Brent Leech, AIFD- Speaking at- Panel of Accredited Florists, Pathway to Accreditation 
Brent Leech is a nationally recognized floral designer, educator, and industry leader with over 20 years of experience. A longtime member of the American Institute of Floral Designers (AIFD), Brent currently serves as its National Vice President and has held numerous regional and national leadership roles throughout his career. His work has been featured at premier events such as the Academy Awards, the Rose Parade, and a White House State Dinner.

As a former Senior Floral Education Coordinator at Arizona Flower Market, Brent is widely known for his passion for teaching, inspiring, and mentoring florists at all levels. At this year’s expo, Brent will lend his expertise to the panel "The Path to Accreditations," where he’ll share practical tips, insider advice, and encouragement for florists pursuing professional credentials. With a deep understanding of what it takes to thrive in the industry, Brent is committed to helping others elevate their artistry and achieve their goals.

Tim Farrell AIFD, AAF, PFCI - Presenting our Main Stage Afternoon Program

Tim Farrell AIFD, AAF, PFCI is an accomplished floral designer, known throughout the United States for his creations of beautiful floral compositions.  His understanding and ability to teach the elements and principles of floral design make him a sought after presenter for garden clubs, horticultural schools, and retail florist organizations throughout the country.

He opened Farrell’s Florist in Drexel Hill, PA in 1983, while attending Villanova and received a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting 1984.   He owned and operated this business for more than 40 years.  He was inducted into AIFD in 2000 and served as the 2014-2015 President of the Board of Directors of the American Institute of Floral Designers ( AIFD) , the premier accreditation body in floral design in the United States.   Tim’s work has been showcased in the Philadelphia Flower Show as a featured designer in the gallery of AIFD, as a guest speaker for the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, and as a judge. The American Academy of Floriculture (AAF) inducted Tim into its membership in 2001.   Tim was inducted to Professional Floral Communicators International (PFCI) in 2006, and is a member of the World Flower Council.

Tim’s work has appeared several times in the national publication FLOWERS&.  He is accredited as a certified evaluator and judge (CEJ) by AIFD.  Tim also designed and produced the stage arrangements for the 2001 Presidential Inauguration Ball in Washington, DC.  And has assisted White House staff in floral décor for special events and State dinners.  In 2016 Tim’s talents were put to use designing flowers for the US Papal visit of Pope Francis in both Washington DC and in Philadelphia PA.  

In May 2009, Tim was chosen as the florist spokesperson for Teleflora to promote the benefits of hand arranged, hand delivered flowers on national television through the HSN Network. From 2006 until 2010, Tim was a member of the Oscars design team assembled by Charisma Designs, which created the floral designs for the Red Carpet and the Kodak Theater in Los Angeles, CA for the annual Academy of Motion Pictures awards show.  In 2007, Tim was honored to be the representative for the United States in an international design competition in Tokyo Japan and in 2016 Tim was the featured presenter at the annual meeting of the World Flower Council held in Nairobi Africa.   In June 2022 Tim had the honor of designing flowers in the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City, Rome, and most recently had the honor of preparing flowers for the residence on Pope Leo XIV on the day of his inauguration at the Vatican. 

 Tim was honored as the recipient of the Award of Distinguished Service to the floral Industry by The American Institute of Floral Designers at their annual Symposium in Seattle WA in July 2017.  In July 2023 Tim was honored by being named Fellow to AIFD with the Award of Distinguished Service to the American Institute of Floral Designers, one of the highest honors in the world of floral design in the USA.  In September of 2023, Tim was presented the Tommy Bright Award by SAF, the Society of American Florists, for lifetime achievement in floral presentations.   Last summer, Tim was presented the Paul Ecke Jr award by the Society of American Florists (SAF) for outstanding service to the floral industry.

Tim currently serves as an Education Specialist and as Senior Floral Design consultant for Teleflora Los Angeles USA.   He is also the General Manager for Teleflora International Partner Systems based out of Malmo Sweden.    

Katherine Gonzalez CFD AIFD AzMF- Speaking about Profitable Event Business 
Freelance Designer / Event Production Specialist / Business Owner

Katherine Gonzalez grew up in the floral industry, getting her start as a shop assistant at Cactus Flower Florist in Scottsdale, Arizona. A member of AIFD since 2012, she went on to become a high-end designer, refining her event expertise in New York City with Damselfly Designs and later as Event Director at Bastille Flowers & Events.

Now based in Phoenix, Katherine owns Bloom & Thorn, a boutique floral company that offers white-label production, consultations, and on-site labor support for fellow florists. Known for her creative vision and commitment to sustainability, she continues to design impactful events while helping others streamline and scale their floral businesses.

Inspired by Arizona’s desert landscape and global floral trends, Katherine is passionate about crafting memorable experiences and supporting the success of the floral community nationwide.

Lea Romanowski - Speaking about Sustainable Floristry 

Lea Romanowski is a renowned floral designer based in Calgary, Canada. With her business, Designing on the Edge, she has showcased her exceptional talent on the international stage, representing Canada at the Interflora World Championships & most recently in Singapore. This year she is off the Vietnam, to design in the Vietnam International Floral Expo.  Driven by a passion for creativity and innovation, Lea finds inspiration in the world around her. From her travels and interactions with growers to the latest trends in the industry, she continuously seeks new ways to push the boundaries of floral design. With a versatile skillset, Lea tackles projects of all sizes with equal enthusiasm. No challenge is too great or too small, her joy lies in finding the perfect floral solution for every occasion. Balancing her busy career with family life, Lea is a dedicated professional who remains committed to her craft. She shares her knowledge and passion through teaching and workshops, inspiring the next generation of floral designers.  She loves assemblage art and recycling old items and adding flowers to them. Like a group of designers, when combined they become much more than the individual components; a true collaboration of art is born. This ties into her drive for more eco-friendly design. She understands the strain the floral industry has on the environment, and believes we can reduce this impact by our conscious choices. 

Alexander Campbell- Your Content Creation Journey

Alexander Campbell is a Miami-based floral designer, content creator, and educator known for his bold, immersive approach to floristry. Through his studio, @acfloralstudio, he blends art, storytelling, and floral design to create unforgettable experiences—from luxury events and large-scale installations to viral social media content. Alex has worked the global social media campaigns for many recognizable brands including Disney, Marvel, Amazon Prime, Nintendo, Sony music and Warner Brothers amongst many others. His work has been featured at high-profile events like the Latin Grammys, and he's passionate about helping other florists grow creatively and strategically. Alexander also teaches online and in-person, offering modern education for floral entrepreneurs looking to stand out in today’s digital world.

Nicholas St Clair AIFD CFD- Hands on Workshop

With over 20 years of experience in the floral and event design industry, internationally published designer Nicholas St. Clair is a nationally recognized designer known for his bold creativity, architectural eye, and meticulous attention to detail. Nicholas began his career in high school, driven by a passion for aesthetics and spatial design that eventually led him to earn a degree in Interior Design.

Throughout his career as a freelance designer, Nicholas has created breathtaking environments for high-profile afterparties, red-carpet events for Hollywood elites, and streaming giants like Netflix. His work has not only earned him multiple awards but has also taken him across the country and around the globe as a sought-after freelance designer.

As member of AIFD (American Institute of Floral Designers), Nicholas now brings his vision and leadership to Bloom & Blueprint as the Director of Production. In this role, he oversees the creative and logistical execution of large-scale floral installations and event experiences, marrying artistry with strategy to deliver unforgettable moments.

Paul Miller AIFD, PFCI- From Farm to Home

Paul Miller AIFD, PFCI, has been in the floral industry for over 50 years.  His vast flower knowledge has taken him through the United States, Canada, and South America to teach a variety of design and floral industry seminars.  

Paul has been a featured in U.S. and Japanese floral trade, and he has served as a design show panelist, judge, commentator and floral consultant.  Paul has served as president of the Southwest Region of AIFD and the national Education and Membership Committees. Recognized in Arizona’s Floral Hall of Fame, Paul was named Arizona State Designer of the Year, and was the runner-up in the FTD’s America’s Cup Competition.

Paul shares his creativity with sincerity and enthusiasm that continues to inspire and motivate audiences.  An experienced and resourceful visionary, Paul is a constant source of ideas pushing the boundaries of floral innovation, yet it’s down-to-earth approach to floristry makes him relevant in any setting.