Rodrigo Vásquez “VARITO”, born in San Jose, Costa Rica

 

I began my studies as a musician in 1972 at the age of 7

1983 Graduate in Musical Arts

 1984 I began my studies in Hotels and Travel Agency Management, working 7 years in Tourism Industry 

1991 until January 2014 I owned Flowers by Flowers my Company. The company specialized in weddings, banquets, conventions and corporate events in my country Costa Rica. During my path to becoming a florist, I worked as an assistant in various seminaries featured by  Smithers-Oasis Products Latin-American Chapter, in Guatemala, Costa Rica, and Panama, alongside designers,  Mario Fernandez, AIFD of the U.S.A. and  Armando Ayala AIFD (R.I.P) from Mexico. 

 

In Guatemala, I conducted seminars for local florists, as well as showroom demonstrations to other companies

 

In Panama, I worked on seminars for the Company S.O.S next to Mario Fernandez Floral designer USA. 

 

Between the years 1992 and 1998 I worked with a local TV morning shows in Costa Rica.

 

I have worked at least with the fifteen most important International Companies based in Costa Rica, most prestigious Hotels,  several International Organizations, Fashions weeks, etc. in Costa Rica as a Floral Designer and Event Planner

 

 In the Costa Rican Wedding industry. During 2003 and 2007 I ranked to be in the top 10 Event and Wedding Designer.

I've dictates few seminars like “How to be a Master of Ceremonies for weddings”, “Protocol for Special Events” “ How to be an Event and Conventions Master of Ceremonies”, “How to be an Event Planner”, “Creativity in the Events”, “How to Budget your Wedding and Negotiate with Vendors”. 

Since   1991 I have been a member of different Conventions and Event organizations in Costa Rica.

During my career as a Floral Designer, I attended masterclasses with KiKe Leon (Spain), Ruben Conza AIFD (Puerto Rico), Rafael Toro (Colombia), Mery Perry White (USA), Gregor Lersch (Germany), Mario Fernandez AIFD(USA), Armando Ayala AIFD(Mexico), Phill Rulloda, Hitomi Gilliam, Deborah de La Flor Aifd and several seminars with other instructors from the Floral Industry

From 1988 to 2013 I trainee and certify more than 100 students on my regular courses of Basic Floral Designer at my own school  EFFCR Escuela de Formación Floral de Costa Rica.

 

In 2014 I decided to move to the United States to begin my journey to get my AIFD.

2016 I earned my FSMD credentials and my  FPCF. From Florida State Florist Association 

2017 I tested and in 2018 I get pined and accredited as AIFD member 

 

Some of my accomplishments include: 

  2012, '14 and '16 Online BARCELONA WORLD FLOWER CUP competition

2015- Designer of the Year – Florida East Coast Floral Association, 

2015-, 3rd place in both Teleflora SUNSHINE CUP and FTD Tablescape at FSFA Annual Convention. 

2016- 1st Place in FTD Tablescape Competition, 3rd place both in Teleflora Sunshine Cup and Designer of the Year, and awarded scholarships to the AIFD Symposium and the Floriology program at the FSFA convention. 

Also in 2016, I joined the FSFA as part of their Educational Panel 

 

Memorable moments

On my first Symposium Ahahein 2016 when I helped my good friend and mentor   Leopoldo Gomez CFD, along with a group of volunteers, create a hanging bouquet with 1600 elements. 

 

2017   "Mythic The Mystical Wire and armatures" stage program I've created for the FSFA mid-season convention

 

2017 honored to be part of the first group of designers at the Jim Johnson Cup in Houston 

 

2017,18 and recently 2019 some of my designs were published at Florist Review Magazine 

 

2018 Georgia South State Wire Hand on Class,  

 

2019 FTD WORLD CUP, AIFD Stage Program "Heritage"

 

2019 FSFA Designer of the Year, 

 

2019 FSFA, First Place IAN PROSSER Bridal Bouquet

 

2019 AWAKEN Aifd Symposium Wire Hand on Class.

 

2020 FSFA Mid Season Convention, Stage Program BEYOND A CREATIVE MIND

 

Actually I'm the Floral Director of The Special Event Resource and Design Group in West Palm Beach

 

Rodrigo Vasquez (Varito) AIFD CFD FSMD FPCF 

CEO/FLORAL DESIGNER
R.VARITO DESIGNS AND INSTITUTE