The person behind John Fox Design
John Fox is the founder, owner and creative force behind John Fox Design. For more than a decade, he has built a reputation for sophisticated floral design, thoughtful service and a very personal approach to the work. The path to becoming a small business owner specializing in floral was unique…
John was born in the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood of New York City and spent his youth in Tarboro, North Carolina and later Trenton, Missouri relocating with his family. His education took him through North Central Missouri College in Trenton, MO and Missouri Western State University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology. He later completed a master’s degree in psychology through Park University near Kansas City, MO.
Psychology may seem like an unusual background for a floral designer, but John has always found it useful. Understanding people is at the heart of much of what he does. Listening to a client, understanding what they are trying to express and knowing when to lead and when to simply listen are skills that have served him well.
His creative side began to emerge while he was in college. John started a small plant business focused on outdoor planters and landscape work. That eventually led him somewhere he never expected: the floral industry.
Finding flowers
In 2011, John met Rob Houp, the owner of Village Flowers in St. Joseph, Missouri. Rob introduced him to floral design and gave him the opportunity to learn the craft from the ground up.
John worked alongside Rob and an exceptionally talented team at Village Flowers. It was a busy, hands-on environment where he learned the realities of the floral business while designing for weddings, events and everyday occasions. He also gained valuable experience working directly in a funeral home when Village Flowers opened a location there.
It was an unusual introduction to the industry, but it taught John something he still believes today: flowers matter. They can celebrate, comfort, welcome, honor and say things that people sometimes cannot find the words to say themselves.
From there, John continued developing his craft in Omaha. As the lead designer at Blooms Floral Shop + Studio in Rockbrook Village, he had the opportunity to work with an incredible group of colleagues and some truly wonderful clients. He loved the energy of the shop and the relationships he built there. It was an important chapter in his growth as a designer and as a leader.
In 2016, John decided it was time to build something of his own.
John Fox Design
John Fox Design began with a simple goal: create beautiful floral work while giving clients an experience that felt personal, professional and genuinely enjoyable.
Ten years later, the business has grown into an established Omaha design company known for high-style floral work and a sophisticated aesthetic. John has designed hundreds of weddings and thousands of events, from intimate celebrations to large corporate functions. He has worked with families, businesses, nonprofits, government organizations and clients who simply wanted something beautiful. JFD has been recognized as a leader in the local market, awarded for excellence, and regularly is asked to partner with numerous fundraisers and community initiatives.
John designs every day, but running the business has become just as important as the creative work. He leads the day-to-day operation, manages client relationships and vendors, oversees the business side and makes the decisions that keep everything moving. He believes strongly in high standards, good communication and treating people well. Over the years, JFD has had a diverse group of assistants, delivery drivers, setup helpers and part-time designers that have been a part of the journey and such an important part of our decade of business.
And he still loves the flowers.
That part hasn't changed.
Home in Field Club — And Part of the Community
John has called Omaha home for many years and has lived in the historic Field Club neighborhood for more than a decade. His 1932 brick cottage has become a little piece of the neighborhood he is especially proud to call home. But for John, being part of Field Club has always meant much more than simply living there. It has meant showing up, getting involved, rolling up his sleeves, and helping make the neighborhood a better place.
John served for several years in leadership of the Field Club Neighborhood Association, including as President and Vice President. Those years were filled with projects, partnerships, and plenty of hard work—but also some of the most rewarding community experiences of his life.
While serving as President, John also became an Eagle Scout mentor. Together, he and his Scout mentee took on a neighborhood project along Woolworth Avenue, working to landscape, clean up, and improve the area. What started as a project between a mentor and a Scout grew into a remarkable community day. At one point, more than 100 Scouts, their families, and Field Club neighbors came together to help transform the area. It was one of those days that reminded John exactly why community matters: people of different ages and backgrounds showing up together, working with their hands, and leaving a place a little brighter than they found it.
That same spirit carried into other Field Club projects. During John's time in neighborhood leadership, the association was awarded a Mayor's Grant to establish the Field Club Farmers Market. John helped bring the market to life and proudly operated it each week with his partner Jeff, and other dedicated volunteers — in the Field Club School lot. The market became a gathering place for neighbors while helping raise tens of thousands of dollars for community initiatives. During this period, the neighborhood association also reached its highest membership in its history.
John will be the first to say that none of these accomplishments belonged to him alone. They belonged to the neighbors, volunteers, board members, Scouts, families, local organizations, and friends who showed up and made things happen. Those experiences remain close to his heart because they were about something much bigger than a project or a title—they were about people taking care of the place they call home.
A Broader Commitment to Omaha
John's involvement in the community has extended well beyond Field Club. He has had the honor of serving as Chair of Omaha's Human Rights Board and as the District 3 member of Omaha's City Charter Convention. He also served on the Citizens Complaint Review Board for the Southeast Precinct of the Omaha Police Department, an experience that gave him the opportunity to work closely with members of law enforcement and gain a deeper understanding of their responsibilities, the importance of citizens' rights, and the role of advocacy and accountability in a healthy community. John has also served on numerous non-profit boards; countless committees planning meaningful events and has led many community meetings.
These experiences have shaped the way John sees Omaha—and the way he approaches his work. Community has never felt separate from John Fox Design. It is woven into it.
For more than ten years, John Fox Design has had the privilege of working with and supporting Omaha organizations, nonprofits, schools, churches, businesses, neighborhood groups, government partners, and countless individuals. John believes that when a community supports a local business, that business should find ways to give something meaningful back.
For John, that's simply what being a good neighbor and business owner is about.
Life beyond the flowers
There is, of course, a John outside of John Fox Design.
John shares his life with his husband, Jeff Fox, a Nebraska native and Navy veteran. Jeff has spent more than 25 years working in the commercial insulation industry and does not work for John Fox Design. He does, however, have a habit of appearing when John needs an extra set of hands. When Jeff is able to jump in, he is a rock and a force all at once.
At home, there is Mila, Chihuahua/Westie along with Niko the Russian Blue cat. They are a big part of the Fox household and provide plenty of personality of their own.
John also enjoys his backyard, good food, Omaha's local restaurants and entertainment scene, daily walks at The Riverfront Park downtown, spending time with friends and supporting people and causes he believes in. John and Jeff love to travel when they are able. A couple of favs: spending the 4th of July annually in Breckenridge, Colorado, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, Puerto Rico is a special place, and they both loved their time in San Francisco recently.
Life outside the business matters. It keeps things in perspective.
Ten years of John Fox Design
In 2026, John Fox Design celebrates ten years in business.
Ten years is a long time in a small business. There have been beautiful moments, difficult moments, long days, big celebrations and plenty of lessons along the way. There have also been an extraordinary number of people who have helped make the business what it is.
John is proud of the company he has built and proud of the relationships that have come with it. He is proud to lead a business that can be elegant and professional without becoming impersonal. He believes beautiful work should be taken seriously, but he also believes there should always be room for warmth, humor and a little personality.
After all, this is a business about flowers.
And flowers are about people.
Thank you for being part of the story.
John’s Community Involvement
John is deeply involved in the Omaha community and has a passion for service. Recent work;
Program Manager, Heartland Family Service Arts, present
Chair, City of Omaha Human Rights and Relations Board 2025
Vice-Chair, City of Omaha Human Rights and Relations Board, 2022-2025
Board of Directors, City Sprouts, 2025
Co-Chair, Allies Board, I Be Black Girl, 2023-2024
Recipient, Preston Love Volunteer of the Year Award, Nebraska Democratic Party, 2023
Board Member, Civil Rights Hearing Board, City of Omaha, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025
Board Member, Citizens Complaint and Review Board, SE Precinct, Omaha, 2022-2023
Diversity Officer, Douglas County Democratic Party, 2022-2024
Delegate, Legislative District 9, Nebraska Democratic Party, 2022, 2023
Board Member, Omaha’s 2022 City Charter Review Convention, Mayor Stothert appointee, District 3
President, Field Club Homeowners League, 2019-2022
Vice President, 2017-2019
Board Member, 2014-2017
Official Designer, Blackstone Revealed Tour, 2022
Event committee member
Founder, Field Club Neighborhood Farmer’s Market, 2020-2022
Eagle Scout Mentor, 2020-2021, Troop 21
Lauritzen Gardens, Floral Design Educator, 2017-2019
A Note on Our Style & Approach
After ten years of designing and producing events throughout Omaha and beyond, we’ve learned that great work is about much more than beautiful flowers. It’s about knowing the room, understanding the people, anticipating what’s needed, and delivering with a level of professionalism that allows everyone else to do their job with confidence.
Our work ranges from polished corporate functions and large-scale celebrations to intimate dinners, private homes, discreet gatherings, hotels, conference spaces and everything in between. We’re equally comfortable working behind the scenes on a confidential event as we are creating a statement installation everyone will remember.
Over the years, we’ve built strong working relationships with event directors, venue managers, planners, caterers and hospitality teams throughout Omaha and the surrounding area. We know the venues, the logistics and the people—and we know how to work seamlessly alongside them. From West Omaha and downtown to East Omaha, Elkhorn, Gretna and Lincoln, we’re familiar with the landscape and prepared to step in, figure it out and make it happen.
Our style is refined, thoughtful and versatile, with high standards from the first conversation through the final walk-through. We take pride in being easy to work with, attentive to details and respectful of the trust that comes with every event—especially those where privacy and discretion matter.
Our calendar stays busy, but we’re always happy to have a conversation. If you’re considering an event and wondering whether John Fox Design might be the right fit, let’s talk. Sometimes the best place to start is simply seeing what’s possible.
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At John Fox Design, we're deeply rooted in the Omaha community and passionate about giving back! We're proud to support, donate, and sponsor numerous events throughout the year, recognizing the importance of contributing to the community that supports us. Our mission is to make a positive impact, and we've had the privilege of partnering with many wonderful organizations over the years, including: - Heartland Family Service - Omaha Jitterbugs! - Brownell Talbot School - Field Club School - First Central Congregational Church - City of Omaha Human Rights Department - United Way - American Cancer Society - Loveland Neighborhood - Field Club Neighborhood - Marian High School - inCommon - Inclusive Communities - OPS - I Be Black Girl - Good Shepherd Church - The Union for Contemporary Arts - Our Lady of Lourdes Church - Westside High School - Omaha Public Schools District - River City Mixed Chorus - ...and many more! If you have a community initiative or event that could benefit from our support, please don't hesitate to reach out to John. We prioritize OUR clients, friends and community partners when considering donations, always!