After attending college in Oklahoma City, he moved to Florida with a friend where he went to work for The National Florist Directory. There he learned the floral business and developed a nationwide network of friends and colleagues.
Meinders returned to Oklahoma City and founded American Floral Services, Inc. The business started in a garage apartment and became one of the largest international wire services in the world. In November 2000, the AFS merged with Teleflora.
Since that time, Meinders, who strongly supports education, has funded endowments to numerous colleges and universities. He has funded the building of the Oklahoma City University Meinders School of Business which was dedicated in January 2004. He is currently serving in the board of trustees for OCU.
Other philanthropic projects include The Meinders Gardens in downtown Oklahoma City, major improvements to the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum, and the Meinders Scout Shop in Oklahoma City. Meinders and his wife have also funded the Meinders Chapel at Phillips Theological Seminary in Tulsa, the Meinders Hall at the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, California, several houses for Habitat for Humanity, the Oklahoma Capitol dome project, and the Meinders Hall of Mirrors at the Civic Center. Meinders also contributed to the Swift Boat Vets and POWs for Truth.
Meinders has received the Distinguished Service Award from the Wholesale Florists and Florist Suppliers of America and the Industry Award from the American Institute of Floral Design. In 1992, he was inducted into the Sales and Marketing Executives International Academy of Achievement for his contributions to the free enterprise system. He has received numerous other awards from the Oklahoma Commerce and Industry Hall of Honor to the Silver Beaver Award from the Boy Scouts of America. In 1998, he was inducted into the Oklahoma Heritage Association Hall of Fame.
Recently released is his biography, Flowers to Philanthropy: The Life of Herman Meinders, by Bob Burke and Tom Butler. The foreword is by Dr. Robert H. Schuller, and the opening acknowledgement states: “Meinder and flowers have much in common.” Henry Ward Beecher once wrote: “Flowers have mysterious and subtle influence upon the feelings. Flowers have the power to calm, to stimulate the imagination, and to awaken memories. Flowers are messengers of love and encouragement.”
In 1983, The World Flower Council was founded in Gifu, Japan. It is an “established organization dedicated to furthering the cause of world peace through the beauty of flowers and the sharing of knowledge among those who have chosen the floral industry as their profession.” The Council has members in 29 countries. Juzaburo Sekiye and Herman Meinders are the cornerstones of the World Flower Council.
