FTD America's Cup - Competitors

Samantha Bates AIFD, CFD, CF
Especially for You Floral, Ponchatoula, LA

Samantha Bates has been in the floral industry 10 years. She was named one of Florists' Review's "35 Under 35" and was the winner of the Jim Johnson Cup in 2018 and 2020. She was also a finalist in the 2018 FTD America's Cup. Samantha is the president of Louisiana State Florist Association, where she has been an active member for the past eight years. She has owned her shop in downtown Ponchatoula, Louisiana for 10 years and specializes in wedding florals for her area.

Laura Daluga AIFD, CFD
Department of Floristry, Detroit

Laura Daluga is design director for Smithers-Oasis North America and general manager of Flowers for Dreams Detroit. She is also an active member of the American Institute of Floral Designers, a board member of the Detroit Institute of Arts' Friends of Art and Flowers support auxiliary and the creator of the annual outdoor floral sculpture show Art in the Elements. Her work has been featured in museums, publications, exhibitions and to wholesalers all across North America. She was the people's choice winner of Iron Designer of America in 2016 and a finalist in the 2018 FTD America's Cup. She is very excited to be competing to represent the U.S. once again.

Adam Havrilla AIFD, CFD, PFCI, ICPF
Artistic Blooms, Chicago

Adam Havrilla has over 25 years of experience as a professional floral artist. His original and artistic designs have garnered numerous awards, including first place in wedding bouquets and tablescape, and twice earned him the coveted Iron Designer title from the International Floriculture Expo. Throughout his career as a professional floral artist and speaker, Adam has given back to the industry through education and industry involvement. Adam believes the key to industry success is for all to have access to knowledge and share the love of floral.

Shelly Huynh AIFD, CFD
Orchid Dynasty, Salt Lake City

Born in Vietnam, Shelly Huynh immigrated to the U.S. at an early age with her family. After studying art in Los Angeles and Utah, she co-founded Orchid Dynasty and for the past 20 years has been influential in advancing and shaping the floral industry both locally and abroad, as well as mentoring the next generation of floral designers through private workshops. She has been invited to Asia on numerous occasions to create exclusive exhibitions in Hong Kong and Shanghai featuring floral dresses made entirely of flowers. Her floral installations have been featured in art galleries, public spaces and publications including Chinese Vogue.

Sally Jablonski
Herbert E. Berg Florist, Worcester, MA

For 26 years, Sally Jablonski has owned and operated Herbert E. Berg Florist, which is celebrating 86 years in business and 70 continuous years as a FTD member. Sally competed in numerous FTD competitions from 1987-1996, including the 1989 FTD World Competition in Tokyo. She designs for the Worcester Art Museum's "Flora in Winter" event and competes in the Newport Flower Show. She has also designed for Art in Bloom in Boston. In 2012, she placed second at the Connecticut State Floral Design Competition after not competing professionally for 16 years. Sally was one of the 10 who competed in the 2018 FTD America's Cup in Washington, D.C. She has been the designer and decorator for the Worcester Art Museum's "Deck the Halls" for the past three years.

Jenna Naylor Temple AIFD, CFD, GMF
Bloom with Jenna, Grayson, GA

Jenna's love of flowers began when she was young. She has been creating beauty with flowers for almost 25 years. She owns Bloom with Jenna flower shop with her business partners Michael & Linda Byrne. Jenna has been involved with the Georgia State Florists' Association since 2009, serving on both the state and district boards, and currently serves as treasurer. She has won several floral design awards, including, most recently, the Sylvia Cup, in 2021. She resides in Georgia with her husband, Luke, and their three daughters, Chaney, Eryn and Lily.

Lucinda Peltier AIFD, CFD, LMF
Leona Sue's Florist, Scott, LA

Hailing from New Iberia, La., in the heart of Cajun Country, Lucinda Peltier has been in the floral industry for over 30 years. In 2002, she opened Luci-Blooms Flowers and Gifts in downtown New Iberia. From 2005-2019, Lucinda was the floral supervisor at L'Auberge Casino Resort in Lake Charles, La. In 2016, she was named the Louisiana Designer of the Year. She is the former president of the Louisiana State Florist Association and has continued to serve as a current board member since 2003. When not working, she enjoys spending time with her family, spoiling her grandchildren and traveling with her husband, Richard.

Jenna Sleeman AIFD, CFD, EMC
Infinite Gift, Coral Gables, FL

Jenna Sleeman founded Infinite Gift in 2008 as the company's lead floral designer. She has won numerous awards in America, including the Florida State Florists' Association's 2018 Designer of the Year distinction and the Ian Prosser Bridal Bouquet Competition. Jenna has trained under Gregor Lersch of Germany, Natalia Zhizhko of Russia, Alex Choi of South Korea and Tomas de Bruyne of Belgium. She is also an educator at The Palace in Coral Gables, an assisted-living facility, volunteering twice a month to provide therapy through floral arranging.

Jenny Thomasson AIFD, CFD, AAF, PFCI, EMC
Dr. Delphinium, Dallas

Jenny Thomasson is a lead instructor at Dr. Delphinium, a Teleflora Education Specialist, sole proprietor of Jenny T Floristry and the author of Perishable Poetics: Manifesting Emotion through Contemporary Floral Design. She is also the CEO and product developer of Meraki Floral Tools. She has presented at the AIFD National Symposium in 2015 and 2018 and represented North America at Belgium's Fleuramour in 2016 and 2018. She is also a speaker and educator in the U.S., Mexico and Canada.

Lynne Tischler AIFD, CFD, AAF, PFCI, EMC
Your Enchanted Florist, St. Paul, MN

Lynne Tischler has been the owner, lead designer and chief problem solver at Your Enchanted Florist LLC in St. Paul, Minn., since 2002. Her designs have been featured in Midwest Home, The Knot and Brides magazine. Lynne was Koehler and Dramm's 2011 Floral Artist of the Year. She designed for the Easter Egg Roll at the White House in 2016 and 2017. She has also designed for the Minnesota Governor's Mansion, Art in Bloom and the American Swedish Institute. Lynne's favorite project is the one she has not done yet. She spends her spare time in nature with her dog, discovering new restaurants and playing board games with her family.