We are excited to announce the winners of the Michigan Floral Expo Design Competition. Congratulations to all the winners and participants. Your talent and creativity were awe-inspiring!
Jason Rudicil is Expo Designer of the Year
Jason Rudicil from Eastern Floral in Grand Rapids, Michigan, was chosen Designer of the Year at the Michigan Floral Association’s 2016 Great Lakes Floral Expo. This was his first design competition.
As the winner, he will represent the Association at the National Alliance of Floral Associations’ Designer of the Year Competition and be featured in The Professional Florist magazine’s Designer Spotlight.
The other Designer of the Year contestants were: Angela Christie, CF, Boyne Avenue Greenhouse and Florist Shop, Boyne City, Michigan; Young mi Hong, CF, Floral Couture LLC, Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan; Paul Sawyer, CF, Blumz…By JR Designs, Ferndale/Detroit, Michigan, and Garrett Skupinski, CF, Floral Today, University City, Missouri.
Doug Bates Wins Academy Division
for the Second Year in a Row
Blooming Together was the theme of the Academy Division. Designers
created a tablescape suitable for a wedding in the local farmers market.
The winner for the second year in a row was Doug Bates, AIFD, CF, CFD, Designs by Vogts, Sturgis, Michigan.
He will provide the Design Tips column in The Professional Florist in addition to receiving $300, a plaque, and having his name inscribed on the traveling award.
The Professional Division is opened to any floral professional with three or more years of experience. Following is a list of the winners in each of the three themes and a picture of the winning arrangement:
Theme 1: Blooming Memories
First Place: Kaitlyn Harlow, Joliet Junior College, Joliet, Illinois.
Second Place: Edward Smith, Country Lane Flowers, Howell, Michigan.
Third Place: Young mi Hong, CF, Flora Culture, Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan.
Theme 2: Surprise Package #1
First Place: Paul Sawyer, CF, Blumz…by JR Designs, Ferndale/Detroit, Michigan.
Second Place: Garrett Skupinski, CF, Floral Today, University City, Missouri.
Third Place: Judith White, Picket Fence Floral & Design, Holland, Michigan.
Theme 3: Surprise Package #2
First Place: Angela Christie, CF, Boyne Avenue Greenhouse and Florist Shop, Boyne City, Michigan.
Second Place: Garrett Skupinski, CF, Floral Today, University City, Missouri.
Third Place: Jason Rudicil, Eastern Floral, Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Certified Florist Division
New on this year’s program was the Certified Florist Division where participants had to create an all around centerpiece highlighting the Together We Bloom conference theme.
First Place: Garrett Skupinski, CF, Floral Today, University City, Missouri.
Second place: Deana Gress, CF, Norton’s Flowers & Gifts, Ypsilanti/Ann Arbor, Michigan
Third place: Paul Sawyer, CF, Blumz…by JR Designs, Ferndale/Detroit, Michigan.
College/Professional Novice Division
Designers in the College/Professional Novice division created a table centerpiece following the theme 50th Year Gala of a Local Botanical Garden.
First Place: Sarah Todus, Joliet Junior College, Joliet IL
Second Place: Martina Bode, Wesley Berry Florist, Detroit MI
Third Place: Samantha Lombardo, Joliet Junior College, Joliet, IL
High School Level
The other Student Division competition was at the High School Level. Designers were required to create a prom corsage and boutonnière.
All three winners were from the Alanson Public Schools: First Place: Ashley Pitman
Second Place: Ashley Pethers
Third Place: Sonya Lightfoot
The prizes for all the divisions except Certified Florist were $100, $75, and $25. All received a ribbon and certificate. Certified Florist prizes were $75, $50, and $25 worth of merchandise, a ribbon and certificate. All the design contests were sponsored by Floracraft, Teleflora, and the California Cut Flower Commission. Thank you to our sponsors.
Save the Date for the 2017 Great Lakes Floral Expo
Devos Place, Grand Rapids, Michigan,
March 3-5, 2017
