Meet the Designers

Derrick Vasquez AIFD
Lead Designer


Derrick has been in the Special Events business for over 30 years and runs a successful business, “Events by Derrick”.  Inducted into the American Institute of Floral Design in 1984, he has since served in numerous leadership positions within AIFD, the Society of American Florists, and regional floral organizations. He was National President of AIFD in 2000-2001. He has been CEO of the AIFD Foundation and continues to serve. He has received the Award of Fellow to the American Institute. He is currently the President of the Southwest Region of AIFD. He was selected five times among California’s Top Ten Designers by The California Floral Association; Served as Chairman of Society of American Florists Convention 1997. Derrick has been the CalFlowers Fun ‘N Sun head designer for over ten years, designed numerous Headdress Charity Balls, including such organizations as Assistance League of San Bernardino’s Starlight Ball, The Damas de’ Caridad Ball, The Las Florista’s Headdress Ball, as both a designer and judge. He has designed on numerous Design Panels, Trade Shows, Open Houses and Allied Organizations throughout the United States, Japan, Korea, Singapore and Taiwan.

His designs have appeared in such magazines as Flowers & Florist Review, Designing for Profit, Finer Things, and Canadian Design publications. Highlights of his work have been featured at AIFD National Conventions in Dallas, Texas and in Kansas City, Missouri. He participated in the George H. Bush, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton Presidential Inaugural Floral Design teams. Derrick is also very active in working with many charities such as Santa Claus Inc., Christmas Tree Lane, Child Help Forest of Hope, Festival of Trees, as well as Loma Linda Children’s Hospital events. He serves on the Colton Historic Commission for the city as well as many other community events.

Carol Caggiano AIFD, PFCI


In addition to operating a successful retail flower shop for most of her floral career, Carol Caggiano, AIFD, PFCI, has traveled extensively throughout the United States as well as Japan, Korea, Italy and Singapore, sharing her design skills, creative techniques and business knowledge with her fellow florists. As an accredited member of the American Institute of Floral Design, she has served as Regional President and Chairman of the National Membership Committee. Her designs and commentary have been featured at several AIFD National Symposiums.

In 2005, AIFD presented Carol with their Award of Distinguished Service to the Floral Industry. She has served on the Board of Directors for the Society of American Florists. She is a member of Professional Floral Communicators International (PFCI) and has served as its chair. In 2008 PFCI and the Society of American Florists presented Carol with the Tommy Bright Award for Excellence in Floral Education and Commentary. In 2013 Carol was the recipient of the prestigious Paul Ecke Jr. Award, presented by the Society of American Florists for her exemplary devotion to profession, industry and community.

Susan Ayala AIFD, CFD, PFCI


Susan Ayala, AIFD, is a nationally recognized floral designer and commentator who has been involved in the floral industry most of her life. She has designed for and managed a family owned business and is now a freelance designer.

Susan has traveled across the United States and Canada presenting educational design programs for many states and regional organizations, including International Design Forums presented by AIFD in Canada and England.

Susan has taught at the Teleflora Education Center for the past eleven years, and has taught American floral designs internationally in Taiwan, Japan, and Korea. She also traveled to China creating designs for a product development company along with merchandising their show rooms.

For over 30 years Susan has designed for Fiesta Parade Floats, a consistent award winner in Pasadena’s world famous Rose Parade.

From 1990 through 1999 Susan served on the National Board of Directors including serving as National President for American Institute of Floral Designers.

Currently she is on the Southwest Regional Board of Directors of AIFD, serving as current president and also serving on the AIFD Foundation Board of Directors.

Lynne Moss AIFD, PFCI, AAF


Lynne has owned her own retail business for 38 years in Pratt, Kansas, a rural community of 6,500. She has been involved with the Pratt Chamber of Commerce, and received the Southwest Retail Business Award from the State of Kansas Commerce and Housing Department. She has worked with the Kansas State Funeral Directors and promoted the importance of flowers. As a former Educational Specialist for Teleflora, she has designed for and educated her peers throughout the United States. She supports all facets of the industry with enthusiasm. She is a member of PFCI (Professional Floral Communicators International) and AAF (American Academy of Floriculture), both a part of the Society of American Florists. She has been involved in many ways, working as a member of the Floral Management Advisory Committee, working on the design team for national conventions and has represented her region on the National Retail Council. She was part of the George Bush Inauguration team of designers.

As a member of the American Institute of Floral Designers, she is a Past-President and Fellow of AIFD. Lynne has chaired the Education Research Committee that wrote and developed The AIFD Guide to Floral Design book. She is also a trustee on the AIFD Foundation. She chaired the 2009 National AIFD Symposium in Kansas City, Missouri, The Sky’s the Limit and has served as the President of the South Central Region of AIFD.

Lori Novak AIFD


Lori has been a floral designer for the past 36 years, working in her family’s retail flower shop and designing events. Lori has been a member of the American Institute of Floral Designers since 1989. Serving AIFD as Symposium coordinator for Inspiration 2016, Lori has been a Program Coordinator for two previous symposiums, and she serves the National Board on the Southwest Chapter board of directors through 2017, as well as being a member of the National finance committee.

Designing for two Presidential inaugurations, Lori has also been featured in floral publications for previous designs. A design team member for Fun ’N Sun for the past conventions, Lori has enjoyed working with the beautiful products provided by the CalFlowers growers.

Eddie Payne AIFD


Eddie is the owner of Brooksville Florist in Brooksville, Florida. A native Floridian, except for a short four years as a resident of Los Angles, California, where he worked for a major Flowers by wire service as their Floral Director. Eddie has been a member of AIFD since 1982, and has served on numerous committees as Membership Chair, National Board member and as President in 2005. Eddie was bestowed a FELLOW of the Institute, AIFD’s highest award to its Members, and is currently serving the AIF Foundation as the new CEO. Eddie has worked for Fiesta Parade Floats, Charisma Productions on the Academy Awards, and has worked as a Product Development Designer for several companies in Hong Kong on Christmas and seasonal products.

Tom Simmons AIFD, CFD, CCF


Tom has been active in the floral industry for over 35 years. He is a past President of the American Institute of Floral Designers (AIFD), past Symposium Coordinator for the 2013 AIFD National Symposium, ”Passion,” and served as Program Coordinator for the 2016 National Symposium “INSPIRATION” to be held in Anaheim. He is also the current national treasurer for AIFD and in 2013 he was given the honor of “fellow” by AIFD, the highest honor given by the association. Tom is a member of the Teleflora Education Specialist.

Michael Quesada, AIFD, CFD


Michael Quesada is the owner of Kaleidoscope Flowers in Santa Barbara, CA. He attended California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, CA and majored in ornamental horticulture with a concentration in sales and service. Today, Michael still keeps ties with Cal Poly, being one of the design team’s advisors to the University.

He is tirelessly involved with his regional Teleflora unit (Los Angeles Coastal Counties) including being past president for LACCU. Michael is also on the Teleflora Design Team. He has been the president of the SW region of AIFD and is currently the National Regional Representative for the Southwest Region of AIFD and the Committee Chair for AIFD’s Career Development Program along with the procurement chair of the 2013 AIFD Design Symposium in Las Vegas, Nevada.