Establishing a strong professional brand is increasingly important for young professionals looking to build credibility and expand their network. The September session will focus on practical ways to communicate your expertise, highlight your work, and create meaningful connections within the floral industry. Topics will include developing a professional online presence, using social media strategically, promoting research or professional achievements, and navigating networking opportunities at industry events. Attendees will leave with actionable tips to strengthen their professional visibility and position themselves for future opportunities.

What does it take to turn humble beginnings into extraordinary success? Join us for an inspiring conversation with Lane DeVries, a Dutch-born flower farmer and accomplished author who began his journey on a small family farm in Holland and went on to build Sun Valley Floral Farms, once the largest cut flower producer in the United States. As part of our Professional Development & Leadership Webinar Series, this motivational session is designed especially for young professionals interested in developing strong personal leadership skills. Lane will share the defining moments, hard lessons, and breakthrough opportunities that shaped his path — many of which are highlighted in his new book, The Pursuit of Purpose. Through stories of setbacks, resilience, and determination, he reflects on the challenges he faced and the leadership mindset that helped him stay focused on purpose while building something meaningful.

Securing research funding has become increasingly competitive for researchers and faculty entering the field. The May session will provide an overview of strategies for successfully writing and submitting grant proposals for both government agencies and industry programs. Speakers will discuss the key elements of strong grant applications, common pitfalls to avoid, and the differences between applying for federal funding versus industry-supported opportunities. Attendees will also learn about current funding opportunities supporting research and innovation in floriculture. The session will include time for audience questions.

The April session features an interactive panel that brings together experienced leaders from across the floral supply chain to share their career journeys, key lessons, and perspectives on the evolving industry. Panelists will speak candidly about the realities of building a career in floriculture, including challenges they have navigated, pivotal moments that shaped their paths, and the opportunities they see ahead for the next generation. Participants will gain practical insights on navigating early-career decisions, building meaningful professional relationships, and positioning themselves for long-term success in a rapidly changing industry. The session will conclude with a live Q&A, giving attendees the opportunity to engage directly with panelists and continue the conversation.

Career paths in floriculture often span both academia and industry, offering a range of opportunities for professionals with diverse interests and expertise. The November session will feature a panel of speakers who have navigated careers across both sectors and will share insights into their experiences. Panelists will discuss how their careers evolved, what influenced their transitions between roles, and how young professionals can evaluate potential career directions. The session will provide perspective on the different professional landscapes within academia and industry, while offering guidance to those considering new career opportunities. A live Q&A will allow participants to engage directly with the speakers.

Join AFE’s Young Professionals Council on Thursday, November 9th at 4:00pm Eastern for an interactive session on Professional Problem-Solving focusing on the STAR method. The presentation will be led by industry expert Laura Walsh, Director of Marketing at Smithers-Oasis. The STAR method, which stands for Stop, Think, Act, and Review, is a problem-solving and decision-making framework commonly used in various professional settings to approach and resolve problems efficiently. Join us to learn how you can put this method into action in your professional (and personal) life to help solve some of your toughest challenges. Following the presentation, we will have time for networking and open discussion, including planning ahead for YPC opportunities in 2024.

Calling all young professionals looking for additional professional development opportunities! Join the American Floral Endowment’s Young Professionals Council (YPC) on September 27th at 4:00pm Eastern for a FREE webinar on team management led by expert speaker, Dr. Megan Bowman of Ball Horticultural Company.

Topics will include:

• How to be an effective team member
• Preparing to step into a management role
• Active listening and expressing appreciation to team members
• Tips & Tools for managing people and their time

This interactive webinar will also include ample time for open Q&A with Dr. Bowman. Don’t miss your chance to gain insights from an industry leader and tips to take your team management skills to the next level!

Get ready for upcoming industry conferences and events! Industry expert Jackie Lacey, AAF, AIFD, CFD, PFCI, Director of Education and Industry Relations at BloomNet/Floriology, and one of AFE’s Board Members, presents on for Tips for Making Effective Industry Presentations. This webinar is geared specifically for young professionals in the floral industry and is hosted by AFE’s Young Professionals Council. 

Topics include:
-Tips for public speaking and combatting nerves
-How to make an engaging presentation and digest data
-Dos and Dont’s at industry events to engage your audiences
-How to seek collaboration

“Personal leadership is the process of keeping your vision and values before you and aligning your life to be congruent with them.”- Stephen Covey
 
Launch into 2023 with a fresh look at your leadership skills! Join us for this four-session, two-week course to learn more about your unique strengths (and weaknesses) and develop a plan to maximize your professional potential. You will develop the tools necessary to articulate your values and align them with your professional goals through lectures, group activities, and independent exercises. 
 
Each interactive session will be an hour long and include access to paid resource/assessment tool, Gallup Strengths Finder. These resources are provided free of charge for the attendees thanks to sponsorship from Smithers-Oasis. This course is being presented as a part of the American Floral Endowment’s Young Professionals Council (YPC) and is aimed at budding young professionals and students.
 
Schedule: 
All sessions are at 4:00pm Eastern. 

“Personal leadership is the process of keeping your vision and values before you and aligning your life to be congruent with them.”- Stephen Covey
 
Launch into 2023 with a fresh look at your leadership skills! Join us for this four-session, two-week course to learn more about your unique strengths (and weaknesses) and develop a plan to maximize your professional potential. You will develop the tools necessary to articulate your values and align them with your professional goals through lectures, group activities, and independent exercises. 
 
Each interactive session will be an hour long and include access to paid resource/assessment tool, Gallup Strengths Finder. These resources are provided free of charge for the attendees thanks to sponsorship from Smithers-Oasis. This course is being presented as a part of the American Floral Endowment’s Young Professionals Council (YPC) and is aimed at budding young professionals and students.
 
Schedule: 
All sessions are at 4:00pm Eastern. 

This program was presented by Laura Walsh, Director of Marketing for Smithers-Oasis North America and moderated by Melinda Knuth, YPC Advisor and Assistant Professor at NC State University. 

Learn how to make the most of trade shows, conferences, and more as a budding young professional in the floral industry. Nervous about returning to events after the lull during COVID-19? Optimize your next in-person event with pointers from this webinar whether as a first-timer or a regular attendee. This session will discuss networking tips and tricks from making a strong introduction and putting your best foot forward to follow-up post-event. Learn how to create and maintain lasting connections to aid in both your personal and professional development moving forward. Marketing and communications experts, Laura Shinall and Melanie Spilbeler, Managing Partners of FreshPath Marketing, will lead a fully interactive session for young professionals to answer questions on networking and making the most of industry events. During this session, attendees will participate directly with the speakers and ask questions to prepare for attending upcoming events