President's Letter: Reflecting on the Journey
As we close the 2025 – 2026 fiscal year for our great association, I find myself reflecting on a journey that has been far more meaningful than I could have fully understood when it began. When I accepted the role of FNGLA President, I spoke about opening doors and stepping into the unknown. I shared that I was choosing to move forward without certainty, without fully knowing what I would find on the other side of that door, only proceeding with a sense of purpose and possibility.
Looking back now, that decision has become one of the most rewarding experiences of my professional life. What once felt like stepping into the unknown quickly became a year defined by connection, collaboration, and community.
Across chapters and events, I have witnessed the strength of FNGLA in action. I visited with members across the state including in Tallahassee, Orlando, and Palm Beach, to name a few locations. I also had the privilege of accompanying FNGLA's executive leaders to Washington DC to advocate for Florida's nursery and landscape industry. I witnessed leaders stepping forward, volunteers giving tirelessly of their time, and members continuing to build and sustain an industry that beautifies and strengthens our state.
To our chapter leaders, board members, committee chairs, staff, and volunteers: thank you.
Your commitment is what gives this association its heart. Everything accomplished this year was made possible because of your dedication and belief in our shared mission.
This year has also reinforced something I have always believed: leadership is not about having all the answers but about showing up, listening, and creating space for others to lead alongside you. I am deeply grateful for the relationships formed and strengthened during this time, and for the trust you placed in me to serve in this role. As I pass the torch to the next president, I do so with confidence and optimism.
FNGLA is strong, resilient, and full of opportunity. The doors ahead of us are not closing. They continue to open. And I encourage each of us to keep asking the same questions that have guided me: "What if?" and "Why not?"
Thank you for the honor of serving as your president. It has been a privilege I will carry with me always.
With gratitude,
Marcella Lucio-Chinchilla
FNGLA 2025-26 President
