How I Did It: Cultivating the Next Generation

Kennicott Kuts has a long history in the floral industry — with roots back to 1836 when Dr. John Kennicott established a flower farm (“The Grove”) in Illinois. The Kennicott family went on to pioneer new business models in the industry, establishing one of the first commercial ferneries in Florida and starting Kennicott Brothers Wholesale Florist in Chicago in 1881. Today, Kennicott Kuts has 12 specialty cut flower operations in the United States and Chile. Join SAF Board member Stephen Kennicott and his daughter Paige Kennicott-Jacques as they discuss the realities of running a fourth-generation family business in the floral industry and working together — and share insight on how multiple generations can work together to build more resilient businesses.

You’ll learn:

• Strategies for creating a positive work environment that spans generation — with insight from the owner level and next gen.
• Lessons learned from a longtime family business — including advice on how to communicate more effectively.
• Specific challenges and opportunities facing Kennicott Kuts and how the family is working together to create solutions.