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Jorge Uribe, AIFD, CFD, EMC, has been in the professional floral industry for over 19 years. He is the current owner and creative floral artist of Urban Floral LLC. He Works in Connecticut and all over the United States. He has also freelanced in Canada, Mexico, and India and participated with EMC in developing new Trends for two companies in Austria and Dubai. Jorge has a graphic design and music background and alternates his floral art with his other passion, photography. He got inducted into the American Institute of Floral Designers in July 2018 and completed studies for the EMC European Master Certification in Belgium in September 2018. He is currently part of the education team as a Coach and teacher. Jorge has participated numerous times at the North East Floral Competition taking 3rd place and People’s Choice Award in 2006, 4th place in 2007, 2nd in 2008, 4th in 2009, 1st in 2010, 3rd place at the Master’s Competition in 2012, 1st place Master’s Competition, Designer of the Year and People’s Choice Award 2013, 1st place Designer of the Year and People’s Choice Award in 2015 and People’s Choice Award 2016, 1st place Designer of the Year and People’s Choice Award in 2017, He participated at the Gateway to the Americas Cup 2016 in Vancouver Canada representing his native country of Colombia in which he won 1st place in the Bridal Bouquet category Smithers-Oasis Cup and 2nd place in the fashion category Florist’s Review Cup, He participated at the Gateway to the Americas Cup 2018-2022 in Orlando, Florida representing his native country of Colombia , and Competed at the FTD America’s Cup 2018 in Washington D.C, first runner up Design Challenge International 2020, and 2nd place Smither’s Oasis virtual summer competition 2020, winner of the Ian Prosser Bridal bouquet competition 2022,

Laurie Lemek, CFD,AIFD, PFCI, has been actively involved in the floral industry since 1975. From 1976 to 1992 she was the co-owner of Lemek's Florist & Nursery in Tolland, CT. She received a MS in Ornamental Horticulture from the University of Connecticut, where she was a faculty member in the Floriculture Department as an Associate Professor of Floral Design, Advanced Floral Design, Plant Identification, and Retail Shop Management. She was inducted into the American Institute of Floral Design ( AIFD) in 1991 in Dallas, Texas . She is Currently the Vice President of the National Board. She is a board member of the Professional Floral Commentators International ( PFCI)., and in 2018 was inducted into the American Academy of Floriculture. As an award winning designer, she has presented programs at AIFD National Symposiums in Boston 1992 Atlanta 1994, Chicago 1998, 2008, New York City 2004, and Miami 2012. Her design compositions and sculptures have been displayed at the Governors Mansion, the Wadsworth Athenaeum, numerous flower shows across the United States including Hartford, Boston, New York, Chicago, and Philadelphia. She has had the honor to design at the White House for Presidents Regan, Bush and Clinton. She has participated in international flower shows and design seminars as an instructor of floral trends and techniques in countries such as Colombia, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Germany, Holland, Spain China, India, South Africa, Australia, Turkey, Brazil, Mexico, Thailand and the Philippines. Laurie resides in Ellington with her husband Kevin, where she is a Justice of the Peace, a Minister and Floral Account Manager for I BUY Flowers

Nikki is a branding and family photographer preserving your memories, from the magically mundane to the greatest of milestones. With over ten years in the photography world and five years learning all things Instagram, Nikki has combined her knowledge and talents to better serve other small business owners. When she is not photographing other brands and families, she is creating her own memories with husband, two children and fur babies. Nikki loves cheering others on, while sharing anything and everything she has learned along the way!