" On average , a US consumer buys 2.5 bouquets a twelvemonth . We can do much better than that . And we will . get ’s alter that ! " , said Carlos Oramas , chief operating officer of Gems Group , when receive the Produce Marketing Association ’s ( PMA ) 2018 Floral Marketer of the Year during the Floral Flamingle Reception on Oct. 19 at PMA ’s Fresh Summit Convention & Expo in Orlando ( FL ) , USA .
Juan Carlos Hannaford , Carlos Oramas and Debora Coleman , vice President of the United States of floral for retail merchant Alberton ’s Companies and chairman of PMA ’s Floral Council .
Business sense , strategical thinker , dedication to the industry , groundbreaking , crime syndicate , optimism and smile were just a few words that were used by last year ’s Floral Marketer of the Year Juan Carlos Hannaford ( general manager of floral grower The Elite Flower ) to describe this year ’s awardee before revealing his identity . He presented the honor before a gang of about 500 phallus of the global floral community .
Just before revealing the identity operator of the 2018 Awardee . ( Oramas still clueless in the consultation )
The room break through in applause , and as Oramas made his mode to the podium to accept the accolade , which was a surprisal proclamation , his family also made a surprise coming into court and joined the solemnisation .
“ Wow . Wow that ’s all I can say . It is very , very meet to think that 25 geezerhood ago I stumbled across this amazing industry in a very nondescript small warehouse by the aerodrome [ in Miami ] and fell in love life with what was going to be ultimately my life history , and something that has been very true and costly to me , ” say Oramas . “ But , what I have loved most about that whole journeying has been all of you and the things we ’ve done together and how we ’ve collaborate … and how we ’ve turn over a little spot further and a lilliputian snatch deeper , eff that there was always an opportunity for more . It ’s the multitude of this industry that this honour belongs to . It ’s you . ”
He also boost and challenged those in attendance to continue endeavour to increase consumption , noting that Americans buy flowers on modal only two - and - a - one-half times a year .
Juan Carlos Hannaford hands over the award to Carlos Oramas .
Oramas is very esteemed and feels grateful : “ It was a great honor to receive this realisation , and I am deeply thankful to my peers . There are many peachy people in our industry who get together towards a common oddment , rising the tide for all ship . I am blessed to be able to work alongside them , and grateful to God for crafting the path that would place me on this journeying I cover to enjoy so very much . ”
Before embracing his family and colleagues , Oramas added , “ I ’m chagrin , grateful and indebted , and I will continue to serve this industry for as long as you ’ll have me do it . ”
Oramas with his family
establish in 1981 , the award was create to honor an someone who has served the mass - market flowered industriousness with forward-looking insight , passionate dedication , and who has demonstrated superior leadership in improving and make headway the diligence with dedication , eminence and excellence .
Each class , winner of the Floral Marketer of the Year awarding for the anterior five twelvemonth serve on the Nominations Committee to choose that year ’s honoree .
Oramas joined the flowered manufacture in 1993 and spent several years in gross sales and marketing purpose before co - founding Gems in 2003 . He serves as board appendage and past President of the United States of the Association of Floral Importers of Florida and is currently the frailty chairperson of the PMA Floral Council . Oramas will also now serve as a director on the 2018 - 2019 PMA Board of Directors , which took place Oct. 17 . Oramas receive his unmarried man ’s degree in occupation administration from Florida International University , a master ’s in outside concern administration from Nova Southeastern University and has been a Vistage fellow member since 2009 . He is also an alive volunteer in his local and church community .
Several colleague nominated Oramas for the awarding . Among them was Michael Schrader , flowered director for Schnuck Markets , Inc. , and PMA ’s 2016 Floral Marketer of the Year winner .
“ Carlos is one of the good advocates for our industry . He is always looking for ways to increase consumption , ” said Schrader . “ His commitment and personality are contagious and inspiring . He has one of the estimable merchant wit in the industry , and it is a privilege to work with and know him . Carlos always sees the cup as half full . ”
Bonnie Armellini , partner at Gems Group , Inc. , had similar praise for her coworker . “ We have been together for the last 25 years and partners for the last 15 . It has been a relationship of a life-time , and one that I treasure with all my heart , ” said Armellini . “ No one merit this honor more than Carlos Oramas . His passion for this industriousness goes beyond tidings . ”
Joe Don Zetzche , director of flowered and BLOOMS Floral Shops , H - E - B , also nominated Oramas . “ If I had to line Carlos with one word , it would be passionate . Carlos does everything with passion . He ’s always at the middle of a conversation , lead it forward with large gesture , ” said Zetzche , who also serves as PMA Marketing Steering Committee chair , is professorship - chosen of the 2018 - 2019 PMA Board of conductor , and a former PMA Floral Council chair .
“ Carlos is a strategical mind and he has the floral manufacture as a whole on his judgment at all times , ” continued Zetzche . “ He leads forrad with his actions , and he and the companionship are at the head of the innovation curve , always .
“ If you were to ask Carlos to name himself in one word , he would say ‘ marketer , ’ ” added Zetzche . “ His approach and the strategic way he built the Gem ’s team around him is first and foremost about ‘ making flowers make sensory faculty ’ to more and more consumer day by day . ”
Zetzche also described Oramas as a mentor who is knowledgeable , yet unpretentious . “ Carlos is welcoming , always with a kind word and smiling . He is baseborn , and I ’ve see him approach strangers and become protagonist with them in minutes , ” say Zetzche . “ He hold me smarter . He is someone I purposefully spend time with to learn from , and to heighten my acquirement and thinking against . He is also a true friend . ”
Gems GroupGems Group , Inc. , establish in Miami , Florida , is described on its internet site as a modus vivendi company in the business of creating need for sweet flowers in everyday life that specializes in the supermarket channel . Gems product are designed in the United States , and hand crafted on two certified farm in Medellin and Bogotá , Colombia .
Flamigle ReceptionThe accolade was harbinger during the Flamingle Reception where the floral community was invited to revel solid food , drinks , entertainment , and networking with moving company and shakers . About 500 members of the global floral community attended .
For more informationProduce Marketing Association ( PMA)www.pma.com
© FloralDaily.com/Elita Vellekoop
