September 10, 2026 -Created
Quick Answer: ABC Florida East Coast Chapter (ABC-FEC) is the regional chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors covering Florida’s coastal counties from Brevard to Key West. Based in Coconut Creek and led by President and CEO Peter Dyga, it represents roughly 560 commercial contractors and suppliers, runs a registered apprenticeship college, and lobbies for the merit-shop (non-union-preference) construction model at the local, state and federal level.
ABC East Coast Chapter Corporate Logo:
Company Profile:
| Profile | Business Details |
|---|---|
| Legal name | Associated Builders and Contractors, Florida East Coast Chapter (ABC-FEC) |
| Type | Nonprofit trade association |
| Headquarters | 3730 Coconut Creek Pkwy, Suite 200, Coconut Creek, FL 33066 |
| Phone | (954) 951-3911 |
| Website | abceastflorida.com |
| Founded | 1950 (per chapter) |
| President & CEO | Peter M. Dyga, CAE |
| Chief Operating Officer | Sonny Maken |
| Board Chairman (2026) | Brian Sudduth |
| Members | 564 (2025); 103 new in 2025 |
| Territory | Brevard County to Key West, incl. Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Fort Pierce, Melbourne |
| Parent | Associated Builders and Contractors (national, ~21,000 members, 70 chapters) |
| Affiliates | ABC Institute apprenticeship college; ABC Cares Foundation |
ABC Florida East Coast: Sun Biz Data:
| Profile | Business Details |
|---|---|
| Founded | Established 1950 (per chapter); incorporated in Florida Sept. 4, 1970 |
| Sunbiz document no. | 719261 |
| Florida status | Active corporation (reinstated Jan. 20, 2022) |
| Financials (IRS Form 990, 2024) | Revenue $2.78M; total assets $5.43M |
What ABC-FEC Does
The chapter’s work runs on three tracks: business development, political advocacy and industry education. Its home page frames the three as “Business Development • Political Advocacy • Industry Education,” and describes the chapter as both a professional trade association and a construction apprenticeship school.
On the business side, the chapter reports more than $42 million in bid opportunities circulated to members, with contractors making up 74% of the membership — the rest being suppliers, developers and professional-services firms such as law and insurance. A “Real Estate Developers” membership tier and a “BEAM Club” for top-tier members sit alongside the standard contractor category.
On advocacy, ABC-FEC maintains a full-time government affairs function, publishes political endorsements, and pushes members toward the national ABC Action App for grassroots lobbying. The organization states that it advocates for members at all levels of government and keeps a full-time staff versed in construction law for legal issues that escalate through local, state and federal channels. Immigration and contractor-licensing policy are named advocacy priorities on the site.
On education, the ABC Institute (wetrain.org) is the chapter’s apprenticeship arm. Dyga has publicly pointed to the Institute’s 50-year legacy and to nearly half a million open construction jobs nationwide as the case for debt-free trades training; the chapter graduated a 2026 apprentice class and recently renovated its flagship education center.
Leadership
Peter Dyga has served as President and CEO for more than 14 years and recertified as a Certified Association Executive in 2026; the chapter’s board chairman, Brian Sudduth, credited him with expanding workforce development and apprenticeship programs and strengthening the chapter’s advocacy role from Key West to Brevard County. Chief Operating Officer Sonny Maken co-hosts the chapter’s podcast with Dyga and was featured in a CityBiz leadership Q&A in March 2026.
Where It Sits in Florida
ABC-FEC is one of five ABC chapters in the state. ABC of Florida is governed by a board drawn from the Central Florida, East Coast, First Coast, Gulf Coast and North Florida chapters, and employs a full-time lobbying team during the legislative session. ABC-FEC’s coastal territory gives it the densest concentration of high-rise, healthcare and hospitality work in the state, which is reflected in its 2026 business-partner roster: Moss, Brasfield & Gorrie, Cemex, Supermix, Milwaukee Tool and construction-law firm Smith Currie Oles among them.
Membership has grown from 520 members in 2018 to 564 in 2025 — modest growth for a period in which South Florida construction spending roughly doubled, which says the chapter’s value is depth of engagement rather than headcount.
Brian’s Take
ABC-FEC is one of the few institutions in South Florida with a real seat at the table on the two issues that will decide the region’s construction economy over the next five years: labor supply and immigration enforcement. Its apprenticeship college is the tangible asset; the advocacy operation is the political one. Both are unusually well-developed for a chapter of its size.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the merit-shop philosophy? Awarding construction contracts on qualifications, safety record and price rather than union affiliation. ABC chapters advocate for open competition on public and private projects.
Who can join ABC Florida East Coast? General contractors, specialty contractors, suppliers, developers and professional-services firms operating in the chapter’s coastal territory.
Does ABC-FEC train apprentices? Yes, through the ABC Institute, a registered apprenticeship program with a flagship education center in Broward County.
Is ABC-FEC the same as ABC of Florida? No. ABC of Florida is the statewide umbrella coordinating five regional chapters; ABC-FEC is the east-coast chapter.
How large is the chapter? 564 members as of 2025, about three-quarters of them contractors.
ABC East Coast Articles — FL Business Press Releases
1. ABC East Coast Leader in South Florida Construction Education
July 13, 2026
ABC East Coast positions itself as South Florida’s premier construction education provider, offering OSHA 30 certification, foreman training, and apprenticeships across electrical and plumbing trades. The earn-while-you-learn model connects students directly to employers through the Associated Builders and Contractors network, delivering credentials without student debt.
2. Building the Future: How ABC-FEC is Transforming South Florida Development
April 10, 2026
Associated Builders and Contractors Florida East Coast Chapter advances regional development through specialized construction and masonry training, NCCER Construction Foreman credentials, advocacy, and risk management support including surety bonds. Operating from Coconut Creek, ABC-FEC positions itself as essential infrastructure for South Florida real estate developers.
3. Construction Apprenticeship Training South Fl
July 10, 2025
ABC Florida East Coast Chapter’s Coconut Creek apprenticeship program blends classroom instruction with paid on-the-job experience in electrical, plumbing, and carpentry trades. The earn-while-you-learn structure adds OSHA safety certification and professional development, preparing graduates for durable careers in South Florida’s rapidly expanding commercial construction industry.
4. South Florida Construction Training ABC East Coast
June 5, 2025
Headquartered in Coconut Creek, ABC Florida East Coast Chapter delivers apprenticeships, safety training, and certifications covering OSHA standards, building codes, and project management. With more than 2,500 Florida members, the chapter addresses labor shortages and compliance challenges across Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and surrounding regional markets.
5. Construction Training School in South Florida ABC East Coast
December 10, 2024
ABC East Coast’s vocational programs prepare students for South Florida’s commercial construction market through hands-on instruction in blueprint reading, safety protocols, and project management. Graduates move into contractor, project manager, and ownership roles, supported by job placement assistance, industry certifications, networking, and minimal student debt.
6. South Fl Construction Training | ABC East Coast
May 22, 2024
Announcing new Miami-based training programs, ABC East Coast targets South Florida’s shortage of skilled construction professionals with flexible courses spanning safety protocols, blueprint reading, and project management. The organization also operates as a trade association hub, hosting networking events and coordinating employer job placement partnerships.
7. South Fl Construction Certification Training ABC East Coast
September 17, 2023
This release profiles ABC East Florida, an Associated Builders and Contractors chapter offering apprenticeships, safety training, and certification courses. Coverage extends to networking events, legislative advocacy, industry awards, leadership development, mentorship, technology adoption, environmental stewardship, and community engagement across the South Florida commercial construction sector.
8. ABC East Coast Meeting the Demand for South Fl Commercial Construction Workers
August 8, 2023
South Florida’s building boom has outpaced the supply of carpenters, electricians, and plumbers across Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach. The article ties demand to population growth, tourism, and hurricane resilience, and points to apprenticeships, vocational training, and ABC workforce advocacy as practical solutions.
9. ABC East Coast South Florida Construction School
April 27, 2023
A practical guide to becoming a certified construction worker in Miami: candidates must be eighteen, English-fluent, physically capable, and legally work-authorized. The path covers approved training programs, field experience, exams, and licensing, plus OSHA safety training and fourteen hours of continuing education every two years.
Note: Building a Stronger South Florida: How Four Industry Leaders Are Shaping the Region’s Future (Feb 10, 2026) mentions ABC-FEC alongside three other companies but isn’t a dedicated ABC article — say the word if you want it folded in.
Sources and Further Reading
- FL Business Press Releases — site search: “ABC East Coast”
- ABC East Coast Leader in South Florida Construction Education
- Building the Future: How ABC-FEC is Transforming South Florida Development
- Construction Apprenticeship Training South Fl
- South Florida Construction Training ABC East Coast
- Construction Training School in South Florida ABC East Coast
- South Fl Construction Training | ABC East Coast
- South Fl Construction Certification Training ABC East Coast
- ABC East Coast Meeting the Demand for South Fl Commercial Construction Workers
- ABC East Coast South Florida Construction School
- ABC Florida East Coast Chapter — abceastflorida.com (home and About pages, accessed Sept. 10, 2026)
- CityBiz — “ABC Florida East Coast President and CEO Peter Dyga Earns Recertification as Certified Association Executive,” April 13, 2026
- ABC of Florida — abcflorida.com, chapter directory
- Florida Politics — “Associated Builders and Contractors names new Director of Government and Political Affairs,” Aug. 21, 2023
- CityBuzz South Florida — 2018 and 2021 Board of Directors announcements
- ABC Institute — wetrain.org
