{"id":1148,"date":"2022-09-13T10:59:00","date_gmt":"2022-09-13T10:59:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/afe.epicenter1.com\/news\/appreciation-recognition-and-funding-the-future-of-floriculture"},"modified":"2024-07-30T19:13:32","modified_gmt":"2024-07-30T19:13:32","slug":"appreciation-recognition-and-funding-the-future-of-floriculture","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/endowment.org\/es\/news\/appreciation-recognition-and-funding-the-future-of-floriculture","title":{"rendered":"Appreciation, Recognition, and Funding the Future of Floriculture"},"content":{"rendered":"\n


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The Endowment hosted its annual event during the SAF Annual Convention in Orlando, Florida, on Tuesday, September 6, 2022.<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>

The afternoon was full of excitement as industry members and supporters joined together after a long three-year gap in AFE\u2019s annual in-person events due to the pandemic. AFE Chairman Laura Shinall, Managing Partner of FreshPath Marketing, kicked off the event by welcoming everyone back and setting the tone for celebrating AFE\u2019s supporters and accomplishments.<\/span><\/p>

\"Image\"\u201cWe\u2019re excited and thankful to see everyone again and celebrate the many successes of the past few years,\u201d noted Shinall, \u201cIt\u2019s important to share the impact being made throughout the industry thanks to the many generous industry donors. Through contributions to AFE, industry members support innovative research, educational opportunities, and programs empowering young professionals joining the industry.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Updates were shared on AFE\u2019s core programs \u2013 research, educational grants, scholarships, and internships. This included a special announcement of the newly launched<\/span> Sustainability Project<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>

AFE\u2019s new<\/span> Strategic Plan<\/a> was also presented, along with recognitions of over<\/span> 60 organizations and individuals reaching new lifetime giving levels<\/a> and acknowledging the sponsors that have supported<\/span> AFE\u2019s virtual fundraising campaigns<\/a> over the past two years.<\/span><\/p>

\u201cI started my term during COVID, but I couldn\u2019t be prouder of the work that AFE Trustees and Staff have done to develop a solid strategic plan for the future and successfully continue funding for all of the Endowment\u2019s programs despite the pandemic\u2019s challenges,\u201d stated Shinall.<\/span><\/p>

\"Image\"AFE also announced new Officers and Trustees to the Board, followed by the passing of the gavel from Chairman Laura Shinall to Ken Young, owner of Phoenix Flower Shops.<\/span><\/p>

New AFE Trustees include Jackie Lacey of Floriology\/BloomNet; Tim Noble of Hortica, a brand of the Sentry Insurance Group; Jeronimo Herrera of Jardines De Los Andes; and Janet Kister of Sunlet Nursery.<\/span><\/p>

Four outgoing Trustees were honored as they completed their term on the Board: Dwight Larimer of DESIGN MASTER color tool \u2013 a Division of Smithers-Oasis; Mike Mellano of Mellano & Company, Juan Carlos Uribe of G.R. Chia, and Randy Tagawa of Tagawa Greenhouses who completed his term in 2020.<\/span><\/p>

The session ended with a reception full of energy and a fun networking game with a chance to win a free registration for SAF\u2019s 2023 Convention in Arizona. The game encouraged attendees to meet each other and connect with AFE\u2019s supporters \u2013 welcoming newcomers to begin conversations with longtime industry members. Announced on Thursday afternoon, Robbyn Repp of Petal to the Metal Flowers in North Bend, Oregon, won that free registration to attend the SAF convention next year.<\/span><\/p>

A special thank you to the Event Sponsors:<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>