Jackie Bruce is a Professor of Leadership at NC State. She’s worked with small organizations, large companies and multinational corporations throughout her career and is often sought out for leadership training and development and conflict management issues.  She has authored 61 peer reviewed articles and presented her work all around the world more than 100 times. She enjoys collaborating with colleagues both in the US and abroad on projects that center training the next generation of leaders who can critically engage across disciplines, with pragmatism, and compassion.

Christine Guenther is the owner and General Manager of WildFlower | stem + sundry, a progressive retail floral operation with 28 employees and two boutique gift shops located in Baltimore and Annapolis, Maryland. 

 In 2016, she entered the industry with the purchase of a local florist and leveraged her 13 years of restaurant management experience to grow and cultivate what is now the WildFlower brand.  

 Christine lives in Annapolis, MD along with husband & fellow “Local Flower Dealer” Joey and their two children.  

Corrine Heck is the founder and CEO of Details Flowers Software, a program she created to help florists and event planners.  She has worked in nearly every aspect of the floral and event industry for over 20+ years and spends her days working to create new innovations to help budding florists and seasoned veterans.  

Details Flowers Software’s mission is to cultivate happy and loyal customers by building software with florists in mind. Details’ improves profitability, productivity, and organization for all shapes and sizes of floral businesses. The company has grown to include a tight-knit team of employees supporting hundreds of floral designers from around the world. Details Flowers Software is a proudly female-owned, operated, and developed business that does it all in-house. 

In 2016, Corrine presented Details Flowers Software at the Rollins College Venture Pitch and won the presentation and Grand Prize. Most recently, Corrine was honored at the Society of American Florists National Convention when she was inducted into the Professional Floral Communicators – International.  Her dedication to the floral industry and continued advocacy for floral education shines through her various public speaking engagements. Details Flowers Software is also recognized as the official software for the American Institute of Floral Designers National Symposium and the key procurement software tool.  

Details Flowers Software is headquartered in Ormond Beach, Florida, where Corrine lives with her husband of 22 years, Gregory, and their three children.

Dr. Knuth’s research area focuses on consumer and market research experience by focusing on the interface between people and plants, helping the horticulture industry understand consumer preferences, perceptions, and motivations. Historically, Dr. Knuth has evaluated trade flows of horticulture products in the United States, assessed the supply chain in the cut flower industry, investigated profit margins in substituting species in floral arrangements, and estimated consumer acceptance of retail messaging.

She currently is an Assistant Professor in Horticultural Science at North Carolina State University. Dr. Knuth teaches Greenhouse Management, Floriculture Production, Floral Design, and Horticulture Marketing. Dr. Knuth received her PhD from Texas A&M University in Horticultural Science with a certificate in Applied Statistics. From there, she was a postdoctoral research associate at University of Florida in the Food & Resource Economics Department. Dr. Knuth received GPN Magazine’s 40 under 40 award in 2021, is a member of AFE’s Young Professionals Council, and a 2017 AmericanHort Scholar.

Talmage McLaurin began his floral career in a family-owned flower business. In 1990, he launched a 23-year career in floral publishing, during which he contributed to more than 400 issues of Florists’ Review and Super Floral magazines and was featured in more than 20 books for florists as the creative director and publisher for Florists’ Review Enterprises.

He was inducted into American Institute of Floral Designers (AIFD) in 1988 and has made eight presentations at their National Symposiums. In 2008, Talmage received the AIFD award of Distinguished Service to the Floral Industry.

Talmage resides in Ft. Lauderdale and is part of the creative team at Sunshine Bouquet in Miami.

Ryan Marrero is the Assistant Sales Manager at Equiflor/Rio Roses. In this role, he is responsible for working with the sales department to ensure customer satisfaction.  With a genuine passion for the flower business for the past 20 years, Ryan is committed to driving growth and ensuring its continued success in a dynamic market. He believes in the power of flowers and is dedicated to fostering strong relationships within the industry. 

With a foundation in grassroots marketing and high-end fashion, Sahid Nahim brings a unique blend of creativity, strategy, and people-centered experience to the floral industry. His early work in luxury branding and customer experience taught him the value of purpose, connection, and community—principles that continue to guide his work today. Over two decades ago, he entered the floral industry, working alongside industry pioneers such as Esmeralda Farms and Royal Flowers. That journey sparked a mission to support floral businesses through strategic growth, meaningful visibility, and authentic relationships. 

As the founder of New Bloom Solutions and New Bloom Media, he leads a media and matchmaking company that helps floral businesses across the Americas grow with purpose. He specializes in strategic consulting, cross-border market expansion, and relationship-driven marketing, working with companies from Latin America, the U.S., and beyond. He also hosts The Bloom Show, a media platform amplifying voices across the industry through interviews, panels, and community-driven conversations. A speaker, panel host, and committee member for That Flower Feeling and Seed Your Future, he is deeply invested in building sustainable, people-first communities that strengthen the floral industry from the inside out. 

Eileen Weber, a second-generation florist and Co-Owner of Lake Forest Flowers, brings passion, creativity, and dedication to every arrangement and event. Raised in the floral industry, she earned a Bachelor of Science in Horticultural Production and Marketing from Purdue University before joining her family’s business. She later completed her MBA at Lake Forest Graduate School of Management to enhance her leadership and business expertise.  

Deeply committed to her community and profession, Eileen was inducted into the American Academy of Floriculture in 2014. She is an active member of the Junior Garden Club of Lake Forest and the Garden Clubs of America, as well as a Director at Large. Additionally, she serves as 4th Ward Alderman including Chair of the Finance & Civic Beautification Committees for the City of Lake Forest, IL and chairs the School Advisory Council at the School of St. Mary, where her two sons are students. 

Eileen finds joy in building personal connections and spreading happiness through flowers. Her passion for exceeding expectations and her unique, unforgettable floral designs ensure every event is as beautiful as it is memorab