Introducing Our 2025 Emerald Class and Celebrating Future Leaders

Oct 17, 2024

At 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc., our team members are integral to our vision of inspiring people to give more, connect more, and build more meaningful relationships. That's why we invest in our people through development initiatives like our Emerald program, which identifies and nurtures top talent, preparing them for future leadership roles.

What is the Emerald program?

The Emerald program is designed to cultivate the next generation of senior leaders within our organization. It offers high-performing associates a unique opportunity to develop key leadership skills, including individual accountability, a bias for action, and innovative thinking. To be considered for the program, participants must exemplify our company values, show a strong desire to grow, and demonstrate a proven track record of success.

Our executive leaders handpick each class of Emeralds, recognizing associates with the potential to shape the future of our company. Since its inception, more than 200 talented associates have graduated from the program and a majority have since risen to Director and VP positions.

Meet Our 2025 Emerald Class

This year, we're proud to introduce our new Emerald class, comprised of 12 exceptional associates. The 2025 program kicked off at our headquarters in Jericho, NY, where the group met with our founder, chairman, and CEO, Jim McCann, as well as members of our executive leadership team, and participated in self-development workshops. They also volunteered at Smile Farms, our signature philanthropic partner that creates meaningful job opportunities for individuals with developmental disabilities in agriculture and hospitality.

Throughout the year, our Emeralds will travel to our various brand locations, including Harry & David in Medford, OR, PersonalizationMall.com in Bolingbrook, IL, and our food brands in Ohio. During these visits, they'll engage with executive leaders across the enterprise and gain invaluable insights into our diverse business operations.

The program focuses on four key areas: self-development, leadership development, business acumen, and collaboration. It culminates in a capstone project that participants will present to our leadership team. Upon completion, graduates are empowered to further advance their careers within the company, often taking on more responsibilities and mentoring junior associates.

Kendra Tolford

Marvin Rodriguez

Jessica Bortolussi

Carol Li

Corey Esquibel

Nikki Miklos

Mehran Azhar

Nicole Capellupo

Tracy Neal

Jeff DelGiorno

Erin Gildea

Erica Misorek

Stay Tuned for More!

We’re excited to introduce each member of the 2025 Emerald class to you throughout the year. Keep an eye on our LinkedIn page, where we'll be sharing individual profiles that showcase their unique journeys and insights.

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