Periodically the Great Lakes Floral Foundation will honor outstanding members of the floral industry who have made significant contributions to our industry and who have mentored and inspired their fellow industry members. The Great Lakes Floral Foundation Hall of Fame has been established to record the contributions of those so honored. Read more on each inductee by clicking on their name.

Plan now to be with us at the 2025 Great Lakes Floral Foundation Hall of Fame Dinner

On the evening of Tuesday, October 28, Mr. Robert “Bob” Patterson CF, of Patterson’s Flowers is being inducted into the Great Lakes Floral Foundation Hall of Fame. The event will be held at Goei Center 818 Butterworth St. S.W. Grand Rapids, MI 49504. This prestigious honor recognizes Bob’s outstanding contributions to the floral industry and his unwavering support of the Great Lakes Floral Association (GLFA), Great Lakes Floral Foundation (GLFF), and the Great Lakes Floral & Event Expo (GLFEE).

Bob Patterson CF is a second-generation florist and proud steward of his family’s legacy at Patterson’s Flowers, a family-owned floral business with locations in Big Rapids, Reed City, and Cadillac, Michigan. Deeply rooted in both the floral industry and his local community, Bob plays an active role in shaping the future of floral design and retail.

He is a dedicated member of the Great Lakes Floral Association (GLFA), where he serves as a Member-at-Large on the Board of Directors, Chairs the Certified Florist Committee, and regularly volunteers at the Great Lakes Floral Expo. Bob is also the Chair of the Mid West Floral Group, helping foster collaboration and excellence across regional floral businesses.

In addition to his industry leadership, Bob is passionate about youth development and the environment. He volunteers annually at the 4-H Great Lakes and Natural Resources Camp, inspiring the next generation of leaders. Locally, he contributes to civic development as a member of the Big Rapids Downtown Development Authority Board.

Whether he’s arranging flowers or helping shape industry standards, Bob brings creativity, community spirit, and decades of experience to everything he does.

The evening’s festivities will begin at 6pm with a reception, dinner will follow from 7p-8p. The Hall of Fame induction will take place from 8p-9p. The evening will conclude at 9p. We sincerely hope you will be able to join us as we support education and celebrate Bob’s accomplishments with family, friends, and industry leaders.