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Elisabeth George Hired as Communications Specialist

Left to right: AFE Manager Debi Aker, AFE Communications Specialist Elisabeth George and AFE Chairman Tom Butler of Teleflora.AFE is pleased to announce Elisabeth George as the new communications specialist, a newly created position.Elisabeth brings over six years of nonprofit and agency experience to the position and holds a Master’s Degree in public relations from the George Washington University. Most recently Elisabeth was employed at Ogilvy Public Relations where she worked on website, social media and communications projects for government, corporate and trade association clients.“I am thrilled to be a part of the team,” she said, “and I am looking forward to the opportunity to help increase public awareness of all the valuable work AFE does for the floriculture industry.”Elisabeth…

AFE Releases Research Study on Longevity Guarantees for Flowers

Actual flowers used in the longevity study.AFE just released a comprehensive public benefits study on Longevity Guarantees for Flowers. This multi-part study examines several aspects of consumer preferences for longevity guarantees on flowers including: consumer willingness to pay for longevity guarantees, consumer preferences for longevity labels on cut flowers and consumer preferences for redeeming longevity guarantees.The study was conducted by Chengyan Yue, Ph.D., at the University of Minnesota, with support from Alicia Rihn, University of Minnesota, Bridget Behe, Ph.D., Michigan State University, and Charles Hall, Ph.D., Texas A&M University.“People are very positive about longevity guarantees,” Yue said. “I think we can develop a longevity guarantee labeling system so that people would be reassured of their purchases and go outside of…

AFE’s Vic and Margaret Ball Intern Scholarship Program Nears 20-Year Mark

225 Intern Scholarships Awarded Over Past Two DecadesVic and Margaret BallThe AFE Vic and Margaret Ball Intern Scholarship Program will celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2012.This internship experience fills a crucial need as the floriculture industry seeks to build its capacity and increase workforce development. Since its creation in 1992, the Vic and Margaret Ball Program has facilitated paid internships and provided scholarship funds to more 225 students entering the floriculture/horticulture industry. As industries and businesses nationwide face the challenge of recruiting and retaining qualified employees, opportunities such as the Ball Internship Program play a vital role in highlighting floriculture as a career.“Internships provide the hands-on experience students need to pursue a career in commercial production,” said AFE Education Chairman…

AFE Appoints Mike Duvall and Laura Shinall to Board

AFE has elected Mike Duvall of The Home Depot, and Laura Shinall of Syndicate Sales, Inc., to the Board of Trustees.Mike Duvall has been in the floriculture industry for more than 35 years. Duvall graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in horticulture, where he studied under Dr. Michael Dirr and Dr. Allen Armitage. He began his career as a store manager at Pike Nurseries in Atlanta. Since then, he has been with Home Depot for more than 20 as a store manager and most recently, as a Senior Live Goods Merchant. Duvall is also a recipient of the Ram’s Horn Horticulture Award from Farmingdale College in New York for accomplishments and contributions to the horticulture industry. He…

2011 Fundraising Dinner Garners $275,000 in Donations

Left to right: AFE Chairman Tom Butler accepts a $250,000 check from Herman and LaDonna Meinders with AFE Chairman-Elect Paul Bachman.AFE recently held its 2011 fundraising dinner on Sept. 14 in Palm Springs, Calif. More than 30 organizations in the floriculture industry helped sponsor the event, which was held during the Society of American Florists’ annual convention. The fundraising dinner paid tribute to the generous industry members and organizations that have supported AFE. 185 industry members attended the event, which was hosted by Tom Butler, Chairman of Teleflora and AFE’s Board of Trustees and Paul Bachman, of Bachman’s and AFE’s Chairman-Elect.The fundraising dinner recognized BloomNet, Altman Plants, the Stuppy Family Foundation, Syndicate Sales and Kitayama Brothers/Greenleaf Wholesale for advancing to…

Internships and Grants Awarded

Joshua CraverFor the March 1 deadline, AFE awarded the following internships and grants: six Ball internships in commercial production and one Mosmiller internship in retail/wholesale/allied trade.Joshua Craver, Mississippi State University – three month internship at Metrolina Greenhouses, in Huntersville, NCErik Edwards, University of Georgia – six month internship at Pacific Plug & Liner in Watsonville, CAJacob Kluza, University of Wisconsin-River Falls – six month internship at Skagit Gardens, Mt. Vernon, WAMartha Thomas, University of Maine – six month internship, location TBDCharlotte Vetter, South Dakota University – six month internship at Syngenta/Goldsmith Seeds, Gilroy, CASusanna Whelan, Texas A & M University – three month internship at Molbak’s, Woodinville, WACongratulations to Katherine Ashby, Eastern Oklahoma State College for being awarded an AFE…

Douglas K. Dillon Memorial Tribute Established

A memorial tribute has been established within AFE honoring Douglas K. Dillon, 85, who died September 30, 2011. The tribute was established by a $1,500 donation by the Board of Directors of Hortica Insurance, a leading insurance and employee benefits provider to garden centers, nurseries, retail florists, wholesale floral distributors, greenhouse growers, and other industry professions.“We are honored to establish the Douglas K. Dillon Memorial Tribute on behalf of our current Board of Directors”, Hortica CEO Mona Haberer said. “Doug served on Hortica’s Board for over 32 years, 16 of those as our Chairman. This memorial is a fitting salute to his dedication not only to our company, but also to the industry he loved.”Diagnosed with cancer in early 2009,…

FMRF Flowers as Gifts Study: Flower Quality More Important to Consumers than Price

The Floral Marketing Research Fund (FMRF) has just released a comprehensive study on Consumer Preference for Flowers as Gifts. According to the study, the quality of flowers is more important to consumers than price. When compared with other attributes when purchasing flowers, consumers ranked quality the highest consideration in the buying process, followed by color, price, design and other factors.“Our industry needs to be aggressive in seeking ways to bring our beautiful product to more people and to make sure we understand who our future customers are and what is important to them,” said Paul Bachman, of Bachman’s Inc., in Minneapolis, and chairman of the FMRF. “The Floral Marketing Research Fund is dedicated to addressing these extremely important marketing questions,…

AFE Elects New Leaders

Tom ButlerAFE appointed Tom Butler, chairman of Teleflora in Oklahoma City, as chairman of AFE during the organization’s 50th Anniversary Commemorative Dinner in Orlando on September 22, 2010. Butler, who joined the AFE Board in 2006, also oversees its Development Committee and formerly chaired its Public Relations Committee.Considered a prominent industry authority, Butler has more than 40 years experience in the floral industry, of which he has spent the last 25 with Teleflora and the American Floral Services (AFS), which Teleflora acquired in 2000. As chairman of Teleflora, he visits thousands of florists around the nation every year. His term as chairman of the AFE will be two years.“I can think of no other person who has a greater understanding…

2010 Scholarships and Recipients Announced

Amy HinklePenn State UniversitySixteen horticultural students have received 2010 scholarships and are beginning the school year with funds from AFE totaling more than $22,000.“These very deserving individuals have demonstrated their commitment and passion for the floriculture/horticulture industry,” said AFE’s Scholarship Chairperson PJ Ellison, of Ellison’s Greenhouses in Brenham, Texas. “We are very pleased to be able to help them along their career paths.”Ball Horticultural Company ScholarshipRecipient: Keri Livingston, California State Polytechnic“My professional goal is to work for a well-known floriculture nursery. I am interested in developing new and unique cultivars and technologies,” says Livingston. She wishes to pursue a career in floriculture because of her passion of plants and flowers, and is eager to share her knowledge of horticulture with…

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