The Pennsylvania Floral Industry Association (PFIA), professional flower growers, florists and interior landscapers, announced the winners of its premier Floral Expo held in October at the Holiday Inn Harrisburg/Hershey, with nearly 100 attendees. FTD was the sponsor.

Winners in the Student Design Competition were:

• First ($250 and plaque), Michael Merlino, Carlisle, Penn College
• Second ($100 and plaque), Melissa Sitlinger, Williamsport, Pa College of Technology

Participants had to be currently enrolled in a floral design program at a college, high school, vo-tech school, or other floral design program.

Winners in the Professional Design Competition were:

• First ($500 and plaque), Sandy Miske, Eagle Hill Florist, Pottsville
• Second ($250 and plaque), Pat Wallace, Royer’s Flowers, Lebanon
• Third ($100 and plaque), Lori Witmer, Wildflowers by Design, Manheim

Participants in the professional category had to be currently employed as a designer in a floral related business. All competitors were given the exact same product and supplies and were given 90 minutes to complete a funeral/sympathy piece using only those materials. FTD supplied the prize money.

In a “tabletop” competition, winners were:

• First ($150 and plaque), Christine Ellis, Plaza Flowers, Norristown
• Second ($100 and plaque), Helen Seidel, Royer’s Flowers, Lebanon
• Third ($50 and plaque), Lori Witmer, Wildflowers by Design, Manheim

Competitors created a table top centerpiece, with all flowers and materials used to create the table top décor provided by the applicant. Each table was a 60” round table with white table linen. Designs could be no larger than 24-inch diameter with an overall height of 72 inches from the top of the table. The wholesale value of the creation, including accessories, could not exceed $100. Selection of winners was done by those attending the expo.

Thirteen different exhibiters related to floral industry design displayed their products in the exhibit area.

Featured presenter was Deborah De La Flor, AIFD (American Institute of Floral Designers), and FTD Design Instructor, who made a presentation on designing memorial arrangements, called “Sympathy – Memorial Flowers with Lasting Memories.” De La Flor said, “A difficult time can be made easier with memories. Whether it is a favorite color, a hobby, a personal passion, memorial flowers can truly offer comfort to family and friends.” De La Flor showed how to incorporate memories into sympathy designs with a unique touch. Supplies used by De La Flor were supplied by Delaware Valley Wholesale Florist in Sewell, NJ.

De La Flor was named the Greater Miami Designer of the Year and the Florida Designer of the Year. She was winner of the FTD Great Masters Design Competition in 2000, and was first runner-up at the FTD America’s Cup to compete in the 10th annual Interflora World Cup Competition in Melbourne, Australia.

A panel of three floral designers created eight different pieces in front of the audience. Designers were:

• Sandy Porterfield, Sandra Porterfield Floral Design, Holtwood, sponsored by McCreight Wholesale Florist, Washington Boro;
• Cindy Vaughn, Colonial Florist & Gift Shop, Mount Union, sponsored by Schaefer Wholesale Florist Supplies, York;
• Vince Butera, Butera the Florist, York, sponsored by Zieger & Sons, Harrisburg

Dan Vaughn, AAF, AIFD, Colonial Florist and Gift Shop, Mount Union, served as commentator and described the pieces and processes of the panelists.

The Pennsylvania Floral Industry Association is a professional industry organization, offering information, training and education for the floral industry in Pennsylvania. Its members include retail florists, flower and plant growers, floral wholesalers and associated businesses, educators and students.