My first SAF Convention was in 2002 in Phoenix, Arizona. I was a new mom, and our family celebrated my son Kyle’s first birthday during the event. Kyle grew up surrounded by the flower industry, with mom, dad, and Mimi all working at Gardens America. As a baby, he came to work with me every day and was loved by our team. Many of our travels were for floral industry events, and Kyle was always with us.

This year, Kyle attended the convention with me as a true attendee, which was a special moment for both of us. We’ll celebrate his 23rd birthday in a few weeks. Any of you parents out there understand that the days are long, but the years are short. Kyle graduated college in May with a business degree and recently interned with Gardens America to gain firsthand experience in the industry. His passion is to become a firefighter, and he started EMT school this week, but he’s open to learning about the family business as well.

I love seeing the industry through his eyes. He has tons of questions about how all the players interact, from breeders to growers, importers, wholesalers, retailers, event planners, and supermarkets. He was fascinated by the depth of our industry—fresh, dried, hard goods, technology, transportation, logistics, design elements, etc.

Kyle asked me why we are members of SAF. Honestly, it’s for that exact reason. What other organization brings all the sectors of our industry together? We all rely on each other every day. We should get together more often to discuss challenges and opportunities. Only together can we move our industry forward.

Last year’s convention buzz was all about AI—how to use it to move your business forward. This year’s educational topics included creating a positive culture in your business, succession planning, color trends, economic forecasting, and much more. But it’s between those sessions, in the halls, when you bump into friends both old and new and share ideas and inspiration. I find tons of golden nuggets throughout the event and leave feeling inspired and rejuvenated.

As we look ahead, we’re excited to attend more shows and conventions, continuing to learn, grow, and connect with others in the industry. These events are invaluable for staying on the cutting edge, and we’re committed to leveraging these opportunities to drive Gardens America forward. We look forward to the future and the possibilities that lie ahead for our team, our family, and our industry.