Our Board Spotlight this month is shining on Emily Neubaur, owner of Belle Fiori Ltd. in Milwaukee. Emily has owned Belle Fiori for 5 1/2 years. She has been a florist since high school, worked her way up in the industry from bucket scrubber and floor sweeper to owner. While working at Belle Fiori as manager, she had the opportunity to buy the business and took it. Belle specializes in wedding and event florals for every occasion and budget. “My mother swears one of my first words after Mama and Daddy was ‘pretty’ and I was pointing at a vase of flowers on the kitchen table.  Must be fate!”

Emily has been married for 11 years to her high school sweetheart Jason (aww...)  They live in Wauwatosa with two furry kids Elly & Zach, Siberian Huskies so please pardon the dog hair on her clothes. “I am originally from Fond du Lac and always knew I would end up in the big city, hey compared to Fondy this is the big city.  We love Milwaukee it is the perfect size and just an hour drive to visit our families.  Outside of running a flower shop I love to cook and garden, and I hate to admit it but I love reality TV on Bravo, HGTV, TLC, Food Network.”

What Emily likes most about working at the flower shop is that her job is different everyday. “We can go from helping a grandma pick out pink roses for her first granddaughter to helping a bride select a bouquet for the most important day of her life.  Even planning funeral flowers can be rewarding, to see a family remember the good time when they see the floral tributes in grandpa's favorite football team colors or something that matches grandma's quilts is fulfilling. Flowers soften the sorrow.  But one of my favorite jobs is to be the delivery driver for a day.  I don't get to do it often but it is so fun to see the genuine reaction on people's faces when you are at their door with beautiful flowers. Always the right size and no calories, they are the perfect gift.”

Like many of us, Emily notes how NACE has been such a great networking tool for business. She instantly gains her customer's trust when she can refer to their caterer, event manager or fellow vendors by name. For our chapter, Emily is part of our top notch Programs Committee and is responsible for many of the wonderful programs we have each month.

As for her taste buds, Emily’s favorite food is anything chocolate or Kopp's custard or Kopp's custard with chocolate in it! “I have their phone number memorized; 414-282-4080... that's the one on south 76^th.” Sounds like it’s time for a road trip – is Emily buying? Thanks Emily for your enthusiasm and energy.