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Beyond the Bio: Cheryl Vaughan
Meet the Speaker — Cheryl Vaughan CFD, PFCI, TMFA
Cheryl Vaughan has owned Creative Petal Designs since 1997. In addition to her business as a wedding and event designer, she is an instructor and presenter for TSFA and previously served as TSFA President. Vaughan is a strong believer in continuing education and has a passion for sharing her expertise with others. With years of experience in the floral industry, she shares her wealth of knowledge through workshops, seminars and mentoring programs. Whether teaching beginners or seasoned professionals, Vaughan fosters a supportive learning environment in which students flourish.
Read MoreBlooming Beyond Boundaries: Rebecca Sullivan
Meet the Speaker — Rebecca Sullivan AIFD, CFD, TMF
The 2025 Texas Designer of the Year, Rebecca Sullivan, shares insights from her competitive experience and how it led to the Full Circle theme for the 2026 Texas Designer of the Year Competition. Learn more about Sullivan, who will present Design With Heart, Build With Intent at the 2026 Texas Floral Expo.
Read MoreBeyond the Bio: Fabian Salcedo
Meet the Speaker — Fabian Salcedo!
Fabian Salcedo’s love of all things floral began in 2005 at a well-known Austin floral shop, washing buckets. Now, he is Creative Director of Monarch Florals, translating his vision into innovative designs one event at a time. He received his industry education from the Floral Design Institute and is a University of Texas graduate. An artist first, Salcedo draws on flowers as his medium and thrives on the creative process. Learning, sharing and teaching bring him joy.
Read MoreBeyond the Bio: Cassie Sanders
Meet the Speaker — Cassie Sanders AIFD, CFD, NBCT, TMF
Cassie Sanders is a former high school floral design teacher with 15 years of experience. She currently serves as a Project and Partnership Specialist for TSFA. Sanders became an accredited member of the American Institute of Floral Designers in 2023 and received the prestigious National Board Certified Teacher designation in 2025.
A member of the Texas State Florists’ Association Education Committee for 13 years, Sanders is a dedicated educator who has taught numerous workshops and programs for the Agriculture Teachers Association of Texas and hands-on floral design training for FFA teachers. She was named the Lubbock ISD Secondary Teacher of the Year for 2024-2025.
Read MoreBeyond the Bio: Brandy Ferrer
Meet the Speaker — Brandy Ferrer AIFD, CFD, TMF
Brandy Ferrer is the owner of Simply Beautiful Floral Company in Gilmer, Texas. She won First Place in the Frankie Shelton Cup Competition in 2023 and was the 2024 Texas Designer of the Year. Ferrer currently serves as a TSFA Retail Director. She was inducted into the American Institute of Floral Designers (AIFD) in 2023. A dedicated educator, Ferrer has taught numerous workshops and programs, including AIFD Symposium and hands-on floral design training for FFA teachers. Ferrer is a co-founder of the East Texas Yamboree Student Floral Cup. She is a TEXAS in Bloom contributor.
Read MoreBeyond the Bio: Judy Janzen
Meet the Speaker — Judy Janzen AIFD, CFD
Judy Janzen grew up in her parents’ flower shop in Fresno, California, and enjoys exploring stories with innovative structures and intentional use of space. She was inducted into the American Institute of Floral Designers in 2024, was a California Top 10 Winner in 2024 and won the Sylvia Cup in 2025. Recently, Janzen discovered she had no fear of heights while working on floats for the Rose Parade and was a daring and inventive AIFD main stage presenter during the 2025 AIFD Symposium in Palm Springs. She is also looking forward to working on a team this year at the Philadelphia Flower Show.
Read MoreBeyond the Bio: Alan Masters
Meet the Speaker — Alan Masters AIFD, CFD, PFCI
G. Alan Masters began his floral design career 41 years ago at Villa Green Florist in Lufkin, Texas. He has managed numerous shops, owned a shop and is currently the owner of Magnolia and Pine Floral and Events. He has a long list of accolades, including 2014 Houston Designer of the Year, 2016 Texas Designer of the Year, 2016 Jim Johnson Cup Winner, 2016 Louisiana Designer of the Year and 2025 Texas All-Star Competition Champion. Masters was inducted into the American Institute of Floral Designers in 2015. He is an Allied Florists of Houston Past President, AIFD South Central Regional Chapter Past President and currently serves as TSFA Membership Committee Chair.
Read MoreBeyond the Bio: Tricia Won
Meet the Speaker — Tricia Won AIFD, CFD, EMC, IMF, TMF
Tricia Won is a floral studio owner in Round Rock and is a floral educator and instructor, specializing in European-style design workshops. She has a Bachelor of Science in Advertising. She was inducted into the American Institute of Floral Designers in 2020, received her European Master Certification in 2021, her International Master Florist Certification in 2023 and her Texas Master Florist in 2026. Won was the winner of the 2024 Best of Blooms Florist Review Competition and has designed internationally, including being an International Floral Demonstrator at Singapore Garden Festival in 2024, designing large-scale installations for Hoogstraten in Belgium in 2025 and 2026 and being team leader and head designer for large-scale street installations for Leverano in Fiore, Leverano, Italy in 2025 and 2026. She has been published in Florist Review, TEXAS in Bloom and AIFD Focal Points. In 2025, Won chaired the AIFD Blooms Over Palm Springs and currently serves as the Secretary of the AIFD South Central Chapter and as a Retail Director on the TSFA Board of Directors.
Read MoreBeyond the Bio: Ellie Grande
Meet the Speaker — Ellie Grande AIFD, CFD, EMC
Ellie Grande has owned GranDesign Studio in Tomball for more than a decade and is a floral educator and instructor, specializing in European-style design workshops. She was inducted into the American Institute of Floral Designers in 2020 and earned her European Master Certification in 2022. She was a Philadelphia Flower Show Master Designer from 2014 to 2023, First Place winner of the Latin American Cup at the AIFD Latin American Society in 2025, First Place winner of Bridal Bouquet at the Florida State Florists’ Association in 2023, First Place winner of Found and Forge at the Northern AIFD Chapter in 2025 and an International Floral Demonstrator at the Singapore Garden Festival in 2024. She has been published in TEXAS in Bloom, AIFD Focal Points and the AIFD Foundation Just Make It Pretty flip book. Grande has been a member of the AIFD South Central Chapter Board of Directors since 2023 and served on the AIFD South Central Chapter Social Media Committee from 2020 to 2024.
Read MoreBeyond the Bio: Jody McLeod
Meet the Speaker — Jody McLeod AIFD, CFD, PFCI, NCCPF
Jody McLeod is a seasoned floral industry veteran with over 30 years of experience. He is a Teleflora Education Specialist, won the North Carolina Florist of the Year competition and was inducted into the Jim Treadaway Cup Hall of Fame. McLeod is known for his high-energy, engaging and inspiring floral design programs and leadership seminars. He is also the Mayor of Clayton, North Carolina.
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