Lakes Floral & Event Expo; conducts educational seminars throughout the year at the association headquarters and various other facilities; publishes The Professional Florist magazine; hosts the GLFA and GLFEE websites and interacts with state/federal government agencies. For more information visit www.greatlakesfloralassociation.org
