WFFSA honors Bill LaFever with 2026 Leland T. Kintzele Distinguished Service award
WFFSA honors Bill LaFever with 2026 Leland T. Kintzele Distinguished Service award
Bill LaFever, president of the Bill Doran Co., has received the 2026 Leland T. Kintzele Distinguished Service Award from the Wholesale Florist & Florist Supplier Association.
The award was presented during the group's Floral Distribution Conference in Miami. It recognizes individuals who have made substantial contributions to the floral industry and honors the integrity and leadership of Leland T. Kintzele, who served as WFFSA president from 1963 to 1965.
LaFever is a third-generation floral industry leader. His grandfather founded the Bill Doran Co., and his mother, Patricia LaFever, later led the company. Raised in Omaha, Nebraska, LaFever moved to Rockford, Illinois, when his mother relocated to lead the company. He graduated 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, LaFever returned to Rockford in 1995 to join the Bill Doran Co. and prepare for future leadership. Since then, he has guided the company's growth while strengthening farm partnerships in South America.
LaFever has served WFFSA in multiple leadership roles, including president, treasurer and vice president. He joined the Society of American Florists board in 2012 and later served as its president. In 2015, he was inducted into Professional Floral Communicators International.
The Leland T. Kintzele award is presented annually to one individual who demonstrates distinguished service to the floral industry and significant contributions to the welfare of wholesale florists.