Those who know Florence have considered her creative since the day she held a Crayola. Or should we say, the day she started melting them, chopping them up, mixing them. She never saw it as just a crayon--it was a way to express herself and her ideas.

From creating murals for plays in the neighborhood as a child, to developing an employee recognition program, to hosting a bi-monthly creativity dinner party, she brings imaginative types together to see what happens…usually great things! Florence personally enjoys the iterative process and is seen as highly collaborative. She brings this approach into every aspect of how she runs her business, her workshops, and her life. These experiences have moved her to bring people together in new ways and is why gathering was born. gathering is a network of coaches and educators focused on bringing ideas to life in powerful and thoughtful ways.

Florence has led and supported branding, design, advertising and e-commerce initiatives for some of the largest companies in the world, including Citibank, Home Depot, Sears, American Express, Fidelity, J&J and AT&T. Her experience ranges from product development and launch, to realignment and revitalization, all of which have helped Florence develop her big picture vision. This is one of her greatest skills. She is able to step back and understand many levels and languages with varying degrees of complexity.

Florence has also successfully run small and large teams for companies such as McCann Direct, Grey Advertising, AT&T and Citibank. She has been an artist her entire life, managing and supporting teams of artists, designers, writers, and photographers. She has a keen respect for the creative process and embraces the notion that each individual has their unique way of getting things done. Florence believes it is through this personal process that one achieves the greatest flow. Her work focuses on helping individuals articulate, accept and leverage their creativity across all areas of their lives.

Florence has used a personal coach herself for over three years. She has accomplished many great life challenges with the support of her coach. She has lost over one hundred and fifty pounds, left a six-figure job to start a successful coaching business and has moved away from a marriage, that was no longer fulfilling. It is from these personal experiences that she draws insight, faith, compassion and a sense of humor. She has reshaped her life and is still smiling!

As past AIGA Jacksonville president, Florence has spoken to chapters across the country. She has most recently spoken the HOW conference and is currently Chairing AIGA Jacksonville’s regional conference re:charge in April ’08.

She has spoken nationally before crowds at the DMA, IDSA, AIGA, AIA, and HOW conferences. And speaks locally in Jacksonville on a regular basis at Woman’s Celebration.

Florence is busy launching her most recent offering called Tribes. Tribes are coach-facilitated groups of like-minded people who have come together to achieve big goals.

For more information about Florence, visit her website http://www.gathernow.com.

If you would like to contribute to her first book, visit http://www.whoshelpingwho.com.