SAF in Action
YOUNG FLORAL PROS GAIN NEW SKILLS AT NEXT GEN LIVE! > For young floral professionals, the Society of American Florists’ Next Gen LIVE! delivered more than inspiration — it provided a clearer understanding of how the industry works and where they fit within it. About 140 attendees gathered
Feb. 22–24 for SAF’s fifth annual event, designed to connect emerging leaders with peers, suppliers and educators while equipping them with practical skills they can immediately apply on the job. Through hands-on education, direct
access to suppliers and candid conversa- tions with peers across the supply chain, attendees left with a stronger grasp of profitability, communication and sourcing decisions — along with new relationships that can streamline opera- tions and open business opportunities. For many, one of the most impactful
takeaways was seeing the full scope of the industry in action. The event’s size also played a role
in its impact, offering both breadth and accessibility. Attendees reported forming vendor relationships that could expand product offerings and strengthen event work. For Colton Thomas of Norton’s
Florist in Birmingham, Alabama, the experience clarified his future in the industry. “I’m ready to go back to work and
take everything that I’ve learned here and apply it,” he said. “This showed me the future that I could have here.”
NETWORKING MOMENT Left to right: Abby Brooks and Morgan Fockler of Family Flowers in Alpharetta, Georgia; Briana Little of The Enchanted Florist in Alexandria, Virginia; and Jasmine Spires, also of Family Flowers, pose together during a networking break.
MAKING CONNECTIONS Left to right: Sydney Koukos of Details Flowers Software in Ormond Beach, Florida, talks with Larami Van Ness, Hailey Flood and Benjamin Noyes, all of George’s Flowers in Roanoke, Virginia.
DESIGN LAB Attendees collaborate on fl oral designs during a hands-on session led by Talmage McLaurin, AIFD, of Esmeralda Farms, applying insights from the 2026 Flower Trend Forecast to real-world design concepts.
6 FLORAL MANAGEMENT | May/June 2026 |
WWW.SAFNOW.ORG
FUTURE FOCUS Dana Larkin (left) and Colton Thomas (right) of Norton’s Florist in Birmingham, Alabama, attended Next Gen LIVE!, where Thomas said the experience showed him he could build a career in the industry.
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