ALEXANDRIA, VA — The Society of American Florists will honor seven professionals with induction into the American Academy of Floriculture (AAF) during the Stars of the Industry Awards Dinner on Aug. 16 at SAF Marco Island 2014, the association's 130th Annual Convention in Marco Island, Fla.
“The Academy’s stringent requirements make AAF an achievement recognized throughout the floral industry,” said SAF Awards Committee Chairman Rod Saline, AAF, of Engwall Florist & Greenhouses Inc., in Duluth, Minn.
AAF members have earned the prestigious rank by committing their time and energy to both the floral industry and their local communities. AAF members are vetted for volunteering and leadership service to the industry and their communities, and each application must be submitted with several letters of recommendation from local community professionals and peers in the industry.
The AAF inductees for 2014 are:
Rochette “Rochie” Webb Allen, AAF, of Rochette’s Florist in Farmville, Va.
Dana Cook, AAF, of Julia’s Florist in Wilmington, N.C.
Christie Ann Cothrun, AAF, AzMF, of the Arizona State Florists Association in Phoenix
Josh Glass, AAF, of Peoples Flower Shops in Albuquerque, N.M.
Joyce Mason-Monheim, AAF, AIFD, CFD, PFCI, AzMF, of Designer Destination in Tucson, Ariz.
Carlos Manuel Uribe, AAF, of Flores El Capiro S.A. in Medellín, Colombia
Eileen Looby Weber, AAF, of Lake Forest Flowers & Greenhouses in Lake Forest, Ill.
For 45 years, Rochie Webb Allen, AAF, has been a pillar of Farmville, Va., connecting business and community concerns and building her shop even as she strengthened arts and educational organizations throughout the city. As the owner of Rochette’s Florist, her professional relationships, particularly with Longwood University, have been complemented by philanthropic initiatives — product donation and the gift of time and talent to groups such as the Prince Edward Rescue Squad and the Heart of Virginia Free Clinic.
Allen, the Virginia Professional Florist Association’s 2012 Designer of the Year, earned a certificate from the former Bill Hixson School of Floral Design in addition to extensive training through FTD. In 1996, she was the first florist in her area to participate in FTD’s Good Neighbor Day. A member of the Farmville Women’s Club since 1965, Allen has been honored for her service and contributions with awards from Meals on Wheels, the Wild Turkey Federation, Hampden-Sydney College and Longwood University.
Allen has been a member of VPFA for nearly 15 years and was an FTD Virginia district board member in the mid-’80s. A lifelong learner with a passion for education, Allen has taught many adult education classes through local organizations, including garden clubs.
The line between community and business is thin for Dana Cook, AAF — and that’s exactly how the president and owner of Julia’s Florist in Wilmington, N.C., wants it to be. Cook, who purchased her business and joined the industry full-time in 2008, donates more than $15,000 in product each year to community groups through Julia’s Floral Grants, an innovative program that Cook dreamed up, which allows her to give generously to local causes, while ensuring her business stays profitable.
Beyond her grant programs, Cook also has participated in a myriad of community events including Swings and Teens, a community event where teens build swing sets for underprivileged children. Following the devastating winter storm around Valentine’s Day in 2014, she organized an effort, Lemons into Lemonade, that delivered overstock fresh product and floral designs to Wilmington nursing homes, to the delight of residents. An SAF volunteer leader since 2013, Cook also holds leadership or advisory role positions with Cape Fear Community College, the Cape Fear Garden Club, St. James Episcopal Church and the Cucalorus Film Festival. She also is president-elect of the Wilmington Central Rotary Club. Her shop has been recognized recently with “Best of” designations from StarNews and Encore magazine. Cook was also nominated as “Woman to Watch” in Wilmington. She is a graduate of Mount Olive University.
How do you keep one of the country’s oldest state florist associations going strong — and growing? For Christie Ann Cothrun, AAF, AzMF, president of the Arizona State Florists’ Association (ASFA), the answer is hard work, dedication and a winning leadership style. As ASFA president, Cothrun, branch manager for Baisch & Skinner in Phoenix, has committed herself to elevating the skills of Arizona florists and promoting their talents, writing and editing the group’s newsletter, and also overseeing the launch of a new website for consumers and state florists, azflorists.org.A certified Arizona Master Florist and Gardener, Cothrun has presented demos, shows and educational sessions on topics such as holiday planning and time management, along with single-issue seminars on health care rules and regulations, and much more. An active member of the Phoenix business community, Cothrun served on the boards of the National Association of Women Business Owners and the Women’s Enterprise Foundation. She is a member of the Metro Tech High School Floral Advisory Board and the Phoenix Art Museum’s Arts & Flowers Advisory Board.
Cothrun also has donated time and flowers to organizations that support kids in crisis centers and teen mothers. In 1998, Rotary International recognized Cothrun’s dedication, naming her a Paul Harris Fellow. Cothrun is a native Arizonian and mother of two sons.
“People first” could easily be the mantra of Josh Glass, AAF. The vice president of Peoples Flower Shops in Albuquerque, N.M., has dedicated much of his career to drawing out the best in others — in the community, in business and through his work and volunteerism as a certified wellness coach.Glass, a nine-year-industry veteran, joined Peoples in April 2014; prior to that, he was vice president of Trochta’s Flowers & Garden Center in Oklahoma City, Okla. Until moving to Albuquerque, Glass was an active volunteer with the Zachary Taylor Neighborhood Association and in an extensive project to restore Oklahoma State University’s historic Doel Reed Center for the Arts. Glass has also quite literally put himself in harm’s way for the benefit of others: In 2003 he received a community “Making a Difference Hero” for risking his life to apprehend an individual who had caused an accident in interstate traffic that resulted in a fatality.
Among many other industry contributions, Glass was an Outstanding Varieties judge during SAF’s 129th Annual Convention in Phoenix last year. He earned a degree from the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma and a wellness coach certification from the Cooper Institute in Dallas, Texas.
Joyce Mason-Monheim, AAF, AIFD, PFCI, AzMF A sought-after speaker and freelance designer, Joyce Mason-Monheim, AAF, AIFD, CFD, PFCI, AzMF has formalized educational programs and certifications for floral designers at the state and national level over the past 15 years. In 1999, while president of the Arizona State Florists Association (ASFA), she helped create the group’s Arizona Master Florist designation. The prestigious program empowers designers to elevate their skills and professionalize their craft, providing them with more opportunities for employment and growth.A decade later, as chairman of the American Institute of Floral Designers’ (AIFD) National Membership Committee and a member of the group’s National Board of Directors, Mason-Monheim put that experience into practice again when she pushed to create AIFD’s Professional Floral Design Evaluation system and Certified Floral Designer (CFD) designation.
Beyond her advocacy for education, Mason-Monheim has carved out a reputation as an innovative designer who reimagines the bounds of what is possible. At the 2013 AIFD Symposium in Las Vegas, she created “Savage Botanicals,” a fashion show and display inspired by the late Alexander McQueen. These one-of-a-kind permanent floral botanical couture fashions were designed by Mason-Monheim and created by female AIFD designers from Arizona. Their work was also showcased at a charity event, The Women’s Enterprise Foundation’s Joie de Vivre, and also at the Phoenix Art Museum.
In addition to her many leadership roles with AIFD and AFSA, Mason-Monheim was the chairman of Professional Floral Communicators – International and a member of SAF’s Convention Committee. She is a member of Teleflora’s team of Education Specialists and has designed for the Rose Parade, the 2001 Inauguration of President George W. Bush and the 2002 AIFD National Symposium, among other events.
Carlos Manuel Uribe, AAFFor his work to improve how flowers are transported from South America, Carlos Manuel Uribe, AAF, is an innovator and a true entrepreneur. Since joining the floral industry 15 years ago, the CEO of Flores El Capiro S.A. in Medellín, Colombia, has developed an effective, reliable ship container system that was initially used with flowers shipping from Colombia to Europe; the program has since been expanded to include Chile and Australia. Uribe’s efforts prioritized both efficiency and quality, and placed him on the cutting edge of the international industry.
For Asocolflores – The Association of Colombian Flower Exporters, Uribe is a different sort of pioneer: He’s the youngest person to chair the association, which represents flower farmers managing nearly 75 percent of Colombia’s total flower exports. Uribe, who has been involved with the Asocolflores Government Relations efforts at every level, also has held leadership roles with Fundaflor and Union Fleurs and became a member of SAF’s Board of Directors in 2013. A graduate of Southern New Hampshire University’s MBA program, Uribe has been recognized by both the UK supermarket chain Tesco and the Dutch Flower Group.
Eileen Looby Weber, AAF When residents of Lake Forest, Ill., need advice on local businesses and new trends (including ideas on flowers, plants and floral design), they turn to the resident expert: Eileen Looby Weber, AAF. Since 2009, Weber has hosted “Inside Lake Forest,” a TV show focused on all things Lake Forest.Weber, the vice president of Lake Forest Flowers & Greenhouses, also was a volunteer leader for the city’s 100th day anniversary celebration, as well as an event commemorating the 150th anniversary of the city’s founding. In addition, Weber has served on the board of Camel Catholic High School and was the volunteer party chair for the 2013 Western Golf Association Tournament. She has held leadership roles with the Lake Forest-Lake Bluff Chamber of Commerce and is a Rotary International Paul Harris Fellow.
Weber teaches basic floral design through her family’s business and the Glencoe Park District. In September 2013, she was included in a Floral Management magazine cover story on next-generation floral industry leaders. While working toward her undergraduate degree at Purdue University, Weber was a research assistant for P. Allen Hammer, Ph.D., supporting experiments and trials of poinsettias and other crops. She also worked in the university’s Plant & Pest Diagnostic Lab, collecting and testing samples of a soil-borne bacterial pathogen cited on USDA’s Agricultural Bioterrorism Act of 2002. She holds an MBA from Lake Forest Graduate School of Management.
To apply for AAF membership induction in 2015, visit safnow.org/aaf. For SAF Marco Island 2014, visit safnow.org/annual-convention.
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The Society of American Florists is the leading organization representing all segments of the floral industry. SAF is proud to provide marketing, business and government services to its members, including growers, wholesalers, retailers, suppliers, importers, educators, designers and allied organizations. The association was chartered by an act of Congress in 1884.
Source: Society of American Florists