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In this fresh episode of 2 Fat Guys Talking About Flowers, we’re joined by Amanda Jedlinksky from the Society of American Florists. Amanda brought along some special guests to talk about the upcoming Next Gen Live event in Dallas this February.

On this Next Gen episode, we’re excited to feature Jenny Thomasson, the current Next Gen Rising Star, Erin Bruno of McNamara Florist (who might as well be an honorary co-host by now!), and future Dr. Laura Walsh from Smithers Oasis. These incredible women will be sharing insights on the hot topics they’ll be covering on stage at Next Gen.

Jenny also gives us a sneak peek into what attendees can expect at Dr. Delphinium, one of the largest and most stylish flower shops in the U.S., known for its high-end Euro flair. The Next Gen crew will get a behind-the-scenes tour, including the designer center, production area, and upscale front of the store. Plus, Jenny teases that the Creative Cartel will be gathering beforehand to create trend-forward displays.

Laura, who is pursuing a doctorate in Organizational Change, reflects on how many of the skills she’s learning are already second nature to Next Gen professionals—like using digital tools, adaptability, and teamwork to drive change. She’s eager to share practical takeaways that can help transform the floral industry.

Erin’s session focuses on the art of managing “up, down, and all around”—how to develop and mentor your team while promoting leadership growth across the board. And Ryan gives a quick preview of his Ai session, which he promises to help florist!

The conversation was so good that Amanda even convinced Mike to join the podcast—though she promised they wouldn’t be carding at the door. The Early Bird special ends January 20, so be sure to visit safnow.org to sign up or register your team for Next Gen Live.

Jenny Thomasson AIFD PFCI EMC AAF: https://www.instagram.com/jennyt.floristry/?hl=en

Erin Bruno AAF: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erinadavidson/

Laura Walsh: Laura Walsh AAF, PFCI IG: oasisfloralproductsnamerica