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!


designer of the yearJason 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 DivisionAcademic 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:

blooming.memoriesTheme 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.

 

 

 

 


surprise.package.1Theme 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.

 

 


surprise.package.2Theme 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.divisionCertified 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.divisionCollege/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

 

 


student.divisionHigh 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

A World of Flowers