Miami, FL — March 3, 2026 — The Wholesale Florist & Florist Supplier Association (WFFSA) proudly announced that Bill LaFever, President of the Bill Doran Company, is the recipient of the 2026 Leland T. Kintzele Distinguished Service Award (LTK Award). The award was presented during the General Session at WFFSA’s Floral Distribution Conference (FDC) in Miami.
Watch the recording of the live presentation of the award to Bill here: https://youtu.be/61hkZoGW5hw?si=H-Wg0yvGqv8fakT9
Established to recognize individuals who have made substantial and lasting contributions to the floral industry, the LTK Award honors leaders whose service exemplifies the integrity, fairness, perseverance and decisiveness of Leland T. Kintzele, WFFSA President from 1963 to 1965.
Bill LaFever is a third-generation floral industry leader, building on a legacy that began with his grandfather’s founding of the Bill Doran Company and continued under the leadership of his mother, Patricia LaFever. Raised in Omaha, Nebraska, Bill moved to Rockford, Illinois, when his mother relocated to lead the company. He went on to graduate as valedictorian of Harlem High School before earning degrees in finance and computer application programming from the University of Notre Dame.
After beginning his career with Arthur Andersen in Chicago, Bill returned to Rockford in 1995 to join the Bill Doran Company and prepare for future leadership. Since then, he has guided the company’s growth while strengthening farm partnerships in South America and expanding the organization’s footprint with a focus on integrity and long-term collaboration.
Bill’s impact extends well beyond his company. He has served WFFSA in multiple leadership roles, including president, treasurer and vice president, and has contributed significantly to the association’s marketing and communications efforts. He joined the Society of American Florists (SAF) Board in 2012 and later served as its president. In 2015, he was inducted into Professional Floral Communicators International.
The LTK Award is presented annually to one individual who demonstrates distinguished service to the floral industry, significant contributions to the welfare and progress of wholesale florists, and active support of WFFSA.
WFFSA was honored to recognize Bill LaFever’s decades of leadership and service at FDC 2026 and celebrates his continued commitment to strengthening the floral supply chain for generations to come.
For more information about WFFSA and the LTK Award, visit: https://wffsa.org/floral-xcellence-awards/
