By Melissa Cory
The Oklahoma Commerce & Industry Hall of Honor became Herman Meinders鈥� favorite event from its inception. In 38 years, he missed only one luncheon 鈥� when he was attending an international floral event. He would arrive early, greet inductees warmly and stay late to share stories with students, fellow business leaders and old friends.
`Herman was equally passionate about the Women in Leadership Conference, now in its 15th year. Both events embodied everything he believed in: recognizing achievement, fostering relationships and inspiring the next generation of business leaders.
I often observed, while working closely with him, the potential he saw in people. He genuinely cared about creating opportunities for people to connect, learn and lead.
Herman emphasized the importance of relationships: 鈥淧ick your friends and have good friends and spend time with them.鈥� The Hall of Honor and Women in Leadership Conference became annual gatherings where Oklahoma鈥檚 most accomplished leaders could share wisdom and inspire students who represented the future of commerce in the state Herman had chosen to call home.
His selection of Oklahoma was deliberate, and he would say, 鈥淚 am here by choice. It was the best choice I could have made.鈥� When he founded American Floral Services in 1970, revolutionizing the floral industry with innovations like 鈥渘o-charge sending,鈥� he proved that world-changing businesses could be built right here in the heartland.
The Hall of Honor recognizes business and community leaders who have made significant contributions to Oklahoma and the Southwest. Financial support provides crucial scholarships for business students 鈥� a cause deeply personal to Herman, who understood how education could transform lives. The inductees over the years reflected Herman鈥檚 values: innovation, integrity, community impact, and generosity.
The Women in Leadership Conference, which brings together 500 women leaders, emerging professionals and students annually, embodies the same values-based approach Herman championed throughout his career. He particularly appreciated how the conference showcased diverse female leadership talent 鈥� featuring corporate executives, researchers, healthcare innovators, entrepreneurs and nonprofit leaders who combined evidence-based insights with practical solutions to real community challenges.
Herman believed 鈥渢here鈥檚 always something to learn in everything.鈥� Both Hall of Honor and Women in Leadership events became annual celebrations of that learning spirit, with each inductee鈥檚 story and speaker鈥檚 insight offering lessons that rippled through Oklahoma鈥檚 business community.
Herman鈥檚 support extended beyond financial contributions. He attended sessions, engaged with honorees and speakers, and shared his hard-won business wisdom. He understood that his presence mattered 鈥� that seeing a successful business leader actively participating sent a powerful message to students and professionals alike.
The growth of both gatherings over the years demonstrated Herman鈥檚 sustained commitment to investing in people and community. These weren鈥檛 one-time gifts but ongoing partnerships that helped strengthen the Meinders School of Business鈥檚 position as a convener and catalyst for leadership and education throughout Oklahoma.
This year鈥檚 39th annual Hall of Honor Induction Luncheon held on Oct. 22 was the first held without Herman, yet his presence was still felt. The 2025 inductees 鈥� Tony Award-winning actress Kelli O鈥橦ara, Ed Sanchez of Lopez Dorada Foods and Kari Watkins of the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum 鈥� represent exactly the kind of leaders Herman championed: individuals who have achieved excellence while making meaningful contributions to Oklahoma.
Both gatherings will continue, just as Herman would have wanted, recognizing excellence, inspiring students and building community. His legacy lives on in every scholarship awarded, every leader honored and every student motivated to build businesses with integrity and generosity 鈥� a lasting tribute to a man who understood that true success means lifting others along the way.
