BOARD OF DIRECTORS

ALASKA & HAWAII

Ronald Illingworth

North Pole Peonies – North Pole, Alaska

Term: 2026-2027

Raised on a small acreage in Iowa, Ronald Illingworth grew up surrounded by agriculture. His family raised chickens for both eggs and meat, tended a small herd of wool sheep, maintained a truck garden, and cared for a modest apple and cherry orchard. These early experiences planted the seeds of a lifelong connection to farming.

After serving 20 years in the United States Air Force and an additional 25 years as a faculty member at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, Ronald returned to his agricultural roots. Upon retirement, he established a small farm just outside North Pole, Alaska, where he and his wife now grow peonies for the cut flower industry, produce bedding plant starts, and manage two high tunnels dedicated to vegetable production.

His farm, North Pole Peonies, has grown into a thriving operation, supplying flowers domestically across the lower 48 states and Hawai‘i, as well as internationally to England, Vietnam, and Korea.

CALIFORNIA

Felicia Alvarez – Chair of the Board

Menagerie Farm & Flower – Live Oak, California

Term: 2026-2028 

Felicia Alvarez is the founder of Menagerie Farm & Flower, a thriving farm and nursery nestled in the heart of over 100 acres of scenic California farmland. Dedicated to cultivating exquisite garden roses, specialty flowers, French prunes, diverse stone fruits, nuts, and rice, Felicia’s work reflects both expertise and passion. As a third-generation farmer and accomplished entrepreneur, she carries forward a rich legacy while embracing innovation in agriculture.

Felicia’s sustainable farming practices embody a holistic approach to cultivating a vibrant small-scale farm. Through educational outreach, she passionately shares her love for nature, art, science, and farming, inspiring both novice and seasoned gardeners and farmers worldwide. Her greatest joy comes from helping others discover simple ways to integrate food and flowers into their homes & gardens.

She studied Crop Science and Agricultural Business at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, has been featured in Sunset Magazine, Slow Flowers Journal, Style Me Pretty, Team Flower, and the First Lady’s Luncheon, to name a few. Her first book, Growing Wonder: A Flower Farmer’s Guide to Roses, was released in March 2022. She enjoys spending time on the farm with her husband and two young sons.

Michael Mellano

Mellano & Company – San Luis Rey, California

Term: 2026-2028

Michael Anthony Mellano, Ph.D. is a third generation cut flower grower and former CEO, Chairman of the Board, and Vice President of Production for Mellano & Company.  Mellano & Company was founded in 1925 and farms over 400 acres in San Diego County including the Flower Fields in Carlsbad, and has 4 wholesale distribution hubs in Southern California and Nevada.

Michael received his Bachelors of Science in Plant Science and Ph.D. in Plant Pathology from University of California Riverside where he focused on the genetics of copper resistance in plant pathogenic bacteria.  He started with the family business in 1988 upon graduation from UCR.

Michael has a long list of volunteer activities.  He currently is the Chair of the UC Ag & Natural Resources Presidents Advisory Commission and acts as the UC representative to the Washington DC based “Council for Agricultural Research, Extension & Teaching”, Board of Director for Certified American Grown Flowers, Trustee and Chair of the Kee Kitayama Research Foundation, and Past President of the San Diego County Farm Bureau. In addition he has served on the advisory board for the USDA Floriculture Research Initiative, was a founding board member of and acted in various roles for the California Cut Flower Commission over the 30 years of its existence.

Rene Van Wingerden – Treasurer

Ocean Breeze Farms – Carpenteria, California

Term: 2026-2027 

Rene Van Wingerden is the owner of Ocean Breeze Farms, a cut flower farm, located in the beautiful and quaint beach town of Carpinteria, California. Born in Naaldwijk, Holland, Rene immigrated at the age of 13 to the United States. Part of a large Dutch family, his father and uncles started Dutch Brothers Nursery in California in 1967. Rene with his cousin Harry started Ocean Breeze International in 1973. The first crop grown was natural chrysanthemums, grown outside.

After 25 years of success, Rene and Harry separated into Ocean Breeze Farms and Myriad Flowers. Ocean Breeze has locations in Carpinteria and Nipomo, California. The major crops grown are gerberas, oriental lilies, as well as other cut flowers.

Carlos Cardoza

Regional Farms – Gilroy, California

Term: 2026 

Carlos Cardoza began his floral career at R & S Wholesale in San Martin, California, learning the industry from the ground up. By age 25, he became Sales Manager at Kubota Floral Farms, and later helped establish CamFlor, where he spent 30 years growing the business.

Today, he works with Lisa Filice at Regional Farms, a respected eucalyptus house with a 43-year history known for supporting California growers and building a loyal following among top producers. Carlos brings his expertise in novelty cut flowers to expand Regional Farms’ offerings and strengthen its position as a premier source for American-grown flowers and greens.

Carlos has been married for 39 years and has two children.

Anthony Neve

Neve Farms – Petaluma, California

Term: 2026

Anthony Neve is a fourth-generation cut flower farmer from the Bay Area, California. His great-grandparents immigrated from Italy and established a flower business, a tradition that has continued across generations. Anthony grew up on the family farm, which his late father operated until 2010, and he now manages it alongside his mother and brother. Over the years, the farm has evolved from primarily hydroponic roses to a focus on seasonal crops such as dahlias, tulips, and ranunculus.

With deep roots in the floral industry, Anthony brings extensive experience and a strong understanding of the challenges facing American flower farmers. He is committed to contributing solutions and supporting the industry’s growth. Outside of farming, Anthony enjoys basketball, gardening, reading, and spending time with his fiancée and dogs, and he values faith as an important part of his life.

OREGON, WASHINGTON, MONTANA, IDAHO & WYOMING

FJ Trzuskowski

Continental Floral Greens  – Shelton, Washington

Term: 2026-2028

F.J. Trzuskowski is the Vice President of Farms for Continental Floral Greens. He is an active member of the Society of American Florists (SAF) Grower Council and a member of their Board of Directors.

F.J. began his floral career in the early 1990s in Holland with Zurel BV and went on to gain extensive experience with Esmeralda Farms, Florimex Worldwide, and Teleflora’s Stems and Bunches, in addition to consulting for Hallmark. He holds an undergraduate degree in Botany from Duke University and a Master’s degree in Landscape Architecture from North Carolina State University, bringing a strong foundation in both plant science and design to his work in the floral industry.

NEVADA, UTAH, COLORADO, NEW MEXICO, ARIZONA, TEXAS & OKLAHOMA

Frank Arnosky

Texas Speciality Cut Flowers – Wimberley, Texas

Term: 2026-2027

Frank Arnosky, along with his wife Pamela, has owned and operated Texas Specialty Cut Flowers for nearly 30 years. Throughout his career, he has been involved in virtually every aspect of the flower business, from growing and marketing to hosting tours and workshops. A past president of the Association of Speciality Cut Flower Growers (ASCFG), Frank and Pamela have published two books on cut flowers, contributed decades of articles in Growing for Market and have delivered numerous presentations on cut flower growing across the country.

A strong advocate for branding in agriculture, Frank was an early supporter of the American Grown Flowers program and has served on its advisory council since its inception. He currently serves as the Chair of the Government Advocacy committee and has participated in multiple Congressional Fly-ins in Washington, D.C. Committed to the growth and success of American flower farmers, Frank continues to play an active role in the organization.

NORTH DAKOTA, SOUTH DAKOTA, NEBRASKA, KANSAS, MINNESOTA, IOWA, MISSOURI, WISCONSIN, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, MICHIGAN, OHIO & KENTUCKY

Sue Dykstra

Creekside Growers – Middleville, Michigan

Term: 2024-2026

Sue Dykstra is the Owner of Creekside Growers Flower Farm and the founder of West Michigan Flower Market.  The farm is located on 20 acres in Western Michigan.  The site includes 2 acres of both heated and unheated greenhouse structures as well as 5 acres of field grown crops.  The farm was started by Sue in 1999 as she began a 25 year career operating a garden center for her community.  She had 10 years prior greenhouse experience working for another local garden center as manager of the Wholesale division.

In 2023, she started West Michigan Flower Market to provide a more efficient way for buyers to order and receive their local flower product.  The collective works with 12 local growers who are committed to sustainable practices and serve nearly 200 buyers in the West Michigan area.  She places high priority on advocating for the benefits of local/domestically grown flowers and educating the consumer.  Striving for high customer service and satisfaction, she is always searching for the unique and unusual plants that may not be normally grown in her area.

Sue enjoys spending time with her husband, 5 children and 17 grandchildren.

VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGINIA, MARYLAND, DELAWARE, PENNSYLVANIA, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, RHODE ISLAND, CONNECTICUT, MASSACHUSETTS, VERMONT, NEW HAMPSHIRE & MAINE

Rebecca Kutzer-Rice

Moonshot Farm – East Windsor, New Jersey

Term: 2026

Rebecca Kutzer-Rice is owner of Moonshot Farm, a Central NJ cut flower farm specializing in growing sustainable, specialty blooms for the NYC region year-round. She is also a contributing writer and podcast host for Growing for Market Magazine.

ARKANSAS, LOUISIANA, MISSISSIPPI, ALABAMA, TENNESSEE, NORTH CAROLINA, SOUTH CAROLINA, GEORGIA & FLORIDA

David Register

FernTrust – Seville, Florida

Term: 2026-2028 

Bio Coming Soon

Michele Sutton

Sutton Ferneries, Inc. – Miami, Florida

Term: 2026-2027

Michele Sutton is the CEO and President of Sutton Ferneries, Inc., a long-standing American grower and distributor of fresh cut foliage with farming operations in Seville, Florida, and a distribution hub in Miami. For more than three decades, Michele has been a champion of U.S. agriculture, building strong partnerships with domestic growers, bouquet makers, and supermarket chains while advocating for the visibility and value of American grown product in the mass market floral industry.

Her journey began with a single shipment of fresh foliage that sparked her fascination with floral design, leading her to learn every corner of the industry from retail shops and bouquet makers to farm operations and large-scale supermarket programs. That hands on immersion inspired her to build a vertically integrated business that connects American farms to retailers nationwide. Known for her vision, work ethic, and ability to spot opportunities years ahead of the market, Michele has earned a reputation as an innovator and a trusted partner throughout the floral supply chain.

Under her leadership, Sutton Ferneries has grown from a small local operation into a national supplier serving more than fifty supermarket chains across the United States. She is recognized for her commitment to quality, sustainability, and the development of creative greens programs that elevate the presence of American grown foliage at retail. Born in Kingston, Jamaica, and a graduate of the University of Miami, Michele is devoted to her family and enjoys spending time outdoors, bringing the same passion and energy she applies to her work into every part of her life.

POTTED PLANTS

Tim Hionis

Hionis Greenhouses Inc – Whitehouse Station, New Jersey

Term: 2026-2028

Tim Hionis is Co-Owner and Operator of Hionis Greenhouses, Inc., a family-owned horticultural business in Whitehouse Station, New Jersey. Founded by his parents in 1985, the operation has grown into a leading producer of ornamental seasonal plants and flowers, with 18 acres of greenhouse production and 65 acres of outdoor growing space. Tim and his three brothers assumed leadership in 1997, modernizing and expanding the business while maintaining a commitment to quality, innovation, and efficiency.

From a young age, Tim was actively involved in the family business – planting and overwintering bulbs, hanging thousands of baskets, and making deliveries across New Jersey and New York after earning his farmer’s license at 16. These early experiences instilled a deep understanding of the dedication and resilience required in agriculture.

Now in his 50s, Tim brings decades of experience in horticulture, leadership, and family business stewardship. He and his wife are raising four children and hope to continue the family tradition of excellence in American agriculture.

INDUSTRY ADVISOR