Every Saturday when I was a kid I used to beg my mom to let me go to work with her. Saturday’s were for weddings and I couldn’t wait to help her with that weekend’s event. I would help hang pew bows, lay the aisle runner and carry bouquets while she attended to the altar designs. To me there was nothing more special than a church full of flowers, waiting for the bride to make her entrance.

From a young age I loved flowers so it wasn’t a surprise when I ended up working at the flower shop during college. I started out doing paperwork and that quickly turned into designing mugs and baskets for the hospital gift shop cooler. I’d ask what needed to be done, hoping I’d get to work on an order for the day and mom would say “we need more mugs and baskets.” I have to admit it wasn’t my favorite job at the time, but it started me off with a solid foundation in design.

Fast forward almost 25 years and mom now owns the shop and we’re still working side by side every day. She’s taught me everything from basic floral design to weddings, sympathy work and advanced “high style” design. I couldn’t have asked for a better teacher to help build the design skills and speed that is needed to work at a busy flower shop.

In 2021, I took the skills mom taught me and decided to take the Professional Floral Design Evaluation (PFDE), held annually by the American Institute of Floral Designers (AIFD). It was a dream years in the making, and I’m proud to say I passed on my first attempt. In 2022, I was honored to be inducted as a member of AIFD at their National Symposium in Las Vegas.

Mom and I at the shop shortly after I graduated college.

On stage at the AFID Symposium during the “American Floral Trends” Stage Presentation held at Cesars Palace Forum Conference Center Las Vegas , 2022. I modeled the flowers and designed the flower crown I’m wearing.

Induction night at AIFD in Las Vegas. I'm with 2022 Membership Chair Damon Samuel, AIFD, and President Janet Black, AIFD.