Chapter-Staff
ABC Central Florida
Elite VIP
Sponsors
Michele Daugherty is the President/CEO of Associated Builders and Contractors, Central Florida Chapter. Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) is a national construction association representing more than 22,000 members nationwide. Michele helps members develop their people and deliver work safely for the betterment of the communities in which they work and live.
Michele has spent the past two decades focused on creating career & advancement pathways for others. Prior to leading ABC Central Florida, she spent 17 years as the President/CEO of the ABC Northern California and Nevada Chapters. Under her leadership ABC has continued to grow as a workforce development leader expanding state and federally approved Apprenticeship and Craft Training programs across the country. Michele is committed to educating the current and future workforce and values the importance of educating today’s youth on the benefits of careers in construction.
Michele is a certified Master Trainer for the National Center for Construction Education and Research. She was formerly the Director of the University of Nevada, Reno College of Business Advising Center and was appointed for multiple terms on the State of Nevada Apprenticeship Council. Fun fact - Michele got her start working at a Gold Mine. Michele resides in Orlando with her husband of 18 years and is the proud mother of two boys Seventeen and Eleven. One of Michele’s favorite sayings is, “I put on my boots and broke concrete to break the glass ceiling!”
Joining the Central Florida Chapter ABC staff in 1986, Nancy Wray now serves as vice president and chief operating officer, a position she assumed in 2009. She leads the chapter’s financial, membership, education and communications operations. She continues to be directly responsible for the chapter’s premier Excellence in Construction program, the largest in the country. During her 30+ years of service at ABC, she has served as director of member services, director of education and as the chapter’s financial and data resources manager.
Francine Conway joined the CFC ABC staff in October 2015. Francine is responsible for all A/R, A/P, budgeting, tax compliance and preparing the financial reporting for executive staff and the Board of Directors. Francine is also responsible for HR compliance and asset management.
Justin Miller is an Orlando, Florida native, with nearly 25 years of public service in intelligence and national security, research, program management, and nonprofit leadership. While in the Navy, Justin served for a period within the Navy's education and training community, earning the Navy Master Training Specialist designation and serving as a course instructor and manager, curriculum developer, and a Navy Rate Training Manager, where he oversaw a network of globally distributed courses. Justin’s professional experience also includes roles in leadership, operations, administration, research and development, organizational and interagency coordination and planning, program management, learning and development, and telecommunications and computer science technical applications.
Justin has a Master of Arts in Political Science, concentration in Public Policy (AMU) and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. He is a graduate of multiple leadership and development courses, including the Navy’s Senior Enlisted Academy at the Navy War College in Rhode Island and the National Security Agency’s Mid-Level Executive Leadership Development Program.
He is a graduate of multiple community leadership programs (NLC, USTA). He is also a member of the American Military University/American Public University Political Science Scholars, The Oviedo Winter Springs Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Central Florida Navy League, American Legion (Post 243), and is a Lifetime Member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He is also a member of the US Global Leadership Coalition Veterans for Smart Power network member, a member of the SOFX community, and a supporter of the Florida Association of Veteran Owned Businesses (FAVOB).
He is married to his high school sweetheart and together they have three children.
Cat Wert joined the CFC ABC staff in January 2018. She is responsible for new member enrollment and orientation, and for retention of existing members.
Lauren Kelly joined the CFC ABC staff in March 2020. She is responsible for the implementation and execution of the Association’s marketing strategies, and branding efforts. In addition, developing, implementing and managing a marketing strategy for all chapter programs; website content and design management; and designing, developing, layout and management for all publications and marketing of CFC ABC.
Taylor Tidwell joined the CFC ABC staff in March 2017 after graduating from UCF’s Rosen College of Hospitality Management and was promoted in February 2018 to her current position. She is responsible for planning and organizing meetings and events throughout the year, including executing ABC’s Excellence in Construction Awards program, as well as oversee VIP and event sponsorships. She also works with the EIC, Golf, Special Events, ABC/UCF Student Chapter, and Young Professionals committees.
Maria joined the CFC ABC staff in September 2019. Maria works with Taylor Tidwell in the planning, organizing and coordination of the Chapter’s meetings and events, and awards program, along with working with volunteers on the special events committees.
Taylor joined the CFC ABC staff in September 2019. Taylor is responsible for greeting guests, communication for ABC committee meetings, program registrations, room rentals, job site sign sales, and facilities coordination. Taylor assists all departments at CFC ABC – invoicing and accounts receivables for finance, ABC’s database for membership engagement, training & development, and also coordinates the new member receptions with Cat. She also authors the Builders’ Breakfast article for Building Central Florida magazine.