Ken and Deena Altman receive American Floral Endowment Ambassador Award

Ken and Deena Altman of Altman Plants have been named the recipients of the American Floral Endowment’s Ambassador Award, a recognition that celebrates their longstanding leadership, advocacy and dedication to the floral industry.

They were formally recognized in February during AFE's Board of Trustees meeting in Sacramento, California.

Established in 2023, the AFE Ambassador Award honors individuals and organizations in the floral industry who exemplify exceptional leadership, advocacy and service to the endowment’s mission.

"For Ken and Deena Altman, that mission has been a shared priority throughout their careers, reflected in both their professional success and their consistent and generous support of floriculture research, education and innovation," AFE said in a news release.

Read more about the Altmans, courtesy of AFE, below:

Ken and Deena began their love of the industry in 1975, with what started out as an innocent hobby. Over time, that passion grew into Altman Plants. Despite its scale, the company remains family-owned and operated, guided by the same values that shaped its earliest days. 

Giving back to the floral community has always been central to the Altmans’ approach. Their involvement with AFE spans decades and includes advocacy, financial support and volunteer service. Ken previously served as a member of the AFE Board of Trustees, including a two-year term as treasurer, and as chair of the Education and Scholarship Committee. He continues to serve as a scholarship reviewer and as a research committee member, scoring and providing input on applications each year.

The Altmans’ commitment is also evident in their direct investment in future industry leaders. Altman Plants regularly hosts AFE pre-selected interns at its facilities, offering students hands-on experience in plant production and a firsthand introduction to careers in floriculture.

Eleven years ago, Ken and Deena established the Altman Family Scholarship through AFE to support graduate students pursuing advanced degrees in floriculture or horticulture. Since its inception, the scholarship has provided financial assistance to more than 25 students, helping support many of today’s brightest floricultural researchers and educators. This scholarship is helping to alleviate the financial burden of higher education and helping them to achieve their career goals. 

“It is difficult to measure Ken and Deena’s true impact on AFE, given all the many ways they have supported the endowment,” said AFE Chair David Garcia. “They have created a lasting legacy by investing in young professionals and strengthening the industry’s most important resource: its people.”

Altman Plants was a founding partner of Sustainabloom, AFE’s newest program focused on sustainability education and helping floral businesses learn about and adopt more sustainable practices. Ken currently serves on the Sustainabloom Committee, offering insight and guidance shaped by decades of industry experience.