Meet your Southern Chapter 2020-2021 Board

2020-2021 AIFD Southern Chapter Board

Michael Whaley AIFD

President

Michael has dedicated his career to education. Michael has been an active member of AIFD for 27 years. Throughout his membership Michael has served as Chairman of the Education Committee, current President of the Southern Chapter of AIFD. He has been an evaluator for PFDE several times throughout the years. He has also been involved with competitions. Michael says that competition has been an essential part 0f his learning opportunities.

Michael has been awarded the NC State Florist Association and Southern Region Designer of the Year. Michael was a regional and state representative for Americas Cup. Inducted in the NC James Treadway for Interpretive Design Hall of Fame. Michael’s work has been published numerous times, the latest is CREATIVITY: A GLOBAL FLORAL INTROSPECTIVE. He has been fortunate enough to have studied with the world’s greatest floral artist Hitomi Gilliam, Per Benjamin, Gregor Lerch among others and shares this knowledge with everyone.

Aisha Crivens AIFD

President-Elect

I was first introduced to Southern as a student in SAIFD program At Mississippi State University in 2002. And fell in love with the floral industry.

I was inducted in 2008. I now reside in and work at a Flower shop in Memphis, TN. I enjoy working with the students and learning and sharing new techniques that are timeless and can be use in a variety of ways.

Jody McLeod AIFD

Vice-President

A Seasoned veteran in the floral industry as both a shop owner and designer.

Currently, Jody is a Teleflora Education Specialist and Syndicate Sales design team member.

Jody is a highly- sought after Motivational and Educational floral design presenter.

He resides in Clayton NC where he owns and operates his floral design studio.

Marcela López-Vallejo AIFD

Secretary

Marcela has more than 20 years of experience in the floral industry, gained as a floral designer, shop owner, event manager, lead product developer, and educator. In 2015, she was awarded "South Carolina Designer of the Year" and in 2017 competed in the “Iron Designer Competition” at the International Floriculture Expo (IFE). In 2020, her work was published in AIFD’s book Artistic Floral Design 2020.

In pursuit of expanding the floral industry, Marcela contributes to her roles of Design Director for Smithers-Oasis Latin America and chair of AIFD's International Committee. Marcela lives in Irmo, SC and is an Advertising major with a background in Arts and an MBA in Marketing from Costa Rica Tech.

Angelyn Tipton AIFD

Treasurer

Angelyn was literally raised in her Mother’s flower shop. At the age of 16 she went to work for her mom as a designer/ delivery girl to have some “play” money. Angelyn was lucky enough to attend many Georgia State Florist Conventions, FTD and Teleflora National Conventions. She has continued her floral education to keep up with new floral trends. She has served as GSFA District III president for many years and GSFA State Secretary from 2006 to 2011 and in 2014-2016 and is a Certified Evaluator for GSFA. Angelyn also had the privilege of being able to decorate floats at the Rose Bowl Parade working for Fiesta Floats. Some of these include, Miracle Grow, City of Torrance, Kaiser Permanente, and Chinese American Heritage Foundation.

Angelyn is also an Instructor and Course Coordinator at Floriology Institute.

She has worked as a freelance designer around the country. She just wrapped up working on several television and movie projects. Her work can also be seen in several industry magazines and was recently published in AIFD’s Artistic Floral Design Book.

Angelyn is married to Donald Tipton and has 3 children Jonathan, Andrew and Katherine. She is also a 9-year cancer survivor!

Teresa (Terry) Godfrey AIFD

Past-President

Inducted in 2011

Certified Evaluator in 2013

I am a Freelance Floral Designer/Educator in the metro Washington, DC area and also the Lead Instructor for the Floriculture Program at Anne Arundel Community College, an Education Partner with AIFD.

I have served on the Southern Chapter board since 2011 where I’ve sat on nearly every committee at some point. I spent 2 years as Secretary and as the Accents Newsletter writer/editor before moving into the Executive Board.

It has been an honor to serve Southern Chapter and am thankful to have been asked.

Robyn Arnold AIFD

Representative to National Board

Hi, I’m Robyn Arnold AIFD, CFD.

I live in Wesley Chapel Florida. I was inducted into AIFD in 2000. I am your Southern Chapter

Representative to the National Board and your Southern Representative to the AIFD Foundation. I was appointed in 2019 and re-elected in 2020. I have been involved with the Southern Chapter for quite a long time serving on the board and was President in 2016.

I am currently a freelance designer for the Tampa Bay Area in Florida.

I love the Southern Chapter and want to encourage our AIFD, CFD and student members to get involved whether on a Regional or National level. I also want us to continue to get the AIFD brand out there, so people recognize it in our Region and Worldwide.

I want to encourage all our members to take advantage of the many opportunities of the AIFD Foundation (check out the website there are opportunities available for members and non-members, but you must apply to have a chance) I also would like to see our members help us grow the Southern Chapter corpuses of the AIFD Foundation. They are the following Southern Regional Chapter Fund, The Joe Smith AIFD Fund and The David Shover AIFD Fund.

For information about scholarship opportunities or ways to make a donation, to any of the funds go to AIFDFoundation.org

Ellen Seagraves AIFD

2021 Director

I have been working with flowers for 25 years. I have a degree in weaving and textile design and that influences my art floral work. I am certified with both AIFD and EMC. I have a home studio and design flowers for many private school events in the Washington DC area as well as for weddings and other events. My work is highly textured and full of color. I like to work in many different design styles and am an avid follower of new designers and trends.

Bob Tucker AIFD

2021 Director

Hello, I am Bob Tucker AIFD CFD FSMD.

I was inducted in 2016. I am the owner of Miss Daisy's Flowers and Events by Miss Daisy in Leesburg, Florida. I serve on the practice PFDE committee and I am the Liaison for AIFD Southern Chapter to Florida State.

I also am the executive Director of the Florida State Florists' Association

Andreia Muller AIFD

2021 Director

Andreia Muller, aka Andie.

Born in Brazil, being in Florida since 2000

Based in Central Florida, Altamonte Springs

AIFD class of 2018

My mantra: Never stop learning, sharing, and educating yourself. Education is a lifestyle.

Sue Bain AIFD

2022 Director

Susan Bain from Greenville, South Carolina and formerly from Florida and New York State. I have managed flower shops since 1986 and owned a wedding event studio in Florida for 14 years.

I was inducted in 2001 and served on Southern board from 2013-2016 and then again in 2018 to the present. My interests are working to promote education programs and organize mentorship opportunities for aspiring members.

Donny Johnson AIFD

2022 Director

I am a skilled floral designer who has demonstrated a commitment to the industry, shops, and my continued growth as a designer. I am a team player who goes above and beyond to sure both quality and satisfaction for both my employer and their clients.

Pattie Wallander AIFD

2022 Director

Pattie graduated floral design school in 1993 from American Floral Art School in Chicago. She has worked in lots of different avenues of the floral industry: from mass market, wholesale, traditional shops, events, to freelancing.

She was on the Illinois State floral board for 3 years, working alongside some of the most talented people in the floral industry. While there, she received her ICPF (Illinois Certified Professional Florist) also obtained her CFD and tested for AIFD.

Pattie has taught FFA students and judged at their national convention. Her latest endeavor is becoming a board member of the Tennessee State Floral Association.

Carol Dowd AIFD

2023 Director

Linda K Speer AIFD

2023 Director

A native Mississippian, I have lived in Huntsville, AL for the past 21 years. I am a 2003 AIFD inductee.

I’m excited to be on the 2020-2021 Southern AIFD Board. I have enjoyed becoming involved with student competitions at Mississippi State University over the past couple of years and I especially look forward to becoming more involved with the new SAIFD chapter at Western Kentucky and the education aspects of Southern AIFD.

Antoinette (Toni) Smith AIFD

2023 Director

Antionette S. Jones, known by her close friends and family as “Toni” is a native Georgian and accomplished floral designer and event planner as well as the mother of 3 wonderful children, 39, 32, and 25.

Her career began when she acquired her Associates Degree from Atlanta Metropolitan College in Accounting and began working for Rich’s in the accounting department. It was then that she began to dream of entrepreneurship. Her first endeavor in entrepreneurship was Home Interiors, Inc. as a home coordinating specialist. For the next several years, she gained a deep understanding and respect for goal setting, customer service, and managing one’s own business.

Presently, Antionette is looking towards expanding her business in the areas of educating young adults in the area of floral design. Recently, she has expanded her business to include three e-commerce web sites, one informational wedding site and the expansion of Toni’s Touch of Class, Inc into Designs by TTOC Floral and Décor, a complete wedding and corporate event planner and décor’ specialist.