AFE Elects New Chairman, Appoints Four Trustees

The American Floral Endowment (AFE) announced that Jim Daly, vice president of Floralife/Smithers-Oasis has been elected to serve a two-year term as AFE Chairman. His appointment began during the AFE Annual Fundraising Dinner in Palm Springs, California.

Daly replaces Dwight Larimer of DESIGN MASTER color tool, inc. who served as chairman for the past two years and will remain on the board for two additional years as past chairman.

AFE also appointed four new industry members to its Board of Trustees. All will serve a three-year term and can be re-appointed for a second term. AFE Trustees are industry leaders who give their time and talent to help guide Endowment activities and programs benefitting the industry. All will also be appointed to a committee on either education, public relations and development, research, or the Floral Marketing Research Fund.

The new trustees are:

• Mauricio Jaramillo, president and CEO, Solé Farms, Miami, Florida
• Bill Foster, president and CEO, BioWorks, Inc., Victor, New York
• Steve Frye, vice president, Basich and Skinner, Inc., St. Louis, Missouri
• Art VanWingerden, co-CEO, Metrolina Greenhouses, Huntersville, North Carolina

Completing their term on the AFE Board in September are Gabriel Becerra, past AFE Chairman and FMRF Chairman, and Eric Levy of Hillcrest Gardens.

To see a complete list of AFE’s 20 Trustees, visit endowment.org.