As the country focuses on the next election, the Wholesale Florist & Florist Supplier Association is focusing on the next generation. What’s Next? is the theme for its annual Floral Distribution Conference in Miami Oct. 24-26, which will explore how the next generation will alter traditional leadership.

Bob Wendover Association officials announced in mid-September that an expanded block of rooms at the host hotel, the Doral Golf Resort & Spa in Miami, had been sold out, along with all exhibition space for the tabletop displays. Last year, more than 730 floral industry professionals attended a lively event that broke attendance records going back to 1989. As of Sept. 18, 426 had registered to attend the 2012 conference, according to Trish Lilly, executive vice president of the association.

All 96 tabletop display spaces had been sold as of Sept. 18, and 21 hospitality suites were booked to keep the networking going after hours. Last year, there were 93 displays and 17 hospitality suites. Ms. Lily said in an interview that the theme this year was timely. “We have a change in leadership underway as one generation retires and another takes its place,” she said. “Our board felt the membership needs to know how to motivate and communicate with these new leaders.”

The keynote presentation Oct. 25 by Bob Wendover is titled “Leadership and the Emerging Generations.” It will help participants prepare “the groundwork for continuity of your organization’s direction and management,” according to a description of the talk. Mr. Wendover, managing director of the Center for Generational Studies in Littleton, CO, is the author of nine books on leadership, succession planning and generational issues.

His presentation will cover topics including younger managers who struggle with the challenges of leading older workers, emerging leaders who overuse computer-based decision-making and ignore the collective wisdom of older managers, and “rising stars who take your training and run to a competitor,” according to an overview of his remarks.

Nick Fronduto, chief operating officer of Jacobson Floral Supply in Boston, who was installed as president of the WF&FSA at its 2011 annual meeting, will preside over the 2012 conference.

The opening session on Oct. 25 will honor the Retailer of the Year and the winner of the Leland T. Kintzele Distinguished Service Award, WF&FSA’s highest honor. Following his keynote, Mr. Wendover will moderate a panel discussion on attracting younger generations as customers and employees. Other education sessions will cover making buying decisions and using social media for business.

The conference at the Doral Golf Resort & Spa begins with an optional tour of Miami International Airport Oct. 24 and closes Oct. 26 with a 10:30 a.m. session on floral trends.