Event Directors
Pedro Morales
Pedro J. Morales was born in Chicago, Illinois on March 16, 1961. His parents, native to Puerto Rico, moved back when he was three months old. They settled in Trujillo Alto where his family has always lived. Pedro belongs to a large family, all lovers of plants and who have dedicated their lives to agriculture, especially in the ornamental field. Pedro joined this family endeavor as a child. During his studies of computer programming at the University of Puerto Rico he worked part-time in Jardin Selecto, one of the larger garden centers in the San Juan area. He remained for 36 years until June of 2015. Pedro later opened his Bonsai Nursery, Futago Bonsai in Trujillo Alto, where he works full time.
During his first year at the University of Puerto Rico in 1980 his Spanish class teacher, Maria Rivera, assigned the subject of bonsai for a research program. This is when Pedro met Hugo Storer, with whom he shared his time as he prepared his work. After a few years he was introduced to the Club Bonsai of Puerto Rico and became a member in 1986. Pedro began to take classes under the supervision of Mr. Adan Montalvo, who was considered one of the strongest members of the local club and the great Master of Puerto Rico. Pedro kept looking for more information and knowledge and became passionate about bonsai. He started Futago Bonsai Juyku in 1993. It has become one of the most important bonsai schools in Latin America and is now known worldwide. His accomplishments include traveling to teach, demonstrate and exhibit bonsai worldwide including Latin America, Australia, China, Japan, Korea, India, Spain, Thailand, Indonesia, Slovakia, Germany and extensive trips throughout the United States. He is actively involved in the bonsai movement in Latin America and has helped them to develop their regional groups. Pedro was a headline artist at 4 of the 6 World Bonsai Friendship Federation conventions including Florida in 1993, Munich in 2001, Washington DC in 2005, and Puerto Rico in 2009. He was also the Chairman of the WBFF Convention in 2009.
Pedro’s trees are recognized as great masterpieces in the world of tropical bonsai. Eight of them were selected in the World Bonsai Contest, and one was the second runner-up in 2005. In January 2015 one of his smallest bonsai won first prize in the Gafu-Ten show in Japan. As president of the Puerto Rico Bonsai Federation (FEBOPRI) Pedro was proud to host the Bonsai Clubs International FELAB Convention in Puerto Rico in July of 2007, the World Bonsai Convention in 2009 and the International Bonsai Convention in 2014. He is also a past-president of the Latin America Bonsai Federation (FELAB).
Mike Lane
I began ny bonsai journey when I began working with Erik Wigert of Wigert’s Bonsai and assisted him in both traveling workshops, regular classes, and all aspects of the bonsai nursery. During the Pandemic we expanded our services to include online and zoom presentations and so I have discussed and taught students all over the world.
Over the last 5 years I have traveled to many places across the country from New York, and Dallas, to Austin, and New Orleans to name a few, giving demonstrations, lectures, workshops, and show critique. My work has been featured in bonsai focus and I continue to contribute articles to their magazine.
Over the years I have dedicated myself to primarily Shohin, and tropical bonsai design and have been working toward spreading their appeal and understanding. Since beginning teaching, I have displayed at the state level several times and also at the National show on two occasions.
· 2010 - I was awarded the sum of $1000 by the Bonsai Societies of Florida, in their annual styling competition.
With the scholarship money, I traveled to Mexico for the 2010 FELAB convention where I met and learned from artists such as Mauro Stemberger, Min Lo, Robert Steven, Vlad Novak, and Enrique Castano.
· 2012 - This marked the year I started teaching, and taught several workshops and demonstrations throughout the state of Florida, as well as teaching individual classes on specific styles and facets of bonsai. This was also the year that I began teaching my monthly help session under the Mike Lane Shohin Studio banner.
· Over the years I have dedicated myself to primarily Shohin, and tropical bonsai design and have been working toward spreading their appeal and understanding.
· Since beginning teaching, I have displayed at the state level several times and also at the National show on two occasions.
Hurley Johnson
Hurley Johnson resides in Rosenberg, Texas where he owns and operates Timeless Trees Bonsai & Nursery. Hurley began his bonsai journey in the late 1980's
Dawn Koetting
Dawn Koetting has been in love with bonsai since the first time she opened volume “B” of the World Book Encyclopedia. For the past 30 years she has explored the art through every possible learning medium. A long-term member of the Greater New Orleans Bonsai Society and frequent Brussels Rendezvous participant, Dawn has been fortunate to have taken workshops with the likes of Ryan Neil, Bjorn Bjornholm and Walter Pall. Dawn has also enjoyed longer term relationships with Kathy Shaner, Pedro Morales, Mike Lane and Jennifer Price, and is currently part of Mauro Stemburger’s study group in Houston.
Dawn’s personal collection is wide ranging in sizes, species and styles. Being from Louisiana, Dawn maintains a large number of tropical species. Over the last 15 years, Dawn has shown bonsai locally, regionally and has had trees at the US Nationals since 2016. Over her time at nationals she as shown one large tropical shohin group and 5 individual tropical trees. Her bonsai have won Best in Show on three separate occasions at the Lone Star Bonsai Federation show ( two being tropicals ) and the 2019 John Naka Award given by the ABS for her Flat Top Bald Cypress. Dawn also won the inaugural Futago Bonsai Golden Scissors Award in Houston in 2024 for a cascade Chinese Elm.
Dawn enjoys teaching workshops, study groups, and giving lectures and demonstrations with a special emphasis on shohin, show prep, and taking trees to their “next level”. She is honored and excited to be a part of this inaugural US National Tropical Bonsai Exhibition!