|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Media Release | |||||||
FLORAL INDUSTRY EXPERTS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY SPEND DAY IN HONOLULU AT SEMINAR
|
|||||||
Three nationally known flower and foliage experts and Hawai’i’s top agricultural researchers from the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources join growers, shippers, and distributors in Honolulu for a one day seminar. Tom Lavaghetto, President of Floral Consulting Group will be our keynote speaker. His successes in the industry won him the prestigious “Floral Marketer of the Year” award in 1995 Tom will offer suggestions on how to niche market our potted orchids, tropical cut flowers and potted foliage to high value, prompt paying customers; how to differentiate ourselves from our mainland and overseas competition and how to consolidate our marketing and shipping to maximize mainland market penetration. His presentation, titled “The Past, the Present and the Future of Hawai’i Floriculture will also discuss where Hawaii’s future potential lies. Bob Luthultz, President of Pittsburgh Cut Flowers and current President of the Society of American Florists (SAF), will share the trends of flower and foliage consumption in the U.S. and how national floral organizations such as SAF and WF&FSA can work with Hawai’i’s growers and shippers to increase the demand for Hawai’i’s highly valued floral and foliage crops. His luncheon presentation is titled, “The Latest Potted and Cut Floral Trends in the U.S. Market”. With over 40 years experience in the industry, President of the National Foliage Foundation and former president of the Florida Nurseryman and Growers Association, Joe Cialone will discuss how our potted tropical flower and foliage plant growers and shippers can take advantage of the current landscaping trends for new opportunities. His topic, “Strategies for Promoting and Protecting Hawai’i’s Floriculture Industry”, will also give insight on what it takes to form a consolidated, well financed statewide floral and foliage association and a unified approach in growing and marketing Hawai’i’s productsPresenting their latest research, Hawai’i’s top ornamental researchers from the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources will update us on the industry’s breeding programs of new orchid, protea and anthurium varieties, as well as, discuss tropical plant development, disease control, plant nutrition and control of invasive specie. Dr. C.Y. Hu, Associate Dean of Research, will be moderating our research updates that are funded through the Federal Floriculture Research Grant. We will windup the day with a featured roundtable discussion with all the experts who will answer questions and discuss how to protect and grow Hawai’i’s Floriculture Industry. Eric Tanouye, president of the Hawaii Florists & Shippers Association, states, “The Hawaii Floriculture Seminar ’06 will offer benefits to our industry members with critical and engaging information. The entire Floral and Foliage Industry in Hawaii is at a crossroads and the direction we choose to take over the next several years can ensure our success or our slow demise. Grower, shipper, internet marketer, the whole industry, has the opportunity to learn from the expertise of our speakers. I encourage the industry to participate in helping us to decide the Future of Hawai’i’s Floriculture Industry.” Take advantage of the low inter-island airfares and be at HAWAII FLORICULTURE INDUSTRY SEMINAR at the Hilton Hawaiian Village on Friday, October 27, 2006. Single-day registration cost is $100 and includes a buffet lunch. This seminar is presented in conjunction with Ag 2006. For more information and to register on line visit www.agconference.org. Expanded Speaker Biographies, Photos Available Tom Lavagetto is a tough-minded, profit-motivated problem solver with a clear vision of potential. He possesses front-line knowledge of international marketing and management in the floral industry. Throughout his career, he had dedicated 14 years as a mass marketer, 8 years as an importer, and 9 years as a grower. In just six years as a Floral Merchandising Manager for a chain of 225 floral shops, Tom spearheaded an increased annual sales volume from $4 million to over $26 million and increased gross profit from 10% to 45%. As Vice President and General Manager of a large East coast greenhouse and garden center operation, Tom lead an increase in annual greenhouse sales volume from $8 million to $16 million and increased annual garden center sales from $900K to over $1.6 million in just seven years. The largest association of Tom's peers, the Produce Marketing Association, honored Tom with their highest recognition award in 1995, "Floral Marketer of the Year". Tom Lavagetto, Ph. 509 536 7957, email: tlavagetto@earthling.netRobert Luthultz, AAF, is President of Pittsburgh Cut Flower Company in Pittsburgh, PA, and is currently the President of the Society of American Florists (SAF). Luthultz is also affiliated with the Wholesale Florist & Florist Supplier Association and International Floral Distributors (IFD). Since 1999, he has been both a member and a panel speaker for the IFD. He serves on the board of directors for Kennicott Brothers and Phillip Flower & Gift. Luthultz has also chaired the SAF Wholesalers Council and served on various committees over the past several years. He participated in a panel on industry consolidation at the SAF 2000 convention and has written an editorial for Floral Management magazine. An active community volunteer, Luthultz received the Special Volunteer Award from the Pittsburgh chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation for his many years of support. Additionally, he is a trustee at Presley-Ridge School and a commissioner of Ingomar Athletic Association. Luthultz holds a Bachelor of Arts degree and a MBA from Carnegie Mellon University. Bob Ludhultz, Ph. 412 355 7047, email: rbl@nauticom.net Joe Cialone has contributed to the field of commercial horticulture as an entrepreneur, inventor, and leader. He began his career as a plant physiologist and researcher in weed science at Rutgers University. In 1971 Joe co-founded Tropical Ornamentals based in Florida, a major supplier of interior plants in the United States. He also developed a sub- irrigation system called “Everlife” and a notched-cane propagation technique for Dracaena species. Joe’s enthusiasm and activism are legendary; he has served on the boards of the Florida Foliage Association, the Florida Nurseryman and Growers Association, the Associated Landscape Contractors of America, Mounts Botanical Garden, Palm Beach Wholesale Growers Association, the National Foliage Foundation, and The Fund for Interior Horticultural Research and Education. Joe received the Paul Ecke, Jr. Commercial Award from the American Horticultural Society in April 2004. The individual award is given to a person, who, because of his/her commitment to the highest standards of excellence in the field of commercial horticulture, contributes to the betterment of gardening practices, everywhere. Joe Cialone, Ph. 561 734 1430, email: jcialone@adelphia.net
|
|||||||
|