During our recent virtual Board of Trustee meeting on September 20, 2021, new Officers, Executive Committee members, and committee chairs were appointed.
We are happy to recognize these individuals for their commitment to the floral industry and look forward to another successful year.
New Officers: Chairman-Elect and Treasurer/Secretary Appointments
Ken Young of Phoenix Flower Shops Named Chairman-Elect
Ken Young has been in the industry for over 40 years. He is the owner of Phoenix Flower Shops in Scottsdale, Arizona, and former SAF Director. Phoenix Flower Shops operates multiple retail locations and a wholesale division.
He has served as the Treasurer/Secretary for the past two years, also serving as the Investment Committee Chairman simultaneously. He has also served as the Chairman of the Public Relations and Development Committee for the past three years overseeing AFE’s annual fundraising campaigns, and on the Education Committee. Ken will serve one year as Chairman-Elect before becoming Chairman of the Board in September 2022, following Laura Shinall’s two-year term.
Greg Royer of Royer’s Flowers and Gifts – Treasurer/Secretary
Greg Royer, owner of Royer’s Flowers and Gifts in Lebanon, PA has been in the retail floral industry for over 42 years. Royer’s Flowers and Gifts operates 19 stores in Central PA and Columbus, Ohio.
He was appointed to AFE’s Board of Trustees in 2015 and has served on AFE’s Education Committee and Public Relations and Development Committee. Greg became Education Committee Chair in 2017 and will continue his chairmanship while also serving as AFE’s Treasurer/Secretary for a 2-year term. As Treasurer he will also Chair the AFE Investment Committee.
New Executive Committee and Committee Chairman Appointments
David Garcia of The Pete Garcia Company/Garcia Group in Atlanta, Georgia joins the Executive committee as he takes over the role of Public Relations and Development Committee Chair previously held by Ken Young. He joined the AFE Board in 2015. David also serves on the Floral Marketing Fund Committee.
Pat Dahlson, CEO of Mayesh Wholesale Florist for 30 years in Los Angeles, California joins the Executive Committee as becomes the new Chairman of the Floral Marketing Fund Committee previously held by Dwight Larimer. Mayesh operates 19 branch locations in 11 States. He is the also current Board Member of CalFlowers and past President of WF&FSA. He joined the Endowment Board in 2016 and also serves on the Education Committee.
Dwight Larimer of DESIGN MASTER color tool, inc. will be leaving the Executive Committee, but remains on the Board of Trustees as an Emeritus Member. Dwight served as AFE Chairman in 2016 and 2017, after serving as a Trustee for six years. Additionally, he has served as Chairman of AFE’s Vic & Margaret Ball Internship Committee and the Education Committee, as well as serving as Chairman of the Floral Marketing Fund Board of Directors and Committee.
Four Trustees have been appointed to a second three-year term on the Board – Bill Foster, BioWorks in Victor, NY, Steve Frye of Baisch & Skinner in St. Louis, MO, Mauricio Jaramillo, Sole Farms in Miami, Florida, and Art Van Wingerden of Metrolina Greenhouses in Huntersville, North Carolina.
Congratulations to our new Officers, Committee Chairmen, and Trustees! We thank you for your service to the American Floral Endowment. To see a complete list of AFE’s Trustees, click here.
We’re also excited to announce that AFE is in the final stages of our 2021 Strategic Planning and will be announcing the new plan before the end of 2021. AFE is served by an all-volunteer Board of Trustees of industry leaders who donate generously of their time and talent. Trustees also pay their own expenses to travel to the AFE meetings and events, and support AFE with an annual contribution. We are grateful for this incredible support to promote floriculture research, grants, scholarships, and internship programs.
