Director
Introduction of the Director
John Klingel, AAF, AIFD, PFCI
Biography
John Klingel AAF, AIFD, PFCI
After earning an Associate Degree in Commercial Art at Ivy Tech in Evansville, Indiana John started his career in the floral industry at his hometown florist. Thirty-nine years later he has owned a retail flower shop, as well as, taught students from all around the world presenting design and business programs in most of the fifty states. His current role is now Director of the South Florida Center for Floral Studies in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Mr. Klingel was inducted into the American Institute of Floral Designers (AIFD) in 1980 and has served as President of AIFD Southern Regional Chapter. He is also a member of The American Academy of Floriculture (AAF), and Professional Floral Communicators – International (PFC-I).
John’s flower shop, in Delray Beach, Florida was profiled in Florists’ Review magazine for a successful Valentine’s Day with no consumer complaints.
Mr. Klingel returned from Shanghai, China where he had the distinctive honor of serving as the only judge from the USA to participate in the Interflora® World Cup design competition.
John has worked in many aspects of the floral industry including wholesale, first as an in house designer, display artist and later in purchasing. He has worked with photographers and completed designs for the FTD® counter selection guide and serves on the FTD Education Team. He has also participated in regularly televised interviews about flowers on the NBC and PBS affiliates in West Palm Beach.
In addition to winning the prestigious Sylvia Cup at the Society of American Florists Convention in Palm Beach, John is also the recipient of Florida State Designer of the Year and Palm Beach County Designer of the Year.
John continues to work in the retail floral industry by doing freelance work in area shops. His background has brought him opportunities to create floral designs for many notables such as Vera Wang, Chris Evert and Janet Jackson.
Mr. Klingel has recently added published author to his professional resume. The Frugal Florist Do-it-Yourself Flowers on a Budget TM is a how-to book empowering the consumer through simple, step-by-step instructions, pictures and diagrams. The at-home arranger can also visit HYPERLINK “http://www.frugalflorist.biz” www.frugalflorist.biz to purchase books and The Frugal Florist branded design kits, floral products and accessories to create arrangements from the book.
In 2009, John created a new book, The Frugal Florist® “Design Table Guide” to Professional Floral Arrangements. This latest book is a companion to the DVD Series offered through the school’s distance learning course.
