Hitomi Gilliam
AIFD
Hitomi Gilliam AIFD is a Japanese Canadian Flower Artist. She has guest-designed and have taught extensively throughout North America and around the world – England, Northern Ireland, Belgium, Italy, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, India, Australia, New Zealand, Oman, Colombia, Costa Rica and Mexico.
She began her career in horticulture as a greenhouse grower of bedding plants and a landscaper. She became a Farmer/Florist, when she opened a retail flower shop (27 years as Satsuki Florist) to sell her farm-grown plants and flowers. She currently works with her son, Colin Gilliam in an Education based business, DESIGN358 founded in 2008. They currently host in person design workshops and educational events as well as virtual online courses and workshops.
Hitomi has lectured at Art Gallery of Ontario (Toronto), Chicago Botanical Gardens, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Cheekwood Botanical Gardens (Nashville), Museum of Fine Art Boston, Minneapolis Institute of Art,
Bouquets to Art at DeYoung Museum (San Francisco), Houston Museum of Fine Art, New Orleans Museum of Fine Art, Cleveland Botanical Gardens, Honolulu Academy of Art, Everson Museum of Art (Syracuse), The Walters Art Museum (Baltimore), Longwood Gardens, Virginia Museum of Fine Art, Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens (Richmond, VA), Detroit Institute of Art, Vero Beach Museum of Fine Arts, The Strong Museum (Rochester, NY), North Carolina Museum of Art (Raleigh, NC), and Columbus Museum of fine Art. She has also presented at the Philadelphia Flower Show, Newport Flower Show and Singapore Garden Festival.
She was one of the 5 commissioned inter-disciplinary artists to show her floral art installation ‘RISE’ at ‘Les Fleurs Sauvages’ Art Show at Sotheby’s Institute of Art in New York City (April 2018).
She is an Education Specialist for Teleflora and was selected as one of the 3 judges for the 2020 Tournament of Roses Parade Floats in Pasadena, CA.
Ken Senter
AIFD
During his lifetime of being in the floral industry, Ken, has spent his entire career learning Floristry and helping to educate his fellow florist. He started his journey with a BS degree in Floriculture from Texas A&M in 1975 and immediately open a retail flower shop in College Station. Ken and his wife, Donna Senter AIFD own The Senterpiece A wedding and Event Company in Houston, Texas.
Ken has designed and commentated floral programs across the USA, Canada, Mexico, Indonesia and Korea. In 2016, he represented the United States in the “Gateway to the Americas Cup” International floral design competition, held in Vancouver as a designer. In 2018 and 2022, Ken served as the United States Judge during the “Gateway to the Americas Cup” International floral design competition held in Orlando, Florida. He has competed many times including winning the SAF Sylvia Cup in 1986, consider the most prestigious floral design competition in America. He has also won the California Top Ten competition and twice was a gold medalist in the AFS National finals. He has place in the top three in over 20 floral competitions. Most recently Ken started and ran the Jim Johnson Cup to help give designers a platform to compete and to honor Mr. Johnson. Last summer he was one of 3 judges selected to judge the America’s Cup Competition.
He has always been involved not only as a designer but someone who loves to work behind the scenes to help promote the floral industry. He has also served as President of the South-Central Chapter of AIFD and has served on the AIFD National Board. Ken, recently served as AIFD National Membership Chair. While serving as Chair, he visited Korea this past fall to present a class on the Principles and Elements to the Korea AIFD Association. His true passion is to help designers achieve their goals and to help reach their dreams.
Ken has been invited twice to help decorate the flowers in the White House. One of those visits was to help decorate for the Singapore State Dinner. At the 2021 Florida State Florist Convention, he was inducted into the FSFA Hall of Fame for his years of dedication to the industry. This year Ken was named as a Trustee to the AIFD Foundation.
Sandy Schroeck
AIFD
Sandy Schroeck is an award-winning floral designer, trend forecaster, educator, and industry leader with extensive experience in both the retail and wholesale floral markets. As the owner of Trend On Design in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, and Director of LBR Education Collective, Sandy is known for her passion for education and innovation within the floral industry. Guided by the mantra “educate, inspire, influence,” she is dedicated to helping floral professionals discover new products, emerging trends, creative mechanics, and advanced design techniques that lead to greater creativity and profitability.
Throughout her career, Sandy has built a reputation as an international educator and trend expert, translating consumer lifestyle and color trends into successful floral merchandising and sales strategies. Her unique perspective comes from hands-on experience across multiple areas of the floral business, allowing her to connect both artistic vision and business success.
Sandy currently serves as Customer Education Coordinator for Len Busch Roses, and Design Director for Smithers-Oasis. She is an active member of the American Institute of Floral Designers (AIFD), where she has served on the national board, chaired the national membership committee and symposium committees, and works as an AIFD Certified Evaluator. Sandy is also certified through Professional Floral Commentators International (PFCI) and is a past recipient of the prestigious North Central AIFD Bobbi Cup.
Known for her engaging teaching style and forward-thinking approach, Sandy believes that continuing education, adaptability, and creative evolution are the keys to long-term success in the floral industry.
Past Judges
Jacob McCall
AIFD
Known for his cutting edge trends and color expertise Jacob McCall was inducted into the prestigious American Institute of Floral Designers in 2010 and later inducted into the American Academy of Floriculture in 2012. A powerhouse educator, competitor, judge and certified evaluator with over 25 years of experience!
Jacob has presented two main stage programs at the AIFD national symposium and currently travels throughout north and South America educating consumers and peers. Jacob represented the USA in the Interflora World Cup that was held in Berlin, Germany in 2015. Jacob also represented the USA in the 2011 America’s cup that took place in Brazil. Competing against nine other countries he placed first runner up! He also won Iron designer of America for two consecutive years.
Ian Prosser
AIFD
Ian Prosser AAF, AIFD, CFD, NDSF, PFCI is a Scottish-born floral designer whose career has spanned more than four decades on both sides of the Atlantic. A graduate of Woodburn Horticultural College in Scotland, Ian launched his career in Glasgow, where he owned three successful floral shops and became the youngest person ever to receive the honor of "Floral Designer of the Year" for all of Scotland. He also earned the "National Diploma of the Society of Floristry" (NDSF), the highest European honor in floral design. In 1989, Ian founded Botanica International Design Studio in Tampa, Florida, which has since grown into Botanica Design Studio — an internationally recognized event design company. In 2012, Ian established Ian Prosser Productions as a design division for elevated weddings and special events.
Ian's visionary work has attracted clients and assignments on an international scale. He served as Design Chairperson for President George W. Bush's second Presidential Inauguration, and led the floral design for the 2012 Republican National Convention in Tampa. His clientele has included Queen Elizabeth II, President Bill Clinton, and numerous celebrities, dignitaries, and high-profile weddings.
A passionate educator and industry ambassador, Ian is a member of the FTD Design Team, traveling the country consulting, demonstrating, and teaching current design and upcoming trends. He has been a mainstage presenter at the AIFD national symposium and served on the Society of American Florists' annual convention design team for 20 years — chairing it throughout — as well as on SAF's Retailers Council and Floral Management Advisory Committee. He has been inducted into the American Institute of Floral Designers (AIFD) and the American Academy of Floriculture (AAF), and holds certification through Professional Floral Commentators International (PFCI).
Among his many honors, Ian has received the Paul Ecke Jr. Award from SAF for outstanding service to the industry, earned the title of "Iron Designer" at the International Floraculture Expo in New Orleans, and in 2024 was honored with the SAF President's Award recognizing two decades of devotion to the floral industry. He recently emceed FTD's America's Cup.