One of Saturday’s Highlights was the Main Stage live Designer of the Year contest sponsored by FloraCraft and CalFlowers. This year’s winner,Kate Holton CF, Kennedy’s Flowers & Gifts, Grand Rapids MI (Pictured Right) will have her designs featured in The Professional Florist magazine.  

Amber Kirkland CF, CFD, (Pictured Left) The Velvet Touch Events, Detroit, MI won the Chuck Bannow “Best of Show” for her first place in the Tribal Floral Spirit themed entry.  Visit www.glfee.com to view all design contest winning designs. 

Saturday evening's Recognition Banquet featured floral design using flowers from around the world. New Certified Florists (CF) were celebrated, and the 2024 Design Contest winners were announced.  GLFA Industry awards presented at the banquet included:

Lifetime Achievement:
Tim Galea, Norton’s Flowers & Gifts,
Ypsilanti, MI

National Service:
Derrick Myers,
Crockett Myers & Associates,
Glen Burnie, MD

 

Retailer of the Year:
Beautiful Blooms by Jen,
Sylvania, OH

Retail Employee of the Year:
Carol Simmermeyer,
Four Seasons Florist,
Brookville, IN

Wholesale Employee of the Year:
Jessica Regentin,
Kennicott Brothers Company,
Warren, MI

Young Person of the Year:
Kymbra Tucker CF,
Banner Flower House,
Kokomo, IN

Special Recognition:
Tony Vear,
Mains Importing,
Hillsdale, MI

Special Recognition: (Not Pictured) Ron Chludil, Denver Wholesale Florist, Flint, MI

GLFA Past Presidents Award:
Sponsored by: Floriology powered by BloomNet
Samantha Belonga,
St. Ignace In Bloom,
St. Ignace, Michigan.

Sunday arrived quickly with another day packed with hands-on workshops, Business sessions and main stage shows. The weekend had something for everyone! The Sunday Luncheon and Annual meeting brought everyone together to review the Associations past year and share a hot plated lunch.   Attendees were inspired by Dr. Breigh Jones-Coplin Keynote address: Soil to Self: Nurturing, Growth, Empowerment, and Blossoming our Roots. After our Keynote, Jerome Raska AAF, AIFD, CF, PFCI asked everyone to place a flower into a large urn along with a pledge to donate to the Great Lakes Floral Foundation.  Together we raised over $4000 to support the education of future florists and guarantee the future of our industry.

Samantha Belonga CF of St. Ignace in Bloom, St. Ignace, Michigan, and Chairman of 2025 GLFEE would like to invite you to attend the 2025 GLFEE “Ignite & Inspire” February 28 - March 2, 2025, at the Amway Grand Plaza and Devos Place, Grand Rapids, Michigan.  “I am very excited to start planning for 2025 GLFEE.  We’ll have cutting edge design shows and business sessions that will be not only “Ignite” but “Inspire” your passion for the floral industry, whether you’re a designer or vendor I promise you won’t be disappointed!”  Full details coming soon at www.glfee.com. Visit our Facebook page to view all 2024 GLFEE photos. 

The Great Lakes Floral Association is a full-service trade organization representing more than 400 florists, growers, and wholesalers. Located in Haslett, Michigan, GLFA offers group savings on insurance, and credit card processing; is the sponsor of the Certified Florist (CF) program; creates and hosts the annual Great Lakes Floral & Event Expo; conducts educational seminars throughout the year at the association headquarters and various other facilities; publishes The Professional Florist magazine; hosts the GLFA and GLFEE websites and interacts with state/federal government agencies. For more information on GLFA, visit their web site at www.greatlakesfloralassociation.org.

For Immediate Release:  
Contact: Family Flowers
[email protected]

Family Flowers Continues to Deliver Love with the Purchase of
Palmer Flowers and Paul Wood Florist

Family Flowers, a leading name in the floral industry, is proud to announce the acquisition of two award-winning flower brands in Colorado: Palmer Flowers and Paul Wood Florist. This strategic expansion signifies Family Flowers' commitment to growing its floral family while preserving the rich heritage and personal touch that these local favorites bring to their communities.

Palmer Flowers, with three locations in Northern Colorado - Fort Collins, Loveland, and Greeley, has been a cornerstone of the floral community since 1983. Paul Wood Florist, a Fort Collins staple since 1933, holds the honor of being one of the oldest retailers in the city. Together, Palmer Flowers and Paul Wood Florist are known for their unbeatable customer service, exceptional floral designs, and deep-rooted connections in the community.

With this acquisition, Family Flowers is not only expanding its geographical footprint but also enriching its portfolio with businesses that share its values of quality, service, and community engagement. Both Palmer Flowers and Paul Wood Florist will continue to operate under their existing brand names, preserving the legacy and unique offerings that have endeared them to their customers. The local leadership and teams will remain in place, ensuring a seamless transition and the continuation of the exceptional service that clients have come to expect.

Kevin R. McCarthy, Family Owner and President of Family Flowers, expressed his enthusiasm about the new additions to the Family Flowers network, saying, "I am truly thrilled to welcome the Palmer Flowers and Paul Wood Florist teams into our floral family. We’re bringing together expert team members with access to the best flowers from around the globe and our shared commitment to excellence. We look forward to continuing to serve Northern Colorado with the same dedication and quality our clients have come to know and love from these iconic brands."

About Family Flowers - McCarthy Group Florists Family owned since 1952, Family Flowers has grown to become a leader in the floral industry, providing an unmatched dedication to quality, creativity, and customer happiness. Family Flowers acquires beloved local flower shops in the United States and operates iconic floral brands across the country, with 30 locations in 10 states and growing. The company’s mission is to Deliver Love® through the art of flowers.

For more information about Family Flowers, Palmer Flowers, and Paul Wood Florist, please visit: www.FamilyFlowers.com.