JEROME is co-owner of three retail floral and event operations in Metro Detroit. In the floral industry for over 30 years, he shares his experiences as a Teleflora Education Specialist with florists, garden clubs, and suppliers across the country. He has served as chairman of PFCI, as well as president of the North Central Regional Chapter of AIFD. He is the current president of the Great Lakes Floral Association. He received the Tommy Bright Award for excellence in floral design presentation and was named designer of the year by the National Alliance of Floral Associations.

Allison Ludema is from Grand Rapids, MI and is a part of the fifth generation at Ludemas Floral and Garden. She started her career at a very young age in her family’s greenhouse and began training in floral design in her teens, managing the shop’s wedding clients followed soon after.

Now Allison is the retail manager and wedding coordinator, she says the best thing about her job is getting to interact with different people every day and that no two days are ever the same.

Allison currently serves on the Great Lakes Floral Association Board of Directors as Vice President and is the 2021 Great Lakes Floral & Event Expo Chair.

Alejandro has a 20-year history in the floral industry and is the President and design Instructor for Alejandro Figueira Floral Artistry, Inc. and Owner of Ornatus Events in Davie, Florida. Alejandro is an active participant in many local, state and national floral competitions.

Jackie has over thirty years of experience in the retail floral market and floral education field and utilizes his experience in his current position as Director of Education and Industry Relations with Floriology, BloomNet and Napco and as their Senior Design Team Specialist. Jackie’s portfolio includes a background in the retail floral market and wedding/event design.

Corrine is the Founder and CEO of DETAILS FLOWERS Software. With more than 20 years of experience in the flower industry in both retail and wholesale, Corrine has an established career in wedding design in Central Florida. Today, Corrine and her team help hundreds of florists send professional proposals, book more events, and provide unmatched service to their clientele with their software
solution, Details Flowers Software.

Ian began his career more than 30 years ago and he has owned successful floral shops in both Scotland and Tampa, FL. His current business, Botanica International Design & Décor Studio in Tampa, FL, designs events on the international stage. In 2012, he established Ian Prosser Productions, expanding his design division for creative events. Ian was inducted into the American Academy of Floriculture (AAF) in 1994 and the American Institute of Floral Designers (AIFD) in 1992. He has also been a featured presenter at AIFD National Symposia. Ian earned his National Diploma of the Society of Floristry, the highest European honor in floral design, and was the youngest person to receive the honor of Floral Designer of the Year in Scotland.

DERRICK is president of Crockett, Myers and Associates, specializes in guiding businesses and individuals toward their financial goals. Over the past 35 years he has established strategies unique to the floral industry. He shares these techniques during his coaching sessions as well as through his seminars. These techniques focus on helping florists reduce costs, manage staff, save taxes, and run a more profitable business. His” Floral Analysis Program” breaks down and analyzes financial statements to show the florist owner exactly where to focus time and energy to reduce costs and increase profits.

Teresa Cytlak is the owner of Ridgeway Floral & Gifts in Three Rivers Michigan. Ed and Inez Ridgeway founded Ridgeway Floral in 1939. Teresa started working for the Ridgeway’s in 1976, and purchased the business from them in 1986. Teresa is a Board Member of Three Rivers Chamber of Commerce. She has been on the Great Lakes Floral Association Board of Directors since 1997 and currently serves as the Association President.

HELEN has owned a successful retail florist shop in Adrian, Michigan for over thirty-five years. Combining her love of nature and desire for further education within the floral industry, she has taught floral workshops and presented industry programs all over the United States.

RENATO serves as vice president of digital strategy and education at BloomNet. His primary role is to help florists build web sales and engage their customers by developing customized services and solutions focusing on search engine optimization (SEO), search engine marketing (SEM), social media, content marketing and mobile marketing strategy. He also serves as lead educator for new technology, digital marketing strategy and business, consumer and demographic trends at the Floriology Institute in Jacksonville, Florida. Prior to joining BloomNet, he was chief information officer for the Society of American Florists.

DEREK is a captivating speaker who finds particular joy in helping audiences find inventive ways to use new and existing products. As a member of the Syndicate Sales Design Team, Derek has a “big picture” perspective on industry trends, and how florists can make the best practical and artistic use of materials.

Dani is a Marketing Specialist and writer at Flower Shop Network. She has a bachelor’s degree in Strategic Communications with focuses in Public Relations, Advertising, and Social Media Management. Dani loves the opportunity social media provides to small businesses and the impact it can have on their audience and business. “It can really change the way a business interacts with their audience, allowing them to connect on a direct and personal level with their customers.”

Cordell is the Google Coordinator for Flower Shop Network. He has degrees in both Management and Computer Information Technology, and specializes in coordinating and optimizing Local SEO efforts for FSN with Google Maps as the primary focus. Seeing first-hand the frequent changes and updates Google has gone through from his first day as intern to now, Cordell can attest to how important it is for small businesses to properly manage their Google Maps presence. “So many people use Google Maps to find local businesses to fulfill their needs, and a strong presence there helps ensure that your business is the one they choose to fulfill that need.”

Kacie Schechter is a Marketing Specialist who is passionate about all things content creation with a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing from the University of Arkansas Walton Honors Program.