International Floral Distributors (IFD) established a distinguished service award in honor of one of IFD’s founders and key leaders, Dave Mears, on October 24, 2007. The IFD Dave Mears Distinguished Service Award will honor those individuals whose efforts have contributed significantly to the welfare and progress of International Floral Distributors and its members and the floral industry.

The inaugural 2007 IFD Dave Mears Distinguished Service Award was awarded to Dave Mears posthumously and accepted by his family at a special awards dinner in Oxnard, California that commemorated the many contributions of Dave Mears to IFD and to the floral industry. Throughout Dave’s career he was an active leader who never tired of giving to the industry and served many state and national industry associations. “Dave always gave his all to whatever task was asked of him in the floral industry along with many we did not even ask of him to do’ said Bob Wilkins, Delaware Valley Floral Group, a longtime friend of Dave’s who worked closely with Dave on the Board of the Wholesale Florists and Florist Suppliers of America (WF&FSA).

Dave’s foresight and commitment to wholesale distributors working together were a key factor in IFD being established. The accomplishments of IFD and the value IFD provides its members today is the result of Dave’s tireless efforts and leadership to bring together many key individuals and key ideas,” stated Jeff Cross, Amato Wholesale Florist and immediate Past President of IFD. Mears Floral Products was a founding member of IFD and Dave’s signature is on the original incorporation documents. The IFD Dave Mears Distinguished Service Award provides IFD the means to honor and recognize those individuals who provide IFD with leadership and service and at the same time allows IFD to commemorate one of the outstanding individuals to ever serve IFD and the floral industry.

“Dave left a rich heritage of contributions to his family, his community and to the flower industry. We will always miss him,’ stated Red Kennicott, Kennicott Brothers. One of Dave’s proudest accomplishments was his role in helping and leading the National PromoFlor Council that gave the floral industry ‘Buzz the Bee’ and a highly effective and successful national advertising campaign. Dave was the youngest ever President of Wholesale Florists & Florists Suppliers of America. In addition, Dave served as President of the Missouri Florists Association and served as a trustee of the American Floral Endowment.

Judy Mears accepts the inaugural 2007 Dave Mears Distinguished Service award on behalf of late husband Dave, with (left to right) IFD president Taylor Vriens, of Ensign Wholesale Florist in Salt Lake City; Kelly Parsons, stepson of Dave Mears, of Mears Floral Products;
and Ron Bertrand, IFD’s Perishable Marketing Manager.