American Academy of Floriculture Honors Nine New Members at SAF Convention Awards Celebration

Alexandria, VA (Sept. 27, 2010) - Nine dedicated industry members, two members of AIFD, were accepted into the prestigious ranks of the Society of American Florists' American Academy of Floriculture (AAF) this year.

"The stringent requirements of the Academy make AAF an achievement recognized throughout the industry," said SAF Awards Committee member Shirley Lyons of Dandelions Flowers & Gifts in Eugene, Ore. "Only those individuals who have demonstrated the highest levels of service ... are selected to receive the AAF professional designation."

Since 1965, AAF has encouraged, measured and recognized professionals from all parts of the floral industry for the time and energy they dedicate to the floral industry and the communities in which they live.  On Sept. 23, at the Industry Awards Dinner held during SAF's 126th Annual Convention in Orlando, the following individuals became AAF's newest members:

• Cheryl Bakin, AAF, Parkway Florist, Inc., Pittsburgh, Pa.
  
  
• Vince Butera AIFD, AAF, PFCI,  Butera the Florist, York, Pa.
  
  
• Roger Dennis AIFD, AAF, KMF, PFCI, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, Ky.
  
  
• Steve Dionne, AAF, United Floral Exchange, Vista, Calif.
  
  
• Kym Erickson, AAF, Soderberg's Florist, Minneapolis, Minn.
  
  
• Scott Kitayama, AAF, Greenleaf Wholesale Florist, Brighton, Colo.
  
  
• Katy Miller, AAF, Dillon Floral Corp., Bloomsburg, Pa.
  
  
• Ernesto Velez, AAF, Suasuque S.A., Bogota, Colombia (posthumous)
  
  
• Nancy Witte-Dycus, AAF, Fantasy Flowers, Thiensville, Wis.

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