North Central Chapter

Presidents Message

Dear North Central AIFD Members,

Hello to you all! I am truly honored to serve you this year as the President of the North Central chapter of the American Institute of Floral Designers. I would like to take this opportunity to warmly welcome each of you to our vibrant floral community.

Like many of you, my floral journey began in 2005 as a delivery driver, but the owner of the business quickly recognized my potential for more. In 2009, I became a Certified Florist through the Michigan Floral Association, and in 2012 was named Designer of the Year for the Association.   I tested in Chicago,  and was pinned in 2015 at the Denver Symposium.   Since then,  I have discovered that education is my passion, and I love learning and sharing that knowledge with others.

I want to express my deepest gratitude for your trust in me. Together, we will uphold the mission of AIFD and strive for excellence in floral design. One of our goals for this chapter is to get records and forms digitized. This will streamline the passing of leadership responsibilities and preserve our rich history within the Institute, making it easier to search past projects and topics.

We also hope to provide a mock Professional Floral Design Evaluation (PFDE) in the spring for those aiming to submit for the evaluation in Orlando in 2026. Participants will receive vital evaluator feedback from our Certified Evaluator/Judge (CEJ) accredited members.

I am excited to share that we have several upcoming events, including these initiatives, and I encourage each of you to participate and share your unique talents and insights.

Your involvement is crucial to our success, and I would love to hear your ideas and feedback. Please feel free to reach out to me anytime; my door is always open.

Thank you once again for this opportunity. I look forward to a Flower- filled year with all of you!

Warmest regards,

Doug Bates 
President, North Central Chapter 
American Institute of Floral Designers 
Doug@6andfoster.com