Honoring a “bright light in our industry,” a new variety of cream-colored tulip, grown by The Sun Valley Group, was named for Cindy Hanauer, vice president of merchandising and procurement with 1-800-Flowers.com during the International Floriculture Expo, which was held in Miami in June.

The name “Cindy” comes from the Latin word for light, and the new tulip will be called ‘Bright Light’.

Past name-ceremony honorees Stan Pohmer, CEO of Pohmer Consulting Group and executive director of the Flower Promotion Organization, and Bobbi Ecker Blatchford, AIFD, AAF, PFCI, The Flora Pros, announced the honor, lauding Ms. Hanauer for her contributions to the floral industry.

“Cindy’s strength is in her leadership, always mentoring to those who are honest and ethical and who share in her passion for the floral business,” members of the 2012 selection committee noted. “She is as true to her supplier partners as she is to her customers. She knows that her life’s purpose is greater than herself. Cindy’s life is the embodiment of why we are here at IFE.”

A moved Ms. Hanauer thanked her colleagues and supplier partners from throughout the years, and remarked, “There’s no greater joy than doing what you love.”

Nominated by her peers in the floral industry, Ms. Hanauer was selected by the Expo’s Flower Naming Selection Committee: Ms. Blatchford; Christine Boldt, Association of Floral Importers of Florida (AFIF); Steve Daum, Floralife; Cindy Sulzman, Hy-Vee; and Tom Lavagetto, Floral Consulting Group.

‘Bright Light’ is owned by H.J.A. Rooyakkers B.V., in Breezand, Netherlands; bred by Jan Ligthart; and grown by The Sun Valley Group in Arcata, Calif.

The flower-naming ceremony has become a tradition at the Expo; last year, a lily was named for Mr. Pohmer, and in 2010, a rose was named for Ms. Blatchford.