North Carolina State Florists Association

Join us for Origin 2025: Passion, Purpose, and Partnership—a convention dedicated to exploring leadership, business, and design education. You’ll leave with a renewed sense of purpose, confident in the pursuit of your passion and having developed new partnerships with fellow florists and industry leaders. NCSFA is committed to advancing your professional development in all these arenas.

Our programs and breakout sessions will cover essential topics such as leadership strategies, business practices, AI advancement and inspiring design education, ensuring you gain invaluable insights and a fresh perspective on your passion for floral design. 

Registration:

Gala and Awards Only tickets start at $149.
Saturday Only tickets start at $179.
Sunday Only tickets start at $249.
Full Convention Weekend tickets start at $399.

Our Speakers:

Dr. Brianna Clark

Chair for the Department of Event and Hospitality Management at High Point University in High Point, NC

Jody McLeod, AIFD, NCCPF, CFD

Teleflora Educational Specialist, Mayor of Clayton, NC and Owner of Annie V’s Florist in Clayton, NC

Heather Miller, NCCPF

Owner & Creative Director at Eclectic Sage in Raleigh, NC

Abby Chick

Floral Designer, Educator and Owner of Blakemore’s Flowers in Harrisonburg, VA

EW Fulcher

Lead Designer and Manager of BloomWorks in Raleigh, NC

Amy Balsters

The Floral Coach ®
Floral Design Education and Training

John Hosek

Teleflora Educational Specialist
Surroundings Events and Floral

Accommodations:

Please mention NCSFA Membership status at reservation to receive room rate of $129/night.

Schedule:

Friday August 8, 2025 

4:00 – 6:00 Origin to Installation Workshop Part 1: Creative Decor and Impactful Installations 

Partner with Joseph Barnes AIFD and Jennifer Brewer NCCPF as they create impactful installations with cutting edge mechanics. Leave with a new sense of creativity and inspiration Lobby 

Saturday August 9, 2025 

9:30 – 11:00 NCCPF Hands on Testing Bull Durham AB

11:00 – 1:00 Designer of the Year Competition Crown 

2:00 Sweetheart Table assembly to begin complete by 3:30 Sweetheart Table Chairperson: Caitlin Chappelle  – Check in at Registration Desk for Location 

3:00 Headdress Entries in place for judging Bull Durham B – Chairperson: Janet Blackard 

3:00 Body Flower Entries in place for judging Bull Durham B – Chairperson: Caitlin Chappelle 

3:00 Bouquets in place for Judging Bull Durham B – Chairperson: Clark Goodin 

3:00 Boutonniere in place for Judging Bull Durham B – Chairperson: Caitlin Chappelle 

 

Program 1

3:30- 4:30: The Art of Leadership: Jody McLeod AIFD, NCCPF

Which One Are You? An inspiring, motivational and informative leadership program. Discover the four leadership styles, as presented through interpretive floral designs. Learn which leadership style is your very own. Recognizing different leadership styles is crucial for effectively building your floral teams. Each member plays a vital role and brings value to the group. So….. Which One are You? 

Join us to discover more about yourself and those around you! 

Empire ABC

 

Program 2

4:30 – 5:30: Color Theory That Works! Elevate Your Work Through Building Better Color Palettes with Amy Balsters, The Floral Coach® 

In this information-packed session, Amy will share the essential principles of color theory in an approachable, practical and meaningful way. 

Discover her approach to building compelling color stories through her three “palette building pathways”. Elevate your floral designs by understanding the vital roles of saturation, contrast, proportion, and other key elements of color theory. 

Whether you’re new to floral design or a seasoned pro looking to stretch your existing skills, this session will empower you to build intentional, high-impact color palettes that distinguish you from your competition. 

Auditorium 

 

6:30 Cocktail time Pre Function to Empire 

7:00 Welcome Party/Dinner : Passion. Purpose and Partnership: Join us for an evening of inspiration, food and fun. Empire ABC 

7:30 – 8:45 Floral Elegance on Display: A runway showcase of Headdress, Body Flower competition entries Empire ABC 

Sunday August 10, 2025 

 

8:00 – 8:45 Breakfast: Buffet Crystal Coast Sandhills 

 

Program 3

9:00 – 10:00 Moments in Bloom – EW Fulcher

Moments in Bloom: An unexpected journey through flowers, Decor and entertainment. Creating unexpected memories and moments. Learn how to elevate special occasions to the next level. 

Empire ABC

 

10:15 Miniatures in place for judging Registration desk – Chairperson: Donnie Springfield 

10:15 Jim Treadaway Briefing Pre Function Empire – Chairperson: Michael Whaley AIFD 

10:30 – 12:30 Jim Treadaway Competition Pre Function Empire 

 

Program 4: 

10:40 – 11:40 Styled Environments: Artful Backdrops for Retail, Studio and Public Installation – Heather Miller NCCPF

Discover innovative techniques for creating impactful merchandising displays and dynamic backdrops using readily available flower shop materials like cardboard and packing supplies. Learn to see the potential in the ordinary. 

Heather Miller, NCCPF is an award-winning designer and owner of Eclectic Sage, brings a unique perspective to displays and merchandising. Beyond her expertise in floristry, Heather holds a degree in interior architecture and has explored a vast array of crafts, including glass blowing, blacksmithing, woodworking, and weaving. Her designs are constantly inspired by a diverse range of artistic disciplines, bringing a fresh and innovative approach to the world of flowers. 

Empire ABC

 

12:00 – 1:15 Business Meeting with Lunch 

Business Meeting, Candidates Speak for Slate of Officers, Memorial Empire ABC

 

Program 5:

1:45 – 2:45 Design Program : Rethinking Tradition: Infusing Fresh Technique into Classic Floral Design – John Hosek AIFD, CAFA, CF 

Empire A,B,C 

 

Program 6: 

3:00 – 3:45 Breakout Session: Transforming Profitability: Selling value over cost, Branding, and Anchor Statements – Abby Chick 

Transforming Profitability: Selling Value Over Cost, Branding, and “Anchor Statements” This session will innovate your sales approach, transforming your pitch from cost-centric to an emphasis on the unique value of the products and services you provide. Attendees will learn how to build “Anchor Statements” that effectively articulate your brand’s identity, create compelling narratives that resonate with customers, and express the value of your products, driving sales, increasing profit, and enhancing brand loyalty. 

Auditorium

 

Program 7: 

3:50 – 4:50 Breakout Session: Blooming with AI: Transforming the Modern Florist’s WorkflowBriana Clark, Vosco LLC 

Discover how artificial intelligence (AI) tools like ChatGPT, Claud and Copilot can revolutionize your floral business operations. This session explores practical applications of AI assistants in daily florist work. Learn how these accessible AI tools can handle routine tasks, allowing you to focus more time on your artistic creativity and customer relationships. Whether you’re a solo florist or managing a shop, you’ll leave with actionable strategies to integrate AI assistance into your workflow while maintaining the personal touch that makes your floral business special. 

Auditorium 

 

6:00 – 6:30 Past Presidents Reception – Bull Durham B 

6:30 – 7:30 Cocktail Hour Pre Function:  Vendor Showcase – Empire A-E

 

7:30 – 10:00 Gala Origin 2025: Passion, Purpose, Partnership 

Awards, Installation of officers, NCCPF Pinning, Dinner

Empire A-E

Please note that ALL convention competitions are for NCSFA members only. 

Interested in Sponsoring the 2025 Convention?

For all sponsorship inquiries, please email the NCSFA President, Stephanie Garrett AIFD, presidentncsfa@gmail.com

Our 2025 Sponsors

2025 Convention Sponsors

Silver Patron

Rhododendron Recognition

Carnation Patron

Dogwood Donors

Azalea Patron

Petunia Patronage

BOTANICAL BODY FLOWER WORKSHOP
.....artistic design in real time with a unique perspective
3:00 - 4:30 pm Inquire at Registration table

This hands-on workshop will give you mechanical concepts and skills to easily construct intricate and impressive floral accessories to offer beyond corsages. These techniques will set you up to create designs that are updated, fashion-forward and artful while remaining mechanically strong and wearable.
* Please bring your own tools, i.e. clippers, scissors, wire cutters, and knives.

Heather Ann Miller, NCCPF is the creative director of Eclectic Sage, a Raleigh based event design and floral studio. While spending many years working in the interior architectural design field, Heather also explored product and textile design. During these explorations, she realized she loved the studio experience and started contributing her artistic eye for colors, trends, and design to a wide variety of projects. Her venture with Eclectic Sage bridges her various art forms and allows her to lend a unique perspective to every design. To see some of her work check out her website www.eclecticsage.com and follow her on Instagram where she often shares behind the scene stories. @eclecticsage

Sponsored by the NCSFA Education Committee

FREE to observe for Weekend Ticket Holders - $25 to Participate
Please pre-register so we'll know how many flowers to provide.

CONVENTION 2019 FRIDAY BOTANICAL BODY FLOWER WORKSHOP

CONVENTION 2019 FRIDAY FFA WORKSHOP CHECKOUT

DESIGN II PROGRAM - "Will You Marry Me"
secrets will be revealed from a pro .....
Saturday - 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm in the Chimney Rock Room

Flowers are much more than flowers in the 21st century, and to separate yourselves from the competition, you need to do much more than just flowers.  This program will open your eyes to possibilities that have worked well for Fresh Affairs and Michael will share some of their secrets that will help you take a different approach to your consults and services that you should be offering!

Michael Whaley Aifd Cfd has over three decades of experience in the floral industry and has been involved with every aspect during his career. He has a passion for continuing self-education and, more importantly, sharing that acquired knowledge with other designers in the industry. Over the years he has studied with some of the greatest designers in the world including Gregor Lersch, Hitomi Gilliam, Tomas De Bruyne and Per Benjamin among others.  Michael has been awarded NCSFA Designer of the Year and Southern Retail Florist Association Designer of the Year.  His love of interpretive design led him to The Jim Treadway Cup for interpretive design and after winning this coveted competition three times he was inducted into the Jim Treadway Hall of Fame.  He was also a regional representative for Americas Cup, Great American Design Competition.  Michael was inducted into the American Institute of Floral Designers and has been heavily involved with programs presented at AIFD National Symposium. He is currently the chairman of the National Education Committee, serves as vice president of the Southern Chapter of AIFD, and is an AIFD certified evaluator/judge.  Michael currently works as Creative Director for Fresh Affairs, an upscale wedding and special events studio based in Raleigh, NC. 

Get Your Brand New 2019 NCSFA Member Lapel Pin

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