CHICAGO, USA, April 2, 2013: Jacob Van Namen, 90, an area businessman and prominent figure in the floral industry for four decades, died March 31 at his Palos Park home. Mr. Van Namen founded a multi-location wholesale distribution company, Vans Floral Products, based in Alsip, IL. A successful businessman in his native Holland, Mr. Van Namen immigrated to the United States in 1955 with his wife Rita and two young sons, Jack and John. The family settled in Chicago where Mr. Van Namen worked at a variety of jobs until being hired by DeBoer Wholesale Florists on Chicago's South side. By 1960, he had become a partner in the business and soon assumed ownership of the company, which became known as Van's Wholesale Florists. "Van" grew the company from a single location in the Chicago area to 12 distribution centers in six states by the 1990s. As his family grew, his sons and daughter followed in their father's footsteps becoming active in the business, along with some of his grandsons in later years.
Mr. Van Namen was involved with many non-profit and faith-based organizations. He served as a board member and officer for national floral associations and received numerous awards and industry recognition throughout his career. Mr. Van Namen promoted higher education as a trustee of Trinity Christian College (Palos Heights, IL), where he contributed to several campus building projects.
A highlight in his life was being designated in 2001 as an Officer in the Order of Orange-Nassau, the Netherlands' highest civilian honor, for his role in promoting and furthering Dutch-U.S. trade relations. Mr. Van Namen remained active in the business and influential in the industry into his early 80s.
He is survived by his devoted wife of 65 years, Rita; loving father of Jack (Carolynn), John (Tracy), Joyce (Rick Mast), Jim (Barbara); dear father-in-law of Ineke and Cyndy; cherished grandfather of 13 and beloved great-grandfather of 15; preceded in death by a son, Tony, and a granddaughter, Jacqueline Van Namen Coakley. A scholarship has been established in honor of Jacob and Rita Van Namen through the American Floral Endowment. Friends and colleagues can also make a memorial gift to Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights, IL, which Mr. Van Namen supported with his time and resources for many years. Visitation Wednesday from 3-9 p.m. at Colonial Chapel, 15525 S. 73rd Ave. (155th/Wheeler Dr. & Harlem) Orland Park, IL. Lying in State Thursday from 10:00 a.m. until time of Funeral Service 11:00 a.m. at Faith Christian Reformed Church, 8383 W. 171st St., Tinley Park, IL. Burial will be private at Fairmount - Willow Hills Cemetery, Willow Springs, IL. Express your thoughts and condolences at www.colonialchapel.com 708-532-5400
Michigan Flora Association announces 2013 Special Recognition Award
HASLETT, USA, April 2, 2013: On March 2nd, 2013 at the Great Lakes Floral Expo, during the Saturday evening President’s Recognition Banquet held in the beautiful Pantlind Ballroom at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel in downtown Grand Rapids, MI., the Michigan Floral Association (MFA) presented Mrs. Deb Patterson of Patterson's Flowers in Big Rapids with the 2013 Special Recognition Award. The criteria for being nominated for this honor reads as follows:
This award is presented to an individual or company that has shown exemplary dedication to the Michigan Floral Association. The Michigan Floral Association has directly benefited through the contributions of the recipient. They must be an Active member or an employee of an active member of the association.
Each year the MFA Awards and Nominations Committee is responsible for soliciting and reviewing award nominations. The Committee sends all qualified nominations to a panel of independent judges who evaluate and complete an evaluation form for each nominee. The Committee then totals the points received for each candidate nominated in a specific category and averages. The candidate receiving the highest average score in each category is then chosen to receive the award.
Following is information that was submitted to the MFA Awards and Nominations committee about Deb Patterson, the recipient of the 2013 Michigan Floral Association Special Recognition Award:
• Married into a family floral business and became a vital part of that business. Keeping track of staff, customer service training and taking care of all the details involved in seeing that orders received, processed and passed along properly. Involved in every aspect of the business.
• Helping out her husband with the business allows him to take a more active role in the MFA, serving on several committees and becoming a vital asset to the Association.
• A very willing volunteer at the GLFE this person has done it all and without reservation. Whether it be carrying buckets, pushing flowers carts, sorting registration packets, greeting attendees they are the Chairperson of Hospitality and Cheer fitting in wherever needed.
• Active in their community they serve on numerous volunteer boards and committees, taking an active role spreading the joy of flowers to groups such as the Girl Scouts and 4H.
• Along with their spouse, this person is one of the first to arrive and the last to leave each time the GLFE is held, with an unfailing “can do” attitude the positive energy this person contributes is invaluable.
The Michigan Floral Association is a full-service trade organization representing more than 500 florists, growers, and wholesalers statewide. Located in Haslett, MI, MFA offers group savings on insurance, financial services, retail bank card processing & supplies, office supplies, and fleet fueling; is the sponsor of the Certified Florist (CF) program; creates and hosts a statewide annual conferences and trade shows; conducts educational seminars though out the year at the association headquarters; publishes the Professional Florist magazine; hosts the MFA web site, and interacts with state / federal government agencies. For more information on MFA, visit their web site at www.michiganfloral.org
Deb Patterson with the Michigan Floral Association 2013 Special Recognition Award.
Michigan Floral Association announces 2013 National Service Award
HASLETT, USA, April 1, 2013: On March 2nd, 2013 at the Great Lakes Floral Expo, during the Saturday evening President’s Recognition Banquet held in the beautiful Pantlind Ballroom at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel in downtown Grand Rapids, MI., the Michigan Floral Association (MFA) presented Dr. Bridget Behe Ph.D, CF from the Michigan State University (Department of Horticulture) with the 2013 National Service Award.
The criteria for being nominated for this honor reads as follows:
This individual or company is connected to the floral industry locally, nationally, or internationally. They may be a retailer, wholesaler, grower, educator, etc. and have demonstrated outstanding service to the floral industry of America.
Each year the MFA Awards and Nominations Committee is responsible for soliciting and reviewing award nominations. The Committee sends all qualified nominations to a panel of independent judges who evaluate and complete an evaluation form for each nominee. The Committee then totals the points received for each candidate nominated in a specific category and averages. The candidate receiving the highest average score in each category is then chosen to receive the award.
Following is information that was submitted to the MFA Awards and Nominations committee about Bridget Behe Ph.D., CF, the 2013 Michigan Floral Association National Service Award:
• She earned her B.S. degrees in Horticulture and Agricultural Education from Penn State. She earned her M.S. degree in Horticulture from The Ohio State University, then returned to Penn State to earn her Ph.D. in Horticulture.
• She was an Associate Professor at Auburn University before she joined Michigan State University in 1997 where she now is a Professor of Horticulture Marketing.
• She has taught horticulture, floral, marketing, and management classes, educating professionals in production, floral design, marketing and management, touching many aspects of the floral and greenhouse industries.
• She is a wealth of knowledge and she has shared and inspired others in the industry to pursue educational opportunities to develop and grow their businesses.
• She has written numerous publications and articles covering all aspects of growing and developing, marketing, managing and selling flowers, plants and vegetables.
• Well respected by the industry she is highly regarded as one of the best in her field. She serves on many committees within the industry.
• Since the beginning of the development of the Michigan Certified Florist Program this educator has been responsible for contributing to the writing the original and recently rewrote the current Certified Florist exam questions.
• She was instrumental in spearheading the Certified Florist Program to a national level by working with her interns at Michigan State University to make the written portion of the test available on-line nationwide. Now the MFA has florists testing for certification from states as far away as Utah.
• She makes sure the MFA students testing for certification have a room to test in, by arranging to have classrooms made available to the MFA in the Plant and Soil Science building at MSU, many times meeting at the MFA office after a long day at work to drop off the key or to ensure everything that is needed for testing is in place.
• She is an outstanding individual who contributions behind the scenes for the MFA are too numerous to mention. One thing is for certain, she is always there with a big hug and a smile when the MFA calls.
The Michigan Floral Association is a full-service trade organization representing more than 500 florists, growers, and wholesalers statewide. Located in Haslett, MI, MFA offers group savings on insurance, financial services, retail bank card processing & supplies, office supplies, and fleet fueling; is the sponsor of the Certified Florist (CF) program; creates and hosts a statewide annual conferences and trade shows; conducts educational seminars though out the year at the association headquarters; publishes the Professional Florist magazine; hosts the MFA web site, and interacts with state / federal government agencies. For more information on MFA, visit their web site at www.michiganfloral.org
(LtoR) Dr. Bridget Behe Ph.D, CF was presented the 2013 Michigan Floral Associations
National Service Award by Mrs. Bobbi Ecker-Blatchford AAF, AIFD, PFCI.
AIPH to expand activity for growers with appointment of new Secretary General
THEALE, UK, March 27, 2013: The Executive Committee of the International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH) has confirmed the appointment of Tim Briercliffe as the new Secretary General of the association. This full-time role results from an internal review of AIPH activity and was created to drive the growth of AIPH. The position will spearhead a new phase of activity focusing on meeting the needs of growers across the world.
Tim Briercliffe, based in Reading near London in the United Kingdom, will be responsible for working closely with the association’s members throughout the world to tackle common challenges facing the sector. Supporting the existing committees covering Marketing, Statistics, Novelty Protection, Green City, Environment and Plant Health, and Science and Education he will look to strengthen the impact of the association as the voice of the ornamental horticulture industry worldwide.
Tim Briercliffe joins AIPH with extensive experience within the industry having led sector committees, policy, science, certification schemes, market information, training and careers, events, communications and business improvement activities and initiatives, as Director of Business Development at the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) in the UK for the last eight years. Prior to this he worked as a Senior Horticultural Consultant within ADAS, a major UK consultancy company. He has a horticulture degree from Reading University and has worked on nurseries in the UK and Canada.
Commenting on the appointment AIPH President Vic Krahn said “I am delighted to welcome Tim into AIPH and look forward to working closely with him. Tim has just the range of experience and expertise that we need to work with the members in developing and implementing a strategy for the future. There are many challenges facing ornamental horticulture that cross country boundaries and we are best tackling them together. I am delighted that AIPH is now resourced to tackle these challenges head-on. The work of approving and promoting horticultural exhibitions worldwide remains a key part of what AIPH does as we promote the sector to the world’s consumers.”
Briercliffe will operate from the HTA offices in the UK and Vic Krahn continued “I am particularly pleased that Tim will be based at the HTA offices and grateful for the support they are providing”.
Commenting on his appointment, Briercliffe said “I am looking forward to the opportunity to continue and develop the important work of AIPH. I have spent my career so far working with this industry and I am passionate about supporting the interests of growers and promoting the crucial role that plants play in the environment and society as a whole. It is great to have the opportunity to work on these issues at a global level. I look forward to meeting the members, understanding their needs and supporting them.”
Briercliffe commences his role in June 2013.
The International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH) is the international organization for ornamental growers worldwide. AIPH represents the common interests of ornamental producers that also include the commercial use of these products by garden professionals.
For more information see www.aiph.org
Floralife opens office and testing facilities in the UK
DORMAGEN, Germany, March 26, 2013: In August 2012 Oasis Floralife Central Europe, manufacturer and marketer of Floralife postharvest care and handling products for cut flowers, has appointed Emma Bradford as the new Technical Support Representative for the UK market. Ms. Bradford will be based at the newest Floralife site which will serve as an office and vase life observation room. Located in Orton Southgate, Peterborough, UK, this facility was chosen for its proximity to our customers and was created to provide support, assess vase life, trial new products, and perform customer tests.
Ms. Bradford will be responsible for technical support, protocol development, audits, trialling and training in postharvest care and handling of cut flowers with customers in the UK market. Ms. Bradford will be working closely with our sales team in the UK and with technical managers around the world.
“The expansion of our business in the UK and our goal to provide full technical services to our customers is behind Ms. Bradford’s appointment." noted Marco Marques, Managing Director, Floralife Europe. "Emma Bradford’s skilled background in horticulture and plant botany will greatly benefit Floralife, our technical network, and most importantly our customers."
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