Design Presenters – Great Lakes Floral and Event Expo

2025 Design Presenters

Renowned Florists, Award-Winning Designers and Television Superstars.

Learn more about the star-studded roster of design presenters who will be sharing their knowledge & experience with you at the GLFEE.

Doug Bates

AIFD, CF, CFD

Doug Bates AIFD, CF, CFD

Owner and lead designer for Designs by Vogt’s in Sturgis, MI. Doug has received numerous awards in the floral industry. Including the Michigan Designer of the Year 2012, Young Person of the Year 2013, and the 2021 and 2023 Design Academy Winner.

Samantha Bates

AIFD, CFD, CF

Samantha Bates AIFD, CFD, CF

Samantha Bates AIFD, CFD, CF is the owner of Especially For You Floral located in downtown Ponchatoula, Louisiana. With over 12 years of experience in the floral industry, she has successfully built a thriving wedding and event business within her retail shop. While she was growing her floral business, Samantha developed a passion for innovative branding and marketing strategies for her business, which she enthusiastically shares in her design programs.

Samantha was inducted into the prestigious American Institute of Floral Designers (AIFD) in 2016. In 2017, she was named by Florists’ Review magazine as one of the Top 35 Under 35 in the floral industry. She was a featured designer in the book Creativity: A Global Floral Introspective, a collection of floral expressions by 34 acclaimed floral artists from around the globe. She won the Jim Johnson Cup in 2018 and 2020 and was the overall first place winner of the Louisiana Champion of Champions Cup in 2019. In 2022, Samantha placed second overall in the International Gateway to the Americas Cup.

Amber Kirkland

AIFD, CFD, CF

Amber Kirkland AIFD, CFD, CF

Is the Founder and Lead Floral & Event Stylist with The Velvet Touch Events, serving the Metro Detroit area for over 30 years. With a background as a degreed Mechanical Engineer and Professional Program Manager in the automotive industry, Amber combines her leadership experience with a passion for floral design to create stunning weddings and events. In 2001, she founded The Velvet Touch Events, a full-service floral and event styling studio known for its unique and captivating designs. Amber’s work has been featured in The Knot, Essence, Hour Magazine, and Metro Detroit Weddings. To make floral education accessible to all, she launched Fleur University in 2019, a floral design school serving aspiring florists. In 2024, Amber was inducted into the American Institute of Floral Design (AIFD). Alongside her professional achievements, Amber is a dedicated wife, mother of three, and active in her faith, using her talents to support others.

Neville MacKay

CAFA, PFCI

Neville MacKay CAFA, PFCI

known throughout the International Floral Community for not only as a diverse and highly talented floral designer with creative flair, but also as a fierce, witty and entertaining speaker filled with both knowledge and experience and known by many. Neville appears as an expert on National and local TV and radio shows across Canada and is sought after internationally as an expert presenter. He, along with his husband David owns and operates his floral shop, My Mother's Bloomers, in Halifax Nova Scotia for over 30 years. Neville has designed work for many celebrities, Heads of State and well-be-knowns including Cher, Sir Elton John, Sir Paul McCartney and members of the British Royal Family. He is a Design Director with Smithers Oasis, a certified judge with the World Flower Council, a member of the Canadian Academy of Floral Art (CAFA) and Professional Floral Commentators International.

Mostly, Neville wants the World to Share LOVE Through the Beauty of Flowers!

Jerome Raska

AIFD, AAF, CF, CFD, PFCI

Jerome Raska AIFD, AAF, CF, CFD, PFCI

Jerome Raska AIFD, AAF, PFCI, CF is co-owner of three retail floral and event operations in Metro Detroit. Jerome, having been in the floral industry for over 30 years, was previously a general manager of a high volume multi-location floral operation and now shares his design and business experience with florists, garden clubs, and suppliers across the country as a consultant and Teleflora Education Specialist. His enthusiasm and sense of humor compliment his love for the floral industry and his desire to help others succeed. Jerome served as President of the Michigan Floral Association, has served as Chairman of the Professional Floral Communicators International (PFCI), Chairman of the Board of his local Chamber of Commerce.

Having served on product development teams for manufacturers, Jerome stays on the forefront of trends in the industry. He has received many accolades for his originality, innovative ideas and design talents and continues to share with audiences across America.

Kelly Shore

Kelly has been in the floral industry 23 years starting in retail in Champaign, Illinois in 2000 and then later went on to start a wedding & event design company, Petals by the Shore, in the Washington, DC area in 2011. As an advocate of sourcing local flowers from her many community flower farms in Maryland & Virginia, she then created a few self-funded projects and became aligned with Slow flowers & Certified American Grown Flowers in 2014. Designing a “Field to Vase” dinner on a peony farm in Alaska in 2017 changed her entire business focus and led her to today: The Floral Source and her focus on origin and educating the design community on where their flowers come from.

What started as a company solely wanting to connect floral designers with America’s flower farmers through immersive retreats around the country has expanded into a year-round farm direct American grown wholesale company with partnering farms from Florida to Alaska & Virginia to California. Kelly’s focus with The Floral Source is to create accessibility to more domestic botanicals for event florists, retails florists & farmer florists 365 days a year.

Edward Smith

Edward has been involved with floral design, event planning and wedding work for 41 years. He has been the lead event designer for shows & events held throughout the United States, Europe and the Caribbean while he was working for an event company. His specialty is high end and stylized arrangements, but he also enjoys creating beautiful everyday arrangements. His experience designing and decorating for major hotels and businesses makes him multi-faceted.

Edward has placed in the top 5, four times while competing at the Great Lakes Floral Events & Expo. He has won the Sympathy design and Bridal division as well as the 2024 Academy division.

Gina Thresher

AIFD, CFD, EMC, IMF

Gina Thresher AIFD, CFD, EMC, IMF

A distinguished figure in the floral design industry, renowned for her expertise as a designer, freelancer, and educator. With a rich background that merges creative flair with entrepreneurial acumen, Gina has cultivated a career that spans over a decade, marked by her dedication to the craft of floristry and her role as the CEO and Owner of From the Ground Up Floral. A native of the Pacific Northwest, she is deeply rooted in her love for all things floral, embracing a feminine style of design that reflects her personal aesthetic and passion for nature's beauty.

Gina's journey into floristry began somewhat serendipitously in 2008 when she took on the task of creating the floral arrangements for her own wedding. This experience ignited a fervent passion for floral design, leading her to pursue it as a career. Her innate extroversion and Gemini spirit have fueled her energy for engaging with people, making her not only an outstanding designer but also a charismatic educator and speaker.

Kelsey Thompson

AIFD, CFD

Kelsey Thompson AIFD, CFD

A retail florist, marketing nerd, Sylvia Cup award winning designer, and educator. Along with her brick and mortar shop Bloom Floral + Home Studio, Kelsey provides marketing content and business education through her online business, Petals and Profits. Her expertise is combining creative floral design with creative business growth ideas. She has a passion for helping florists streamline their systems and pursue their passions.

Alice E. Waterous

AIFD, CF, CFD, PFCI

Alice E. Waterous AIFD, CF, CFD, PFCI

With experience as a retail shop owner, floral wholesale staff designer and freelance designer, Alice has been involved in the floral industry for roughly 40 years. As a member of the American Institute of Floral Designers, a Certified Florist, Certified Floral Designer and Professional Floral Communicators International she believes education is an ongoing process. Her industry involvements include: three time presenter for AIFD National Symposium, twice president of the AIFD North Central Regional Chapter, two terms on AIFD Membership Committee, longtime member of the Michigan Floral Association, and four time president of the MI Floral Assoc. Her specialty design & consultant company serves commercial, municipal & private clients for seasonal and interior décor. Alice’s design work has appeared in “The Professional Florist”, “Flora” & “Grand Rapids” Magazines. Enthusiastic about her profession, Alice enjoys networking with fellow florists and encourages consumers to make flowers part of their lifestyle.

Steve Chase

Steve is a naturally talented florist. He has been arranging flowers for over 30 years. He got his start working with artificial flowers, and then moved on to fresh, collaborating with several florists in northern Michigan, to develop his craft.

Steve calls himself a “Flower Freak” because he loves flowers so much! He enjoys gardening and arranging with the flowers he grows. Steve considers it a privilege to produce arrangements for hotel guests and bouquets for brides on Mackinac Island. “When my work puts a smile on someone’s face, I have truly made a difference and found my joy.”

Jedidiah Daddow

Jedidiah Daddow CF

Jedidiah is a certified florist through the Great Lakes Floral Association as well as the owner of Floral Designs of Southgate. As a relatively new florist, with just over 6 years in the floral industry Jedidiah credits the certified florist program as an instrumental part in his professional growth which has allowed him to excel in the industry, he has written an article as well as had a bouquet featured on the cover of the professional florist magazine.

He values education as a cornerstone of growth, constantly refining skills to create personalized floral designs.

Cindy Hall

AIFD, CF, CFD

Cindy Hall AIFD, CF, CFD

Grace Morrow

Grace Morrow CF

A multifaceted individual with a diverse range of talents. After graduating from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, she pursued a career as a freelance artist and photographer. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for creativity, she has honed her skills in capturing stunning visuals.

In addition to her artistic pursuits, Grace has gained valuable experience in the floral industry. Over the past two years, she has worked at Banner Flower House in Kokomo, Indiana. As a Certified Florist, she has demonstrated a deep understanding of floral design principles and techniques. Currently, she is an active member of the Certified Florist Committee, contributing to the advancement of the floral profession.

Dondi Richardson

Dondi Richardson CF

The Senior Designer at FloraCraft, where she has worked for 25+ years creating thousands of projects to inspire their customers. As a GLFA Certified Florist, she am deeply immersed in the latest floral trends and enjoy leveraging years of knowledge and experience. You'll typically find her in the studio dreaming up a new floral project, testing our latest products or building larger-than-life models for trade shows and customers.

Her love for nature extends outside of the studio, where she enjoys tending to her ever-growing house plant collection or exploring the scenic shores of Lake Michigan on my motorcycle.

Amanda Rosencrantz

Amanda Rosencrantz CF

Began her floral career working in the floral departments of several grocery stores, where she gained foundational experience in floral design and customer service.

Over the years, her passion for flowers and design grew, leading to her current role as the Floral Manager at Beautiful Blooms by Jen in Sylvania, Ohio. In 2023, Amanda further honed her expertise by becoming a Certified Florist (CF). With a keen eye for design and a dedication to creating beautiful arrangements, Amanda continues to bring fresh, artistic visions to life for clients in the Sylvania area.

Stefanie Rutherford

CF, CFD

Stefanie Rutherford CF, CFD

What started as a part- time, after school job has grown into a blossoming career and passion for Stefanie. Stefanie has been in the industry for 14 years, becoming a Certified Florist through the GLFA in 2018, participating in competitions at the GLFEE for several years, starting her own Wedding & Event company in 2021, and will soon be inducted into the AIFD in July 2025. With a love for education, Stefanie hopes to inspire others like her mentors have for her.

Kymbra Tucker

Kymbra Tucker CF

Kymbra Tucker is a passionate and talented floral designer with a proven track record. Having spent five years at Banner Flower House, she began her journey in a front-desk role but quickly discovered a deep-rooted passion for floral design. In 2024, she achieved getting her certification for Certified Florist (CF) and was also honored with the Young Person of the Year award.

As an active member of the CF Committee, she is dedicated to sharing floral knowledge and raising awareness about the industry. Beyond her professional accomplishments, she is also known for her entertaining TikTok videos, bringing a fun and engaging side to the world of floral design.

Laurie Williams

Laurie is a California native who began working in a flower shop with her mother in 1976. She has worked in high volume, fast paced shops most of her career. When she left the industry to raise her daughter, she continued to do freelance design, weddings and events from her home-including her own wedding flowers! She visited Michigan and Mackinac Island in 2010 and was very excited to return to the floral world to work in a flower shop on the Island coordinating all sizes of weddings, events and parties as well as managing the shop. Her favorite thing about her job is seeing how ideas and plans come together for a spectacular event!