Cindy Tole 

Botanica Flowers & Gifts
Greensboro, North Carolina

Cindy Tole is the owner of Botanica Flowers & Gifts in Greensboro, North Carolina. She is a third generation florist. Her grandparents, then her parents, now retired, owned the original family flower shop in Poland, Ohio.

With over thirty-nine years of floral industry experience, Cindy’s education in design began with art classes in high school and college. To further her education in contemporary floral design, she attended the American Floral Arts School in Chicago, the Phil Rulloda School of Floral Design in Phoenix, Gregor Lersch’s “Forward Reflections” in Asheville, North Carolina, and Teleflora’s Commentating School.

An active participant of state and local florist associations, Cindy is Past President of the Greensboro Triad Florist Association, has served as President, Vice President and Secretary of Teleflora’s North Carolina Unit and is a past president of the North Carolina State Florists Association.

Cindy has designed on numerous panels and educational programs around the country, including the Southern Retail Florist Association, Georgia State, Alabama State, Michigan Floral Association, South Dakota Florists’ Association, the Ohio Short Course and Kentucky Florists Association. An innovative designer, her talents are sought after by many industry vendors and suppliers to create floral displays at trade fairs across the country.

A member of Teleflora’s prestigious design team, Cindy has won several state and local competitions, including Teleflora’s National DesignAmerica and third place in “Teleflora International Design” competition in Athens, Greece.