THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15TH AT 11:00AM - 12:30PM

Michelle Joy Howard, a visionary in the realm of floral design and creative direction for over four decades, stands as a distinguished entrepreneur and expert in the floral industry. Her roots in Los Angeles, within a family steeped in horticulture and event expertise, cultivated her early passion for the art of floral design. A proud alumna of Cal Poly Pomona with a BA in English, Michelle has dedicated her career to the pursuit of excellence in both floral and event design. As the owner of Flora Couture for the past 25 years, she has left a major mark on the industry, creating bespoke floral arrangements and orchestrating extraordinary events for a high-profile clientele that includes Chanel, Jennifer Lopez, Tiffany & Co., and the Kardashians. Her work has earned her coveted industry honors, including the title of Florist of the Year by The Las Vegas Review Journal, and she has contributed her creative talents to the grandeur of the Academy Awards. Beyond the glitz of her clientele, Michelle is deeply committed to philanthropy, generously contributing her time and skills to various non-profit organizations such as The Boys and Girls Clubs of Southern Nevada, National Charity League, Opportunity Village, Miss Nevada Scholarship Organization, and The Shade Tree. Her leadership roles extend to serving on the Board of Directors for It Ain’t Chemo and as the former Vice President of the Las Vegas Fashion Council. At the core of Michelle's artistic journey lies an unwavering passion to breathe life into her clients' emotions through her floral and event designs. She firmly believes in the transformative power of flowers to create emotional connections and bring joy to people's lives. Michelle Joy Howard's influence extends beyond the borders of Las Vegas, resonating across nearby states such as Utah, Arizona, and California, firmly establishing her as a leading authority in luxury events and floral artistry.

Matthew Crowe has very wide divers background that has allowed him the pleasure to transform ideas into designs.  He developed MC Event Design in 2013, in Dallas, Texas due to the need of though provoking and inspirational design and events.  Taking his degree from VA Tech along with a culinary degree from Arts Institute, he is able to take your project/event turn the architecture of emotion that everyone one feels a part of. 

20 years later after being award Top Event Pros to Watch, Pastry Chef of the Year and Jr Chef of the Year by the State of Texas. Ganging him the knowledge of how human emotions and scenes affect the over all project. 

His passion lies in seeing a design element conception and grow into a final event that all the guest love. This is why we design, plan and manage every project from conception to execution, closely with each client to produce a design that always leaves them wanting more and taking your vision to the next level.   

Currently he lives in Norfolk Virginia, where is has helped to open a new conference hotel as the Sr Designer and Sales Manager. 

Colton Staver began his journey in the hospitality and event industry 13 years ago in a small mom and pop catering company in South Central Pennsylvania, where he initially served couples, gaining valuable insights into event services. He then transitioned into the world of event design, working with an event decorating company in a neighboring town, gaining hands-on experience in everything from packing décor rentals to creating breathtaking ceiling draping installations. This early experience ignited his entrepreneurial spirit, leading him to establish "Pencil Me In, Event Décor & Design" at just 20 years old, offering wedding planning services and event décor, rentals and much more. 

His journey then transitioned into an internship at Linwood Estate in Carlisle, PA, a stately mansion on 300 acres of property, managed and operated then by The JDK Group. Graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Colton joined The JDK Group full-time, contributing to the Floral and Design department's creative processes on the production side of the business. His exceptional talent quickly transitioned him into a sales role, selling innovative designs and concepts. Three years down the line, he assumed the role of "Director of Floral and Design," now leading a team of ten professionals, crafting memorable event experiences for a diverse clientele, from weddings to corporate events. Colton is extremely proud to work for The JDK Group, who got their start in 1987, and have continued to reinvent the standard for special events and hospitality services for the communities of Harrisburg, Lancaster, York, and surrounding regions. As a local and internationally recognized leader for providing full-service catering, floral design and decor, and event management services, The JDK Group is committed to providing quality products to meet the needs of our industry and community.