CalFlowers Staff

Chief Executive Officer

Michael T. LoBue, CAE

[email protected]

The CEO is the association's chief staff officer and is responsible for overall management of CalFlowers, providing guidance and support to staff, as well as to the Board of Directors.  The CEO reports directly to the Board of Directors and is one of the main representatives and spokespersons for CalFlowers to the membership, the industry and other organizations.  LoBue brings more than 35 years of association management and governance experience to CalFlowers.  For the past 25 years LoBue has managed a successful association management company and supported international trade associations in various segments of the computing industry.

Chief Operating Officer

Christopher J. Freed, CAE

[email protected]

The COO is responsible for the overall coordination of staff operations, providing technical support and guidance to staff and CalFlowers projects and programs. Freed brings 14 years of association management experience and an additional 12 years experience in a variety of line and management positions in the software industry. Freed is also an experienced chief financial officer and a chief information officer for associations.

Director of Marketing & Communications

Ginger Tulley

[email protected]

Ginger started her career in sales and marketing at Apple, where she worked with Japanese channel partners to open new Apple-only showrooms called AppleCenters (precursors to the Apple Store) in Japan.

She has been involved in marketing a number of new technologies since she worked at Apple: two pioneer blogging platforms called Movable Type and TypePad; one of the first cloud services for developers, called Joyent; and Dun & Bradstreet business data, available through business applications like SalesForce.

A well-rounded marketer, Ginger learned to focus deeply on target customers to clearly understand their needs. She looks forward to applying her marketing and communications experience to CalFlowers’ aspirational theme:  More Americans enjoying more flowers more often.  Expanding the floral market will bring benefits to consumers, and to all CalFlowers members.

Ginger has a Masters in International Economics from the School for Advanced International Studies (SAIS) at Johns Hopkins University, and a B.A. in International Studies from University of the Pacific.

Marketing & Events Manager

Monnaie Pepin

[email protected]

In her role as the Marketing & Special Events Manager, Monnaie Pepin helps develop marketing and communications programs to support the membership and the association's initiatives and she plans and assists in the execution of member events, especially the biannual Fun 'N Sun / California Floral Convention, and the association's participation in floral industry events.

Director of Transportation

Chris Johnson

[email protected]

Chris Johnson, CalFlowers' Director of Transportation, is well-known to the membership because he functions as a liaison between members and carriers and produces all transportation related communications to the membership. The Director of Transportation administers, maintains and actively promotes CalFlowers' transportation programs to members and potential members through the association's for-profit subsidiary, Northern California Flower Growers & Shippers, LLC. Johnson also assists in developing new transportation programs, and actively participates in the planning and execution of the Fun 'N Sun / California Floral Convention, and the biannual Member Meetings.

Accountant

Cindy Mellem, CPA

[email protected]

Cindy Mellem is responsible for accounting and financial reporting activities for both the associaton and the wholly-owned subsidiary.  Mellem joined the staff in August 2015, bringing 20+ years experience as a professional accountant.  Her experience includes owning a small business, non-profit accounting and as an auditor for Deloitte.  Mellem also holds an MBA from San Jose State University.