To recognize the growing importance of association executives in the workings of the Society of American Florists and to honor the contributions of SAF's former long-time Executive Vice President, John H. Walker.
Award Criteria:
Recipients must be employed (i.e. paid staff) by a member association of SAF.
Recipients must have a minimum of three years continuous service with a member association.
The Awards Committee will specifically consider:
Creative and substantial implementation of industry and SAF-sponsored programs beneficial to member associations (and their individual members) and our various other publics.
Enrollment or attendance at professional schools, seminars, meetings or courses which tend to contribute to an executive's ability to better serve member associations and their members.
The nominee's service in leadership positions in professional societies and organizations dedicated to professionalism in association management.
The nominee's involvement in civic and community organizations.
Evidence of a nominee's sharing his management skills and abilities with associations and association executives.
Evidence of a nominee's sharing his management skill and abilities with associations and association executives.
The nominee's contributions and achievements to his or her association.
Nomination/Selection Process
Nominations must be endorsed by the president of the employing association(s) and will be accepted annually.
to request a Nomination Form for the John H. Walker Award.
In 1979, after his retirement from SAF, the John H. Walker award was first given to honor him. The winners of the award have been:
1979 Richard G. Klingman Colorado Flower Growers Association American Carnation Society
1980 James Krone, AAF Roses, Inc.
1981 Charles Barr, AAF Connecticut Florists Association
1982 Mildred P. Michie Professional Florists of Mississippi Valley
1983 Michael A. Caliandro, AAF California State Florists Assn.
1984 Melvin H. Schwanke, AAF Nebraska Florist Society
1985 Dr. Harry Tayama, AAF Ohio Florists Association
1986 Floyd W. Johnson Greater Milwaukee Florists' Assn.
1987 Jim and Gen McCarthy, AAF North Central Florists' Assn.
1988 Wil Carlson Bedding Plants, Inc.
1989 Robert Heron Professional Allied Florists of Metro Detroit
1990 Donna Cameron Northwest Florists' Association
1991 William Carl Plummer Arkansas Florists' Association
1992 Bob Briggs Colorado Greenhouse Growers Assn.
1993 No Recipient Chosen
1994 Archie J. Clapp WF&FSA
1995 Thomas C. Shaner AIFD
1996 Bob Heffernan Connecticut State Florists' Assn.
1997 Dianna L. Doss Texas State Florists' Assn.
1998 No Recipient Chosen
1999 Peter J. Moran Society of American Florists
2000 No Recipient Chosen
2001 Dennis Kirven Ohio Florists' Association
2002 Robert Otsuka California Flower Market
2003 Benjamin Bolusky Florida Nurseryman & Growers Assn.
2004 James Wanko Wholesale Florist & Florist Supplier Assn.
2005 Rodney Crittenden Michigan Floral Association
2006 Augusto Solano Asocolflores
2007 Drew N. Gruenburg Society of American Florists
