AIFD Registration Is Open!! From Vision to Reality: Elevate 2026 in Orlando

Episode 325:  Registration is officially open — and we’re celebrating with a behind-the-scenes conversation you won’t want to miss. In this episode, Vonda and Lori sit down with Randy Wooten AIFD, co-coordinator of the AIFD Symposium, to talk candidly about what it really takes to bring Symposium to life.

From how the Elevate theme was born, to the three-year planning process, to the responsibility (and heart) behind creating a welcoming, inclusive experience for first-timers and seasoned attendees alike—this conversation pulls back the curtain on the people, purpose, and passion driving AIFD Elevate.

You’ll hear why organization, people skills, kindness, and collaboration matter just as much as design talent, how presenters are selected, what makes the main stage so powerful, and why Symposium isn’t just for designers—it’s for anyone who loves this industry.

If you’ve ever wondered what Symposium is truly about, why Elevate matters, or what kind of experience awaits you when you walk through those doors, this episode will leave you informed, inspired, and excited to be part of it.

Register Now! 

Sponsored by:
Flower Clique
Flower Clique Prep School
Real Life Retail Florist

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:00

We're not here just to show you pretty things and teach you how to make something fabulous. We're here to support you, whether that be in your business, financially, mentally, spiritually, however. We are that organization that is here to help.

SPEAKER_02 0:21

Welcome to the Business and Pleasure of Flowers. We're your hosts, Vonda LaFever and Lori Wilson.

SPEAKER_04 0:26

And we believe that business and fun are a perfect combination. Kind of like us, Vonda.

SPEAKER_02 0:35

So, Vonda, we have to be in professional mode now because we haven't guests. Well, um, we want to say that AIFD symposium registration is open. Woo-hoo! Yay!

SPEAKER_04 0:48

Finally, finally, yes, we're ready. As a volunteer AIFD helper. Yes. This has been stressing me the hell out.

SPEAKER_00 1:06

Just drop it, girl.

SPEAKER_03 1:08

It has been stressing me out. This one little link.

SPEAKER_04 1:13

I know. You know it. You know it. And uh, so I'm so excited that that link is live and people can click on it and register.

SPEAKER_02 1:28

And um we have a special guest with us today. We do, Randy Woot. Hello, ladies. Randy is my AIFD partner in crime. Is that elevate husband? Elevated husband. Yes. Love that because we know each other really well now, and we speak multiple times a day. Virtual husband. Yes. Oh yes.

SPEAKER_04 1:54

I think it's the best way to have a husband.

SPEAKER_00 1:59

It does make things peaceful here.

SPEAKER_03 2:01

It really does. Like, you know what? You get tired, you just click off. Leave. You click it, hit that red leave button.

SPEAKER_00 2:08

Yeah, I would never do that to Vonda. I was speaking of that, I was thinking the other day as I was coming home. I'm like, when this is over for a while, she's still gonna get a phone call from me because we talk every day, you know?

SPEAKER_04 2:24

Yeah. So in full transparency here, I'm gonna tell Randy, I said to Vonda the other day, we were jumping on like a director's meeting. We were waiting for the other two, because Vonda and I are always early. She had been in like AI of D meeting, AI of D meeting, AI, like everything on her calendar, because I, you know, have access. And I looked at her and I said, Can I ask you something? Is it what you thought it'd be? And she, I kid you not, she said no words, but her eyes told me everything I already thought. She just stared at me. She just stared at me. No facial expression, just a stare. And I'm like, okay. And that was it. Nothing good, nothing bad, just stare.

SPEAKER_03 3:12

I was like, alrighty, okay.

SPEAKER_02 3:13

And I didn't have to say anything, did I, Lori?

SPEAKER_03 3:15

No, I just knew. And then I just started laughing, and then everybody else came on the meeting, and we never have talked about it since. And so I'm gonna ask you, Randy Wooten from RW wholesale in Douglas, Georgia. Is it what you thought it'd be? That's the luck, Randy. That was the luck. Only he looked away first. You didn't even look away.

SPEAKER_04 3:43

So let's back up before I ask that.

SPEAKER_05 3:47

Sure, go ahead.

SPEAKER_04 3:49

How did you guys get approached to be the what are what is it? Co-coordinators, co-conspirators, co what what is the official title?

SPEAKER_02 3:59

Well, those are really good, but officially officially I am to be the symposium coordinator, and Randy is to be the program coordinator. But we decided early on that we were not doing that, we were doing everything together. What's the difference? There's kind of split duties, like I have to worry about the budget and yeah, mm-hmm. And then Randy was supposed to just take care of all the programming and all the designers and things.

SPEAKER_04 4:26

Okay, got it, got it. So uh they approached you guys. Gosh.

SPEAKER_02 4:32

They approached me. Actually, my name was submitted by Renee Tucci because she is the president this year. They are the ones that are supposed to bring forth the names for these positions.

unknown 4:45

Right.

SPEAKER_02 4:45

And so then after she said that, she's asked me about a program coordinator or somebody that I would be able to work with. And so I put Randy's name out there, and he'll probably never forgive me.

SPEAKER_00 5:00

Like, and then I got a call.

SPEAKER_04 5:04

You got a call, Vonda, or you got a call from Renee.

SPEAKER_00 5:08

Renee. Yeah, I got a call from Renee when her sweet voice said she wanted to talk to me about something, and immediately, those of us who've been in the industry, if you get a call like that, you know something's coming. And I will say that I was very surprised and I felt very honored at the same time, but scared to death. And so then Rhonda and I had a phone call. And and I will say it's because of who she is, is the reason why I agreed. I felt like I knew this going in prior to this, but now I know for sure her and I think a lot alike on many different things. And so we gel, I feel like, on almost everything that we've had to deal with so far. And that makes it a lot easier.

SPEAKER_02 5:54

We hadn't really worked together. We worked for FTD, I worked for Teleflora, we'd be out on the road and we'd see each other, we'd really would chat a little bit, but really it's just the respect we had for one another on the road.

SPEAKER_04 6:06

What made you that's what I was wondering? What made you think of Randy? Because to be fully transparent, maybe you mentioned Randy prior to working with this, but he wasn't like one of our virtual household names that you talked a lot about.

SPEAKER_02 6:24

No, Randy is somebody I always had a lot of respect for because of the way he treated people. You know, it's about people. And whenever you're out on the road and you see people on the stage or behind the stage, you can really see who they are by the way they're treating the volunteers that are working with them. Oh, yeah. And that has always stuck with me because Randy, you've always been a person who is so kind to everyone around you. And I'm like, we're talking about something that we have to work really close together. And the two of us I felt would mesh in that.

SPEAKER_00 7:04

Well, thank you, Vonda. But you are absolutely right. When you're on the road and you're at an event with six or seven different designers, and behind the scenes, you do see people. Some people, and I say this with all respect, some people are real and some people aren't.

SPEAKER_05 7:20

Right.

SPEAKER_00 7:20

And there's some people you know right away. I I could never work with them. Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 7:25

Right. So how far in advance did the planning start for symposium 2026? Which we are just now in the first month of 2026, because I kind of know, which was crazy. But just so the audience knows, how far in advance did you guys decide? Okay, here we go. We're partners in this. Planning starts, ready, set, go now. It's a three-year process.

SPEAKER_02 7:56

Good Lord. Three-year process. When you say yes, you're not just like, okay, this will be over next year. Oh no. Three years.

SPEAKER_04 8:05

And remember what I had to ask you, Lori? I I remember that conversation just like it was yesterday because I can't remember what month that was, but it was a stressful time during Flower Click, whether we were coming off a photo show. It was something that was like super even busy. I mean, for us too. And you called me, and I feel like Ellie was at your house. Maybe I'm like editing like it was one of those kind of times for us. And you were like, I need to talk to you about something. Because I was deciding, do I want to go part-time? Do I what do I want, you know, my yearly evaluation of my life that Vonda always sucks me back in? And she was like, I've been asked this, is and I was like, Oh, it sounds fine. You know, I didn't really think it. And she goes, No, you don't understand. You can't make any changes to your job until the end of 2022. I said, I need a commitment from you, need a commitment from you, and that was so far away. I was like, what? And she was then I realized she's not kidding. Because I'm like, how hard can this be? Like planning, we plan stuff all the time, you know, in my mind. And now I'm watching it play out and I'm like, oh my gosh, she wasn't kidding. Like, there's no way any of us could leave. Like, this is crazy. This is absolutely a full-time job. Yeah, we have the E right now, don't we, Randy? Yes. And you both run companies and do this.

SPEAKER_02 9:39

Isn't that what they say? Find the busiest person and ask them to do something, and then it'll get done.

SPEAKER_00 9:45

I have heard that, and people have said this is the reason I'm asking you. And I'm like, gee, thanks.

SPEAKER_04 9:52

That's so if I was to ask you, Randy, and then I'm gonna ask Vonda to have this position. What skills do you think matter the most? So I'm gonna give you an example for this type of roles, like organization, creativity, people person, problem solving. What kind of skill do you think is most important to have the role that you and Vonda have? And you could split it, like you don't have to have them all, you know.

SPEAKER_00 10:25

Well, I mean, there's several, but I think for me, the two that come to mind first is I think you have to be a people person. And I think you have to be able to interact with all types of personalities. And the other thing is being very well organized. And thank God Vonda is that. She takes care, she takes care of that part for us. And I tell her all the time, if I haven't told you before, I want to tell you thank you. I appreciate you. Yeah, but I do think a lot of it has to do with those two things because everything else kind of stems from that, because there's tons of moving parts here. And even though, yes, we are coordinators, but a lot of what we do is dependent on other people. And so you've got to be able to interact, negotiate, stay on top of deadlines and stuff like that. So those two things came to mind first.

SPEAKER_04 11:26

Yeah, I would agree. What about you, Von?

SPEAKER_02 11:29

Yeah, agree. Organization, people skills. The other one is technology. And let's just say Randy is not the best at technology and he'll tell you that. But if I give him the task, he can do it just like that. Just like if anybody would step into this position and didn't have one of you really good at technology, it would be a problem. I agree with that. I mean, so much, not necessarily a spreadsheet, but we do a lot of Google Docs. We do so many communications by email. And let's just call you out, Lori. Social media. Social media is something that is so important in this position. And we've had a lot of hurdles we've been trying to overcome. Yeah. And we don't need to go through those, but you stepping in that position and taking that on for Randy and I, that we don't have to worry about it. We can kind of give you a few little things, and you're like, boom, look at her, go, you know, huge, huge.

SPEAKER_04 12:29

I would just from looking at it from an outside point of view, I agree with both of you and Randy. You said it for first. Someone has to have the gift of organization. Because you guys are have too many mental tabs open at once all day long.

SPEAKER_02 12:48

Someone's got to keep those organized. Well, and we will have to say Susie Kostic is our symposium director, and he is amazing to keep us on task too. So we have somebody keeping us on task, and then we have to be organized and do what we're doing. Years ago in 2015, when I did symposium with Marie Ackerman, there was no symposium director. So years ago, the person who was the symposium coordinator and program coordinators, they did everything. And I thank God. I mean, I wouldn't have done it, Randy, would you, if we would have had somebody who not be able to do that? So that is a key position that AIFD was really smart to put in for the success of the symposium.

SPEAKER_00 13:34

Yes, and I think that was probably one of the best moves they ever did. Agreed. Because the coordinators every year are different, okay? And many of those are very passionate and love symposium, love AFD, and they want to do, but they've never stepped into a role like this before.

SPEAKER_05 13:51

Right.

SPEAKER_00 13:52

Even on a a a different level of state association or a regional or whatever. So there's a lot of things, that background is not there. And people are busy, and even though we have people who have done it before, to give time or think, oh, maybe I need to be a mentor here, that just doesn't happen. So Susie is really a beneficial. That position she holds is very beneficial.

SPEAKER_02 14:16

Absolutely.

SPEAKER_00 14:17

Because she's there every year. So yes, I would not have done it without her. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 14:23

She just helps. And Randy, you have been in this position before for Georgia State, correct?

SPEAKER_00 14:30

I've done it, Georgia State eight times, eight years, and Southern. Southern chapter. Yeah. Yes. But still, this is on a different level. Agree. And there's so many different components, but the background is there. And I think someone stepping into that role that's never done that would be very difficult.

SPEAKER_04 14:49

It would be terrifying. So you guys called this elevate, because every year there's a different theme. Yes. Why did you choose elevate? Brandy, go ahead.

SPEAKER_00 15:03

Well, when Vaughn and I were very first discussing about, I think she posed a question to me, what do you see symposium looking like? And so that spawned a conversation that went down its own little path.

SPEAKER_05 15:17

Right.

SPEAKER_00 15:18

And everything that we talked about, it kept coming back to supporting one another, lifting up one another, not just in your design skills, but as an industry as a whole. So that kind of just kept spawning and spawning. And I think Vonda came up with the word elevate, and it just resonated. And then from there it went to we want to make sure that every component, every detail relates to that theme. And I think we've done a pretty good job of staying true to that.

SPEAKER_02 15:52

We have, but even all the programs that were submitted, and some of them did not have that theme. And we're like, really sorry, this looks like a great program, but we can't select this because we were so adamant when we sent out the call for programs that it needs to stay with a theme. So I think with our main stage for sure, all the lectures, the workshops, I think everything kind of like, oh my gosh, because when you elevate others, you elevate yourself is kind of our tagline. And that's what we're keeping in mind this whole time. We want people to go away going, wow, man, did I feel like I really learned something? I feel like I'm going away better than I came, right? And I can pass that on to someone else.

SPEAKER_04 16:38

Yeah. If I was a first timer and I signed up because we now have the link and I can register. What type of experience are you two envisioning me to have? Like what are your hopes for a brand new florist or aspiring florist uh to walk in to AIFD, elevate. What do you want them to experience? Because I'm gonna be honest, I reached out to a lot of people, flower click members who a lot of them are AIFD and they've been many, many times. And then I reached out to some that aren't because I wanted to hear their experiences. And a couple the majority were you know, everything's great, but there are a couple that are older and they said if I'm being honest, the very first time I ever attended, which was way, way back, you don't want to know. I didn't feel welcomed. I felt like I was among people that were elite. That was the word. And in two different emails. And I'm like, wow. And so of course I'm like, it's not like that. And they were like, we know that now. We go every year, and you know, these people are active. Yeah, these both these people are active, they have done shows, they are very active. But I thought, wow, that's incredible because I know you guys have things in place and they were put in place last year. Like, it's not like that anymore.

SPEAKER_02 18:26

Yeah, we really try to get away from that for sure.

SPEAKER_04 18:28

And I think that's what really my but it made my heart hurt to think 20 years ago, or you know, 17 years ago, that little person going in and not feeling that way. And I'm sure no one meant for that. Yeah, not us ever mean for that to happen, right? So, what is your hope and dream for that person to feel?

SPEAKER_02 18:56

Feel welcome, feel very welcome. I think that from the moment they walk in and go to that registration desk, that's where they need to feel like, oh, I am so glad I'm here. And somebody needs to embrace them and, you know, like take them and go, hey, let's look at this. And I think they will because Bill McKinley is doing our lobby decor, and it really is an interactive starting place. And I think that will make a big difference right there. I remember Lori when I went 1910 years ago. Yeah, I was in San Francisco, my very first one. You imagine this little gal from Iowa went to San Francisco all by herself. Yeah, but I remember felt like I was welcome there. I must have looked like a a deer in the headlights, right? And they're like, hey, you look like you're new here. And that's what we want from our AIFD members is to watch out for that, right? Randy and I'll definitely be watching, but we're only two people. Everyone in AIFD needs to be looking for someone else who looks like they're lost or looks like they're new and really bring them in. I mean, we obviously have the mentor group, but that doesn't matter if you're sitting in the middle of the lobby and don't know what you're doing, you know, we need to be able to help everyone.

unknown 20:14

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 20:14

So, Randy, what do you think?

SPEAKER_00 20:17

Well, I agree with you on that. And that was one of the things that when we announced and did our teaser in Palm Springs, that we had these little clickers that we handed out. And it was in an effort to promote goodwill, in an effort to elevate someone. And each time you did an act of kindness or something to elevate someone, click it and let's keep a tab on that. I think one of the things that I hope they take away is when they leave there that the message that we're trying to send was well sent. It was undeniably what we meant to achieve, and that's to elevate one another, support one another. We're not here just to show you pretty things and teach you how to make something fabulous. We're here to support you, whether that be in your business, financially, mentally, spiritually, however, that we are that organization that is here to elevate.

SPEAKER_04 21:14

I would agree. And I would just say, you know, my very first time attending talk about a deer on the headlights, you know, I knew nothing, and that was DC, you know, and I will never forget I was helping in Vonda, because she was doing main stage and I was helping, I had no business helping, but I was back in the workroom helping and you know, doing whatever. And I was out in the lobby at the beginning, and there was a lady at a table where they were doing like signups if you wanted to be an additional helper or to do things. And Ellie and I were talking to her, and we were like, Oh, you know, we're not designers, we're not anything. Or I was probably saying that. I don't think Ellie was saying that as much because she kind of was off, but the lady looked Me and she said, We need everybody, we want anyone, anybody with hands and feet. We want you. You will learn. And my eyes got so big, and I was like, Oh, they want me. I'm what you know, like I was sucked in because she was so she was probably some kind of teacher, because she was just like, You matter, you're important.

SPEAKER_03 22:25

Like that's how we won.

SPEAKER_04 22:27

So this day I have no idea who it was, but she was like, No, you can do this. And I think I was like, I was gonna get an apron and I was gonna, you know, and I was all excited. But Ellie came, she's like, No, we're helping Bonda. And I was like, Oh, okay. But I felt loved the minute I got there, and I was not aspiring to be a designer, but I I felt very cared for.

SPEAKER_02 22:55

So let me turn the tables and ask you a question. Oh you you work in the industry, you're not a designer. Why should someone in your position go to AIFD symposium?

SPEAKER_04 23:12

Well, number one, because I love getting smarter. Number one, okay, I love the classes, I love the shows, I love watching those main stage. I get so inspired. I love watching the colors and the concepts, and then I'm coming back and telling everyone that will come to my flower click meetings, regurgitating everything I saw. Meeting the people, my gosh, seeing everyone I know and physically hugging and touching every single person I know, and meeting people that I've only seen on Instagram or you know, whatever, and meeting them face to face and now becoming best friends with them. Connections, though that sounds so cliche, but connecting with those people to me is so life-giving. And learning from one another, going through and seeing all the different designs and watching the people that are testing and walking through with them. Like I remember you and I walking with Elizabeth Stover after she had tested, and like just listening to her and her just uh, and then she was getting her award. She had passed the PFDE and was being inducted, yes, yes, and just like walking through that, letting her rehash that whole thing over. And I was like, I'm honored to hear this, right? Like, that's hard. Yeah, just to be a part, so I don't know, just to feel like I'm a part of this cool industry, and they allow me to be a part of it, even though I'm not ever gonna be a designer. I don't wanna yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 25:03

There's no productions that I've ever seen anywhere on as that main stage of AIFD. There's something sitting there that you just go, whoa, man, oh inspiring.

SPEAKER_05 25:14

I agree.

SPEAKER_02 25:15

You're in a surround sound type of thing.

SPEAKER_04 25:18

It's like a biggest show, only just a more flowers. You know, it's it's so cool. And I think everyone, even if you are just answering the phone in your flower shop, you will be so inspired there. And it would help you even going back and being able to sell over the phone to talk about what you can provide for your customers. That's how I look at it. So, and I know you can't take everybody, I get that. You can't shut down the whole flower shop. I understand that. Okay, so speaking of mainstage and all of those kind of things, how do you go about picking who's gonna present? I mean, that couldn't have been an easy process, and that's something the two of you had to filter through. And it's probably a lot of that, it it sounds like a cool job, but I don't think it was that fun because you guys have to make some hard decisions because there's a lot of really qualified people.

SPEAKER_02 26:23

Oh, yeah, there are a lot of qualified people. It all had to do with keeping with the theme, right, Randy?

SPEAKER_00 26:29

It did. And there's tons of talented people out there. And we had a conversation with someone the other day about they were wanting to present a program. And I think a lot of it has to do with timing as well. Those that came in, the ones that were chosen, and the ones that wouldn't, they either fit or they didn't. And it wasn't as much based on who they were or their talent or their skill level or whatever. It was more theme-driven.

SPEAKER_04 27:00

Sure. That makes sense. Right. Did it align with elevate? Did it align with the rest?

SPEAKER_02 27:06

Well, very diverse, right? So we have something AI, we have something super creative, we have something architectural. So it's just such a uh wide variety. So we wanted to make sure everything wasn't like, oh, well, that's gonna be the same as that. You know, sustainability is important, but we don't need five sustainability programs. That's what the balance that Brandy and I were trying to work on.

SPEAKER_04 27:29

Yeah. I'm glad you segued to balance, Fonda, because I was gonna ask this question. I think this is something, a myth or a misconception, if you will, about AIFD. People think that it is just kind of all this high-level design concept that nobody could ever use, you know, that's not for the everyday florist. But it's not. Yes, there's some main stage things that you're like, nah, I couldn't sell that in a flower shop. But there are classes that you're having also that are for every skill level of florist, right? Like you don't have to be a certain skill level to attend.

SPEAKER_02 28:13

No. And when you just said something about taking things from the main stage, things that are gonna be on the main stage this year, you are gonna be able to have takeaways. The one that I'm looking at right now is from monumental to marketable with Tanisab from Brazil, and he is going to do that, take those huge designs and go, oh, well, that is marketable. We can do that in the shop. Randy had those conversations with him that, like, this is what we want to do. And he's like, Yeah, no problem. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So that was just one. And then AI and floristry, where you really can take AI, which blew you away, right, Randy.

SPEAKER_00 28:49

It did. It did. You know, they're all wonderful. They're all wonderful in their own right. When we started down that conversation with those ladies, with that, I mean you have to understand something. For me, I've been stuck in retail for years and then just jumped right into wholesale. So for me, it was just like you head down and you're working, and technology, like Von alluded to earlier, is not necessarily my forte, but I understand the importance of it. And in those conversations, it blew me away. And so that is one of many that I am looking forward to just for personal reasons. It's just amazing what we can do now.

unknown 29:31

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 29:31

Yeah. Yeah. Okay, I want to ask a question about the two of you again. Have you guys had a disagreement yet?

SPEAKER_05 29:41

I don't think so.

SPEAKER_04 29:44

I don't think so. I don't think so.

SPEAKER_05 29:46

I don't think so.

SPEAKER_04 29:47

Really? Like even on like you one of you wanted one presenter and what the other was like, no, like that one.

SPEAKER_00 29:55

I think if there's something, and Vonda, you can speak for yourself. I don't mean to speak for you, but I think we're those type of people that if there's something we feel passionate or strong about, we will talk about it. But I think we're pretty laid-back people, and we talk things out and we tell why this or that. And like I said earlier, we're pretty much on the same page about a lot of stuff.

SPEAKER_02 30:18

So the funny thing is when we're passionate about something, we're passionate about the same thing. We're like, oh yeah, oh my god, yes, we're gonna do that one. Oh, oh, yeah. It's like incredible. Okay, all right.

SPEAKER_00 30:28

There's been times I picked up the phone and called her, and she knew what I was calling about, and we're just both it hit at the same time. So yeah, it's it's been good. It's been really good. Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 30:39

Okay, I'm gonna ask a couple of fun questions. And the first one is, and you don't even have to describe what the moment is, you may not want to say it in public, but have you had a where you look at each other and go, are we seriously doing this moment so far?

SPEAKER_05 31:04

Yes.

SPEAKER_03 31:05

Yes, is it one you can speak for? No. Or no?

SPEAKER_05 31:09

No, no, that's it.

SPEAKER_04 31:12

Okay, coffee, diet coke, or wine? Out of those three, what is the most you have had to have during your symposium planning periods?

SPEAKER_02 31:25

Coffee in the morning, wine at night. I need the wine to settle me down when I'm done with the day. That's true. Because you guys have had a lot of evening meetings too. Yeah, and and Randy's up at 1 30 in the morning. And then when he's talking to me at nine o'clock at night, it's like my midnight. One o'clock. Yeah, he's okay.

SPEAKER_04 31:46

Your coffee until about noon, and then you go.

SPEAKER_02 31:50

No, I do have one cup. I'm good, and then wine at seven. Okay.

SPEAKER_04 31:55

Randy. Coffee, Coke, or wine. Which of these beverages, or is there a different one, fuels your symposium planning sessions the most when you have them with fun? Which beverage? Oh, I know. I know sweet tea.

SPEAKER_00 32:14

Well, I I do love sweet tea, but I try not to keep it at home because you know.

SPEAKER_04 32:19

Yeah, no, I know. You keep drinking it.

SPEAKER_00 32:21

But I have coffee in the morning. I love coffee, but I have it in the morning and normally one to two cups, and I'm done with coffee the rest of the day.

SPEAKER_05 32:29

I'm with it.

SPEAKER_00 32:29

And my morning starts at 2 30. So by the time Bonnie and I are are on this, it's either probably if I am drinking something, it's probably water or soda or something.

SPEAKER_04 32:43

Yeah. Okay.

SPEAKER_00 32:44

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 32:44

You guys aren't very excited. Soda. What kind of soda? Kind of soda.

SPEAKER_00 32:50

Well, it just varies. I I like root beer and I love cherry coke.

SPEAKER_04 32:54

So you know what I'm saying.

SPEAKER_00 32:56

There again, I try to stay away from that. Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 32:58

Here's my my vice right now. Oh, which one now? I was drinking it when Ellie and I had a podcast a couple of weeks ago. I even bought a whole 12-pack because I'm a little stuck on it right now.

SPEAKER_00 33:10

What is that?

SPEAKER_04 33:11

Diet Dr. Pepper Strawberry Cream.

SPEAKER_00 33:14

How is that?

SPEAKER_04 33:16

Doesn't sound good.

SPEAKER_00 33:17

That doesn't sound good at all.

SPEAKER_04 33:19

It's it is a little slice of heaven, is what it is. Okay. So if you don't think it sounds good, is this more for me?

SPEAKER_00 33:26

Vonda, that sounded a little serious there. It did sound serious.

SPEAKER_04 33:30

It's delicious. It's just like diet cherry, Dr. Bepper. But it's strawberry cream.

SPEAKER_02 33:41

If you're still on that, when you come to symposium, we will make sure you have some. We'll make sure I have it. Yeah, yeah. We will. It's good. It is really, really good.

SPEAKER_04 33:50

It's my thing, but I don't do symposium planning, but I will reward myself with when you're doing your symposium social media planning.

SPEAKER_02 33:59

You could reward yourself with that.

SPEAKER_04 34:02

That's what I will do. When I do my symposium planning, exactly. All right. What is one thing you guys absolutely refuse to stress about when it comes to planning symposium? That you're like, you know what? We are not gonna spend time worrying about that. The good Lord's gonna take care of it.

SPEAKER_02 34:24

I don't know. We have to be in charge of every little detail, Lori. I'm not sure we can just say, oh Lord, take this one away from me.

SPEAKER_00 34:32

No, no, no.

SPEAKER_02 34:33

This wheel.

SPEAKER_00 34:35

As my mom would say, He will if you let go.

SPEAKER_03 34:37

He will if you let go, exactly. Exactly.

SPEAKER_00 34:42

I don't know that there's anything we can say that to.

SPEAKER_02 34:45

I think just the individual programs that I'm not designing.

SPEAKER_00 34:52

There has been one or two items that we have put work in, and then the end, you know, once we put the work in, it's out of our hands, it's in someone else's hands. And I think there was a conversation at some point in regarding a couple things. We said, you know what? We're done stressing over that.

SPEAKER_02 35:09

Well, that was social media, Lori. Thank you very much.

SPEAKER_04 35:12

We'll let Lori stress over that. We'll let her have anxiety dreams over that. Honestly, that was one of them.

SPEAKER_02 35:19

That was it was.

SPEAKER_00 35:21

It was. You know what? That's that hit the nail on the head. That's one thing we are not stressed about.

SPEAKER_02 35:25

It's right. And we were. We were really stressed about it. Now it's just passed on to me. Exactly.

SPEAKER_00 35:33

Because that was important right out of the gate. When we first started, it was. It was very important and still is very important. So thank you.

SPEAKER_03 35:41

Yep. You're very welcome. Anytime.

SPEAKER_00 35:46

Matter of fact, I told Vonda just the other day, I said, we were talking about you and about the podcast, and I said, you know, I just love her. I said, she is really good at what she does. Oh, you just are. You are. You know, if I had someone like you when I had my retail shop, I probably could have done a lot more than I was doing.

SPEAKER_04 36:06

I would have worked for you. That would have been fun. I'd I'd have moved to Douglas, Georgia. That'd be to work for Dolores's. I don't think Mark would have done that. I can't guarantee Mark would have moved to Douglas, Georgia, but yeah. Okay. Quick questions. What would you guys say to somebody that's on the fence about attending symposium for the first time? What would you say to them if they're like, I don't know, should I go? I don't I've never gone before. What would you say to them?

SPEAKER_00 36:40

Well, I've been asked that question over the years many times, and I always respond with saying, I can tell you what it's done for me. And I speak from a personal standpoint, I will never forget, and I think most people will never forget their first symposium. I was like a sponge. I was just soaking up everything I could, even to the point I was like a kid at Christmas. I mean, I was just like big-eyed and just so excited. And I truly believe that whether you're someone new in the industry and you're really hungry for knowledge and and seeing new things, I think it's a perfect place for you. Or even if you're someone who's been in it for years and maybe you're burnt out, this is a perfect place for you because there's something for everybody. And no matter how big or how grand it is, there's some element to it that you can take away, whether it's mechanics, whether it's one technique, whether it's just how you arrived at that. I think there's something for everybody. And no matter what stage in your career you're in, this is a great place to get inspired and re-energized about what we do.

SPEAKER_02 37:52

Yeah, totally, totally, Randy. We all do remember our first, but then each year you want to go back, right? Because I used to invest in myself every single year when I was working at a flower shop way back before I even bought the flower shop, because it's like that gave me the energy, the enthusiasm, the inspiration to power me for the whole next year. And it still does, of course. But back then it's like, oh my gosh, I would never not do it. And I know there's state associations and I would go to some of those, but this one, this is the big one, right? And one thing, if you haven't tested, and you're at that point where you're like, do I want to test? And I'm not sure what the deadline is at this point. But I remember that when I tested and someone said, Why? Why did you do it? And I remember, I think it was Kearney Bershward said to me, getting your AIFD accreditation is not a stopping point. It is your license to learn, is what he used. Your license to learn. Like you have the basics on your principles and elements, and now you're gonna elevate yourself and those others around you. So yeah, it's a great value because everything that's packed into AIFD symposium, and when you leave, you will feel elevated. Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 39:15

All right, last thing, lightning round, quick, quick, quick. I already know the answer to this first one, but I'm gonna start with it anyway. Early morning or late night person.

SPEAKER_05 39:25

Early morning.

SPEAKER_04 39:26

Early morning. Early mornings. Are you a big picture person or are you a tiny details person?

SPEAKER_05 39:33

Big picture.

SPEAKER_04 39:34

Oh big picture. Vanda, you are both. Vonda is both. She's both. Are you uh I need an specific outline or are you uh let's wing it?

SPEAKER_02 39:47

Well, this it has to be an outline. Sometimes I'm a winger. You know that, Lori. You can wing it with I can be, yes. But this one you have to have an outline.

SPEAKER_04 39:58

This one, yeah, right. Okay. When it comes to AIFD, are you all about the main stage or are you in it for the hallway conversations? That was hard. That's a hard one.

SPEAKER_02 40:09

I love those lobby, a lot lobby talks. Yeah. No, I agree, but man, sitting there in the main stage. I don't know. I don't I don't know. That's fit. I'm split on that one. I don't know about you, Randy.

SPEAKER_00 40:22

I agree because it's so good to catch up and see people and then meet new people. That's part of the enjoyment. Yes. But at the same time, I'm with Bonda. I mean, wow, main stage, yeah.

SPEAKER_04 40:38

Yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 40:40

I know that one's see your flower family every year and to meet more people to extend into that family. I can hardly wait for it.

SPEAKER_05 40:49

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 40:49

All right, last one.

SPEAKER_04 40:52

Elevate creativity or elevate your confidence. Which would you rather if you could only do one? Confidence.

SPEAKER_00 41:02

Confidence. And the reason being when you elevate someone's confidence, it's gonna in turn elevate their creativity.

SPEAKER_02 41:08

Ooh, Randy, that was good. It's a twofer. Two fur.

SPEAKER_04 41:13

We got it. All right. Well, I hope and pray that we have helped someone who listens to the pod click this link and register. I would sure love to meet that person when we are all there. Because I know they would love it. I have never ever ever heard anyone say they attended a symposium and got nothing out of it. So thanks, guys. Thank you so much for listening to our podcast. We hope you enjoyed spending time with us because we enjoy spending time with you. If you did, make sure you hit that subscribe button or add the business and pleasure of flowers to your Google morning routine or your flash briefing on Alexa.

SPEAKER_01 42:04

We look forward to seeing you next week. So please come back and join us and discover how a bit of knowledge and one small change in your mindset can take you to new levels in your life and business.