Norman Fang
Class of ’88 Ornamental Horticulture
Owner, Norman’s Orchids

Norman Fang began his educational journey as a chemistry major at Cal State Long Beach before transferring to Cal Poly Pomona. As he strolled through the campus, he came across the university’s prestigious Raymond Burr Orchid Collection, and this turned out to be a life-altering experience. Fang’s lifelong interest in orchids as reawakened, and he changed his major to ornamental horticulture, graduating with the class of 1988.

“Norman’s Orchids actually started as an end-ofclass project for one of my classes,” he says. “I definitely followed the Cal Poly Pomona motto of ‘learn by doing.’ I also learned to take pride in my work and to augment my ornamental horticulture studies with business management courses.”

Since graduation, Fang has become an international expert in orchids, collecting
more than 350 prestigious prizes at competitions throughout the world. He recently became the youngest trustee in the history of the American Orchid Society, for which he also serves on the finance and nominating committees. A veteran exhibitor at national and international orchid shows, Fang is an accredited judge and is the American Orchid Society judging coordinator for the Taiwan International Orchid Show. His business, Norman’s Orchids, in Montclair was one of the first orchid specialist concerns to enter the e-commerce market. Fang’s products are shipped to orchid enthusiasts, breeders, and specialists
around the globe, and include everything from elegant gift baskets to exotic rarities for special collectors.

“I’m very aware of and sensitive to business opportunities,” he says, “and I know that specialty companies such as mine need to do business in creative ways. For example, we were one of the first to ship gift orchids via online ordering.

” Fang keeps in close contact with his alma mater and is a life member of the Cal Poly Pomona Alumni Association. He regularly employs student interns at Norman’s Orchids, hosts class field trips, supports scholarship campaigns, and has donated orchids to the university for instructional and promotional use.