Kent, Ohio – OASIS® Floral Products announces three new design directors to its floral team: Frank Feysa AIFD; Loann Burke AIFD, PFCI and Neville MacKay. Joining the six-member design team, the design directors will be an integral part of the OASIS® Floral team and involved with design innovations, breaking new floral trends and sharing their knowledge and experience with florists around the world.
"Each designer offers a fresh take on floral design and brings forward-thinking ideas to the table, keeping Smithers-Oasis North America up on the trends in this ever-changing industry," said Jacque Sir Louis, marketing manager for Smithers-Oasis North America. "The design directors are our pulse on the industry adn bring perspectives from across the nation."
Frank Feysa AIFD brings more than 30 years experience in various capacities including retail shop owner, stage designer, hands-on instructor, party and event design. Feysa serves as past president of the North Central AIFD region and currently is a member of the AIFD Student Competition Committee. In 2008, he was Fresh Flower Procurement Chairman for the AIFD National Symposium “Collaboration” held in Chicago, Illinois and is working in the same capacity for the upcoming AIFD Boston Symposium. Recent projects include “Frankly Floral Art” in Springfield, Illinois at the Frank Lloyd Wright Dana Thomas House, “Survival of the Creative Mind” in Taos, New Mexico, The Chicago Flower and Garden Show, “Nature’s Creative Edge” in Fruitport, Michigan and Franklin Park Conservatory in Columbus, Ohio.
Loann Burke AIFD, PFCI brings more than 25 years design and business experience. Burke was inducted into the American Institute of Floral Designers in 2005, and is the incoming vice president for the North Central Chapter. She was accepted into Professional Floral Communicators International in 2008. Creating alongside her AIFD colleagues, Burke’s designs helped garner a Gold Medal in the Theatrical Division at the 2006 Chicago Flower and Garden Show. Her bridal work won the title of Best Bouquets, 2007 and 2008, in Florists’ Review Magazine. Her work was recently seen on ABC’s Extreme Makeover – Home Edition. Burke also won the coveted People’s Choice Award in the AIFD Designers’ Showcase at the 2008 Dayton Home and Garden Show. She is currently an event specialist with Furst the Florist in Dayton, Ohio.
Neville MacKay brings more than 25 years design experience, affectionately referred to as "That Bloomin' Neville!" He appears as an expert and entertainer on many national and local TV and radio shows across Canada, designs and presents shows across North America for Smithers-Oasis and also owns and operates a floral and gift shop in Halifax, Canada. He travels throughout North America speaking to the business community on various topics from merchandising to personal development and acts as emcee or auctioneer for many charitable events. His floral experience includes designing floral arrangements for Rod Stewart, Glen Close, Paul McCartney and members of the British Royal Family, the 1988 Winter Olympics and the G-7 Halifax Summit (Japanese and Soviet Delegations). MacKay writes a regular article for Canada's National floral publication, Canadian Florist Magazine and bi-annually for Duly Noted. Neville is an accredited Floral Judge through the Canadian Academy of Floral Art and the World Flower Council.
The Smithers-Oasis North American design team was created in January 2000. The team also includes Mario Fernandez, Sharon McGukin, AIFD, PFCI and Kevin Ylvisaker, AIFD, PFCI, and is integral to education on new products and trends, business tips and trends and helping Smithers-Oasis North America’s business success of the retail florist.
Smithers-Oasis is the world's leading manufacturer and inventor of floral foam products. For more than 50 years, Smithers-Oasis has satisfied the needs of florists, floral designers and growers around the world with innovative floral foams for fresh, silk and dried flowers; wedding, sympathy and design accessory items; cut flower nutrients; adhesives, tapes, glues, tools and other specialty items. More than 1,500 products and a vested interest in quality products and innovative design make Smithers-Oasis North America's first choice in floral, grower and post harvest floral products.
Source: American Institute of Floral Designers