Unquestionably so, LaShawnda Battiste was fated to become an influential force in Columbus’s floral design milieu. LaShawnda is a 3rd generation business owner of Battiste LaFleur Galleria. A high-end floral galleria, providing exceptional floral design services for discerning clientele. “Whether we’re creating a luxurious personal arrangement or staging a full-scale event, at Battiste LaFleur, we don’t just sell a product; we provide an unforgettable floral experience.” Born in Albany, Georgia but raised in Kingstree South Carolina, LaShawnda fell in love with flowers and bold colors at a very young age. Spending countless evenings and weekends designing flowers with her Grandmother, mother and father in the family’s flower shop. “I was immersed with the intrinsic beauty of floral blooms and loved to spend hours mismatching different colors, shapes and blossoms,” she remembers.

Vera grew up in the industry and has a sincere love for everything flowers. Her formal education led her to work in the public sector, both state and federal agencies for many years. She worked in the area of social work. Upon her parents retirement, she left social work for joint succession of the floral business.  She is a master floral designer and visual artist that has created works of art for many occasions. Vera's design aesthetic is eclectic and she grabs design inspiration from around the globe.  She has a skill set that spans over 40 years of experience. Vera was featured as a history making artist as the first African American to be an installation artist with the Columbus Museum of Art, Beau Arts Group.  This event is a bi-annual event that raises funds for art education for children.  She continues her education in the area of floral culture.  She believes it is necessary to continue to evolve as the market demands and as our community grows.  This keeps Battiste LaFleurs approach to the industry as cutting edge, always fresh and insync with global trends. In Vera's down time, she enjoys traveling, photography, baking and spending time with her children.

With over two decades of corporate marketing experience at America Online and Verizon, Benjamin Sellers is now one of the Managing Partners at Battiste LaFleur Galleria, applying his expertise to drive business growth. As one of it's leaders, the Galleria has garnered recognition from esteemed publications and networks, including Who's Who in Black Columbus, African American News Journal, and Columbus Neighborhoods on Columbus PBS WOSU-TV.  Benjamin is dedicated to fostering growth through innovative marketing strategies, adhering to a philosophy of excellence: "Do it right the first time, each time." This commitment ensures clients receive distinctive floral designs tailored to their unique needs.

Beyond his professional endeavors, Benjamin enjoys reading, writing, traveling, music, and playing basketball.