Ardith Beveridge, AAF, AIFD, PFCI, CAFA, was honored for lifetime achievement in floral presentation on Sept. 22, as the recipient of the 2012 Tommy Bright Award.
 Tommy Bright Award winner Ardith Beveridge, AAF, AIFD, PFCI, CAFA (left) with PFCI Chairman Vince Butera, AAF, AIFD, PFCI. |
“Ardith has set the standard, pushing education to another level” said PFCI Chairman Vince Butera, AAF, AIFD, PFCI, owner of Butera the Florist in York, Pa. Butera presented the award at the Stars of the Industry Awards Party, SAF Palm Beach 2012.
“I am truly overwhelmed,” Beveridge said, after the surprise announcement. “Being part of SAF alone is a gift. SAF leads in education, and that’s why I’m so proud to be part of it and honored to receive this award.”
The Tommy Bright Award is the highest honor presented by PFCI to its members. It is named after Ethel “Tommy” Bright, whose motto “Learn More, Teach Others” reflects PFCI values as the floral industry’s speakers bureau and the only network of professional floral business educators certified by SAF.
“Ardith educates and patiently teaches all of us to be the best florists, designers and business owners we can be,” said Kym Erickson AAF, CF, MNCF, president of the Minnesota State Florist Association and general manager of Soderberg’s Floral & Gift in Minneapolis. “You can’t help but be a better person around her.”
In a letter of nomination, Erickson emphasized Beveridge’s “grace, wisdom, kindness and passion”. “Her actions speak volumes of her character and integrity,” Erickson said. “Even though she has hundreds of students, she makes each one of them feel important and special.”
Beveridge is the director of education and an instructor at Koehler & Dramm’s Institute of Floristry in Minneapolis. She has been an active participant in the floral industry for more than 40 years. The long string of initials after her name represent just some of her many honors and achievements: American Academy of Floriculture (AAF), the American Institute of Floral Designers (AIFD), the Professional Floral Communicators-International (PFCI), the Canadian Academy of Floral Arts (CAFA), and the British Florist Association (BFA). She is also a member of the prestigious School of Ikebana Floral Design.
To read the full tribute to Beveridge, click here.
