We are proud to announce Josie Hurst will join the team as brand strategy manager, making her the fourth generation of the Hurst family to join the 138-year-old family-owned and operated florist. We also welcome the addition of two new seasoned floral designers, Jeffrey Foster and Emily Madden.

“We are proud to welcome our daughter, Josie, as the fourth generation of the Hurst family to play a key role in this business,” said Howard Hurst, president of Tipton & Hurst. “I’m excited to see how Josie’s expertise in data and analytics, combined with her profound understanding of our business, will enhance and grow the Tipton & Hurst brand for future generations. Additionally, we eagerly anticipate the fresh ideas and innovative approaches Jeffrey and Emily will bring to our team. These additions will help us further our mission of delivering exceptional quality and memorable customer experiences, continuing the legacy of creativity and satisfaction for which Tipton & Hurst is known.”

Before joining the family business, Josie Hurst excelled as a senior customer insights analyst at Abercrombie & Fitch Co. At A&F Co., she helped modernize a legacy Voice of the Customer program and leveraged data to drive strategic, customer-centric decisions for the global retailer. Additionally, Josie worked in employee analytics for GEICO. She graduated with honors from Washington & Lee University with a B.A. in Psychology and a focus on quantitative methods. At W&L, Josie got her start in analytics as a research associate investigating methods of measuring creativity.

Jeffrey Foster is a certified floral designer and an Arkansas Master Florist. A native of Paragould, Jeffrey started in the floral industry at Teleflora, the world’s largest floral delivery service headquartered in his hometown. He brings fresh floral sales and design experience gained through local boutiques and the wholesale trade. He has also traveled the country to install large-scale weddings and events, including the National Football League’s Championship Ring Ceremony.

Emily Madden holds a Bachelor of Science in architectural studies from the University of Arkansas Fay Jones School of Architecture. A Little Rock native, she has 15 years of experience in event planning, from weddings to holiday parties. She has worked as a floral assistant for Tipton & Hurst in the past and will return as weekend and evening support for the senior design team.

For more information:
Allyson Pittman Gattin
allyson@peacockgrp.com | 501.590.7657

Tipton & Hurst Expands Floral and Special Events Team
Welcomes Meredith Miller as events manager and Adrian Wiles as events associate; Promotes Stacy Payne to floral and event designer

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (June 20, 2024) – Tipton & Hurst announced a significant expansion of its floral and events today by hiring two seasoned event professionals and promoting another within the team. A six-year veteran of the Austin, Texas, wedding and events scene, Meredith Miller will serve as events manager; previously a two-year floral veteran from Northwest Arkansas, Adrian Wiles will join the team as events associate; while Stacy Payne, a 30-year veteran of the floral industry throughout the Mid-South, will be promoted to floral and event designer.

“As the state’s longest-serving florist, Tipton & Hurst is committed to providing exceptional service and unforgettable experiences for our clients,” said Howard Hurst, owner and president of Tipton & Hurst. “We are incredibly excited to welcome Meredith and Adrian to our team, as Meredith’s extensive experience in wedding planning and creative visioning, combined with Adrian’s diverse background in the floral industry and customer service, will undoubtedly enhance our offerings and help us continue to lead the way in floral and event design in Arkansas. Promoting Stacy to a more prominent role in event design is a natural fit as she brings a wealth of talent and experience to the team.”

About Meredith Miller
With six years of experience as a wedding planner and designer, Miller brings a unique blend of creative flair and logistical expertise to the Tipton & Hurst team.

Meredith has been the lead planner and designer at Austin, Texas-based Bird Dog Wedding since 2018, where she has successfully planned, designed and managed upscale weddings from start to finish for a diverse range of clients. Meredith’s exceptional skills in providing style direction, managing vendor and customer relationships, and executing detailed event timelines have made her a sought-after planner in Austin’s wedding industry.

In addition to her work at Bird Dog Wedding, Meredith served as an interim sales representative at Table Manners, where she managed client inquiries, executed sales processes and assisted with design mockups to create unique tablescapes. Meredith graduated from LSU with a BA in English and a minor in Art History.

About Adrian Wiles
With two years of hands-on experience in the floral industry and an extensive background in customer service, Wiles brings a wealth of knowledge and a passion for creating memorable events. Her journey in the floral industry began as a floral assistant at Rose of Sharon in Fayetteville, where she honed her skills in floral artistry and event coordination.

In addition to her floral expertise, Adrian has developed exceptional customer service skills throughout her nearly 10 years of client-focused positions. Adrian attended Hendrix College and studied psychology and political science.

About Stacy Payne.
Stacy Payne has 34 years of floral design experience. She began her career in Memphis, Tenn., working under Kurt Pamper, owner of Botanica. Payne worked in design for 15 years for Holliday Flowers, first as a designer at the Germantown location and then as a manager of the Union location. She also managed preeminent clients for Holliday, including the Peabody Hotel.

Payne has been on staff with Tipton & Hurst since early 2023. She has been active in the Arkansas Florists Association, assisting with designing and installing the Friday evening dinner for 10 years.

For more information about Tipton & Hurst’s expert floral team, visit Tipton & Hurst.

About Tipton & Hurst.
Since 1886, Tipton & Hurst has been committed to fulfilling its promise of “Guaranteed Satisfaction” with every flower, plant, event and gift it delivers. Consistently voted Arkansas’s Best Florist and one of the best gift and décor stores, this family-owned and operated business is now a full-scale, specialty retailer with an award-winning team, wholesale warehouse and the largest inventory of fresh flowers anywhere in the state.