Texas Floral Expo Sessions

Friday, June 27 — 9-11 a.m.

Location

Speakers

• J. Keith White AIFD CFD CEJ
  Known for his floral vision and extraordinary designs, J. Keith White served as a jury member for the 2004 Interflora World Cup in Melbourne, Australia. He represented the United States in the 2010 Interflora World Cup in Shanghai, China. Sponsored by FTD, his masterful designs for the official vehicles in the annual Tournament of Roses Parade® have been viewed by millions from 2007 to 2022. White has judged numerous regional and national floral competitions, including the 2018 FTD America's Cup, as an AIFD Certified Floral Evaluator. He served as a judge for the 2022 Tournament of Roses Parade. White was inducted into AIFD in 1996 and subsequently presented four main stage programs at various AIFD Symposia. He staged the inaugural Gallery Exhibit featuring American Floral Trends at the 2024 AIFD Symposium. Recognized as an AIFD Laureate, White received the AIFD Distinguished Service to the Floral Industry Award 2023. He is a designer, educator and merchandiser for the annual FTD Makeover Magic contest and Winward showrooms. White continues his passion for educating others with Keith White Floral Education.

Friday, June 27 — 9-11 a.m.

Location

Speakers

• Brandy Ferrer AIFD CFD TMF
  Brandy Ferrer AIFD CFD TMF is the owner of Simply Beautiful Floral Company in Gilmer, Texas. She won First Place in the Frankie Shelton Cup Competition in 2023 and was the 2024 Texas Designer of the Year. Ferrer currently serves as a Texas State Florists' Association Retail Director. She was inducted into AIFD in 2023. A dedicated educator, Ferrer has taught numerous workshops and programs, including AIFD Symposium and hands-on floral design training for FFA teachers. Ferrer is a co-founder of the East Texas Yamboree Student Floral Cup. She is a TEXAS in Bloom contributor with a monthly column titled Blooming With Brandy.

Friday, June 27 — 9-11 a.m.

Friday, June 27 — 9-11 a.m.

Friday, June 27 — 12-2 p.m.

Location

Speakers

• Charlie Groppetti AIFD
  Charlie Groppetti AIFD spent his early years in a California flower shop, which he owned for nearly 20 years. Decades in floral product development led to an expanded lifelong career in interior accessories and furnishings. “Cut from the landscape” is the very essence of Groppetti's style. He was inducted into AIFD in 1987. Groppetti received the prestigious AIFD Award of Design Influence in 2022. His visionary development of Porch View Home has expanded his style to a home and garden lifestyle brand.

Friday, June 27 — 12-2 p.m.

Location

Speakers

• Derek Woodruff AAF AIFD CFD PFCI CF
  After joining the floral industry at the age of 16, learning floral design in vocational school and working for a local florist, Derek Woodruff AAF AIFD CFD PFCI CF continued his education through institutes such as Michigan State University, Great Lakes Floral Association and AIFD. He launched his own business, Floral Underground, in 2008 and currently serves as Lead Designer and Educator for Syndicate Sales. Woodruff specializes in “today’s consumer,” engaging them through different types of media, including demonstrations, subscription services and hands-on workshops. He was second runner-up on the televised reality show The Arrangement, won the 2016 Sylvia Cup and was named 2024 Floriexpo Iron Designer.

Friday, June 27 — 12-2 p.m.

Friday, June 27 — 12-2 p.m.

Saturday, June 28 — 3:15-5 p.m.

Location

Speakers

• Rocio Silva AIFD CFD PFCI
  Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico, is home to Rocio Silva AIFD CFD PFCI. She was inducted into AIFD in 2011 and is a member of the Mexican Council of Judges in Horticulture and Design. Silva holds the Professional Floral Communicator International designation from the Society of American Florists. She judges countless competitions as an AIFD Certified Evaluator and Accredited National Garden Club Judge. Silva is a past president of the Latin American Society of AIFD Members; a co-founder and director of the Instituto Mexicano Técnico Floral, which is the first floral design school in Mexico; and a floral designer for Oasis Floral Mexico.
• Frank Feysa AIFD CFD PFCI
  Frank Feysa AIFD CFD PFCI is a retailer, event designer, educator and commercial print designer. He was inducted into AIFD in 2002 and went on to serve as AIFD President in 2018-2019 and AIFD Symposium Chair in 2014. This summer, Feysa will serve as AIFD Program Coordinator. He holds the Professional Floral Communicator International designation from the Society of American Florists and is an Accredited American Orchid Society Judge. Feysa is a Smithers Oasis Design Director and previously taught Commercial and Contemporary Floral Design at Ohio State University. His designs have been featured in numerous industry publications. Feysa travels nationally and internationally to present design programs and hands-on workshops.

Saturday, June 28 — 3:15-5 p.m.

Saturday, June 28 — 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Location

Speakers

• Chris Collum-Williams AIFD CFD TMF
  Chris Collum-Williams began his 32-year career in Levelland, Texas, as a delivery driver. A Texas Master Florist, he launched a freelance career with jobs all over the United States. He won the WesTexas New Mexico Florist Association (WTNM) Silver Cup Competition, and in 2010, he was inducted into the American Institute of Floral Designers. Collum-Williams won the Texas Cup Competition and was named Texas Designer of the Year in 2015. He is a WTNM Past President, recipient of the WTNM Silver Rose Award and currently serves as a director on the AIFD National Board. Collum-Williams and his husband Tom accepted management positions at Flowerland in Midland and Mark Knox Flowers in Odessa in 2007, where they have successfully been the last 18 years.

Saturday, June 28 — 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Sunday, June 29 — 7:30-9:30 a.m.

Location

Speakers

• Hitomi Gilliam AIFD
  Hitomi Gilliam AIFD began her career as a farmer-florist, a greenhouse grower and landscape designer turned retail florist for the first half of her working life. She became a floral educator, presenting design programs and workshops extensively throughout North America and around the world for the past 35 years. A sought-after presenter for art museums, botanical gardens and garden clubs, Gilliam and her son Colin Gilliam founded DESIGN358, an education-based event company. She has published extensive floral educational programming with Colin as the executive producer and authored eight books. Hitomi received the American Horticultural Society’s Frances Jones Poeltker Award and earned Gold Honors ‘Best of Show’ at Singapore Garden Festival ‘Windows to the World’ International Floral Exhibit while representing Canada. Inducted into AIFD in 1986, Hitomi subsequently presented 10 main stage programs at various AIFD Symposia. She received the prestigious AIFD Award of Design Influence in 1998 and was a featured artist at the ‘Les Fleurs Sauvages’ Art Exhibit at Sotheby’s Institute of Art in New York City. She popularized ‘NEOTROPICA’ and defined ‘TROPICAL NOUVEAU’ styling. Hitomi served as a judge for the 2020 Tournament of Roses Parade and is a Teleflora Education Specialist.

Sunday, June 29 — 7:30-9:30 a.m.

Sunday, June 29 — 2:30-5 p.m.

Location

Speakers

• Brenna Quan AIFD
  Brenna Quan AIFD is an award-winning floral artist and educator based in Vancouver, Canada. She has shared imaginative floral art in exhibitions and demonstrations across North America. Quan's tutorials for floral magazines — printed and online — and various educational videos garner social media engagement. She was inducted into AIFD in 2009 and subsequently presented two main stage programs at various AIFD Symposia with a third appearance planned this summer. Quan won First Place in the 2016 and 2019 Pacific North West Design Competitions and First Place in the 2019 Maple Leaf Cup. Most recently, she took Second Place while representing Canada in the Gateway to the Americas Cup in Panama against 32 competitors from 20 different countries.

Sunday, June 29 — 2:30-5 p.m.