Laura Parker AIFD CF

I am passionate about helping people connect their creativity with better productivity! Walking alongside small business owners and designers as the president of Fresh Start Floral Consulting LLC allows me to share the twenty plus years of floral experience, and my education in business administration with others. As a business coach specializing in small and medium sized retail floral operations I believe everyone has the ability to express and explore their creative gifts and make a healthy profit!

A veteran of the floral industry I have dedicated my career to educating and enriching the lives of floral professionals. Learning the basics of floral design as a child gave me a love of everything floral. Beginning my professional floral career in 1988 I specialized in wedding and event design for several years, going on to found Parker Floral School & Design Co. a vocational training school, and a full-service retail flower shop. I spent over 13 years teaching floral design through the vocational training school. I was blessed to spend five years as a part of the Flora magazine team as a contributing writer and featured designer .

In 1998, I earned accreditation by the Michigan Floral Association as a Michigan Certified Florist. My next goal was to attain accreditation and be inducted into the American Institute of Floral Designers which I ccomplished in 2000. I hold an Associate degree in Business Managment , as well as a Bachelordegree in Business Administration and Management with a concentration in Small Busienss.

I served on the Michigan Certified Florist Development Team and MCF Standing Committee for six years, several Michigan Floral Association Spring Conference Planning Committees, and the Board of Directors for the Michigan Unit of Teleflora. I was editor of the North Central AIFD Newsletter from 2008 - 2013. She has served on the Executive Board of Directors as Treasurer for the North Central Chapter of AIFD from 2011 - 2013, as the North Central Chapter President Elect from 2013-2014, and as President of the chapter for the 2013-2014 term.

Blessed with opportunity and gifts allowing me to become an award-winning designer, I competed in the Teleflora Ruby Dunstan Design Contest, the Michigan Floral Association Professional Competition, earning a sp