Elected Officials Back ABC-FEC’s Launch of VR Training

In a powerful show of support for workforce development innovation, State Representative for District 95 Christine Hunschofsky, her legislative assistant Linda Beaumont, Coconut Creek Commissioner Sandy Welch, and Casey Norland, representing State Representative for District 96 Dan Daley,  attended the signing and MOU for a groundbreaking partnership between ABC Florida East Coast (ABC-FEC) and Uplift Training.

Their presence underscored how significant this partnership is for workforce development innovation. While the agreement itself is between two private organizations, the attendance of elected officials highlighted the public importance of advancing new, technology-driven pathways to prepare Florida’s construction workforce for the future.

During the ceremony, ABC-FEC President & CEO Peter Dyga signed on behalf of the chapter, while Uplift Training CEO Josh Hanes represented Uplift. Together, they launched ABC Labs, a virtual reality (VR) training platform designed to revolutionize apprenticeship education by expanding access to hands-on learning across Florida’s 13 campuses.

The partnership marks a bold step toward a more scalable, tech-driven future in skilled trades education, which will strengthen Florida’s construction workforce for decades to come.

ABC-FEC President & CEO Peter Dyga signed on behalf of the chapter, while Uplift Training CEO Josh Hanes represented Project Uplift

Back Row: Kerry Hanes, Uplift Training; Emily Higgins, Uplift Training; Joe Young, Chariman of the ABCI Board; Sandy Welch, Coconut Creek Commissioner; Rudy Llerena, Board Member for ABCI; Christine Hunschofsky, State Representative, District 95; Alberto Altamiranda, ABCI’s Director of Education; Mark McLaughlin, Co-Chariman at Uplift Training; Sam WIlcox, Board Member for ABCI. Front Row: Josh Hanes, Uplift Training CEO; Peter Dyga, ABC-FEC President & CEO.