American Floral Endowment Update - Fall 2003
Industry Leaders Join Endowment Board
Shahriar (Shari) Ghoddousi, James (Jim) Phillip, Jr. and Robert (Bob) M. Wilkins havejoined the American Floral Endowment Board of Trustees.
Shari Ghoddousi
Shari is Chief Executive Officer and Vice Chairman of The John Henry Company in Lansing, Mich., a printing and packaging company for the floral industry. During his 18 years with the company, he has served as Director of Management Information Systems, Vice President of Operations, and Senior Vice President for Corporate Development, Mergers and Acquisitions. He also is Chairman and CEO of Digital Label Alliance, a corporation focusing on digital printing technology, electronic pre-press and electronic data interface to suppliers.
Shari earned his MBA and Ph.D. from Michigan State University and has served for several years as Chairman of the Graphic Arts Industry Group with the American Production and Inventory Control Society. He now serves on the National Association for Printing Leadership, Michigan Red Cross, and is a member of the Center for Advanced Purchasing Studies at Arizona State University. He serves at Michigan State University on the College of Education DeanÕs Advisory Board, and is a member of the Center for International Education and Research.
Jim Phillip, Jr.
Jim Phillip, Jr. is Vice Chairman and Chief Information Officer of PhillipÕs Flowers, Westmont, Illinois, a retail and wholesale floral business. PhillipÕs Flowers was founded in 1923 and is now in its third generation of family ownership as one of ChicagoÕs and the nationÕs leading retail florists, consisting of 10 branch floral shops and a commercial for interiorscaping and holiday displays. Jim joined the business in 1976, served as president from 1979 through 1996, and now oversees finances and technology for the company.
Jim has held membership in the American Academy of Floriculture, the AFMC Committee, various SAF committees, the Retail Council, and the SAF Board of Directors. He has a BS degree in industrial engineering from Stanford University and an MBA from the Kellogg School at Northwestern University.
Bob Wilkins
Bob Wilkins is Chairman of the Board of Delaware Valley Wholesale Florist, Inc. in Sewell, New Jersey, the largest single operation wholesale florist in the United States, providing professional florists with the supplies, and botanicals. The company was founded in 1959 by his father, Robert S. Wilkins. Bob is responsible for corporately developing the overall long-term growth and direction of the company and is specifically concentrating on the direction of the company as it relates to transportation, information systems, marketing, and building new partnerships with growers.
Bob is a former board member of the Society of American Florists; past president and board member of the Wholesale Florist and Florist Supplier Association, as well as Allied Florists of Philadelphia; past board member of the Floral Marketing Association and the Produce Marketing Association; and co-chair of the Prornoflor Organizing Committee.
