Speakers

Indianapolis
May 5-7

Peter Comstock

Peter Comstock Senior Director of Legislative Affairs , ABC National

Peter Comstock is senior director of legislative affairs for ABC, focusing on federal government issues related to workforce, education, immigration and health care. Prior to his role at ABC, he worked for nearly 10 years for several members of Congress in the House and Senate, most recently as deputy chief of staff and director of policy for Rep. French Hill (R-Arkansas).

Katy Driver

Katy Driver Director of Membership Development , ABC National

Katy Driver started her career with ABC as the Member Services Coordinator at the Greater Houston Chapter in 2011. She joined the national team in 2015 and serves as director of membership development, working with membership staff and chapters all across the country to grow the association and expand the merit shop.

Rebecca Gale

Rebecca Gale Communications Manager , ABC National

Rebecca Gale is the communications manager for ABC National, writing and editing news stories, emails and social media while staying on brand and on message. Gale helps chapters and members use ABC’s Brand Center for their own messaging and is a big believer in strategic writing and brand consistency. Before ABC, she managed marketing content for Fortune 500 companies as well as smaller, nonprofit organizations.

Erik Hanberg

Erik Hanberg has spent nearly 20 years leading nonprofits in marketing and fundraising and has served on boards and committees for more than a dozen organizations, several times during capital campaigns. Hanberg has written three books for nonprofits focusing on fundraising, social media and board governance. He has been hired to consult with the boards and staff of international and national nonprofits of all sizes.

Jackie Hudson

Jackie Hudson Senior Manager of Member Services , ABC of Georgia

As senior manager of member services for ABC of Georgia, Jackie Hudson’s responsibilities include recruitment and retention of chapter membership. She maintains company relationships within the association and ensures members make the most of their membership. With over seven years of commercial construction and real estate experience before joining ABC, Hudson brings a unique understanding of the construction industry to her role.

Michael Kobylka

Michael Kobylka Director of Chapter Development , ABC National

Michael Kobylka is the director of chapter development for ABC, working with its 69 chapters to enhance the member value proposition and ensure that ABC’s chapter structure remains high performing. He is a subject matter expert in strategy development, volunteer management, governance, political advocacy, nonprofit finance and membership development. Kobylka has served on numerous workforce development boards and commissions, including the National Institute for Metalworking Skills.

Timothy Mongeau

Timothy Mongeau Director of Workforce Development , ABC National

Timothy Mongeau, ABC director of workforce development, supports ABC’s 69-chapter network of more than 800 apprenticeship, craft, safety and construction management education programs. He brings more than 15 years’ experience designing and implementing construction education programs at Zachry Industrial and BE&K Construction Co. and has been a member of ABC and the NCCER workforce development and assessment committees for more than a decade.

Susan Ogle

Susan Ogle has been with White Lodging and IndyPlace Hotels for 11 years in a variety of sales roles. She leads a team booking group sales meetings and events into five properties composed of 2,284 guest rooms and over 150,000 square feet of meeting space. Her experience includes a number of other sales positions with hotels, convention centers and visitors bureaus.

Tia Perry

Tia Perry Director of Business Development and Partnerships , ABC National

Tia Perry is director of business development and partnerships at the Associated Builders and Contractors. Perry is passionate about diversity and inclusion, serving as staff liaison to ABC’s Inclusion, Diversity and Equity Committee, which provides support, leadership and direction to chapters and member companies to gain a competitive advantage through education, awareness and business practices. Perry also spearheads ABC’s Diversity Resource Groups and National Diversity Excellence Awards program.

Sue Peterson

Sue Peterson Director of Membership Development , ABC Southern California

Sue Peterson began her career with the Southern California chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors in 2006, and in 2017 was named director of membership development. Peterson directs and supervises the marketing and membership growth strategies of the chapter’s member services department. Throughout her 15 years with ABC, Peterson has claimed “Plan your work and work your plan” as her mantra for success.

Melanie Pfeiffenberger

Melanie Pfeiffenberger Director of Political Affairs , ABC National

Melanie Pfeiffenberger is ABC’s director of political affairs. Prior to joining ABC, she served as the executive director of the Republican Legislative Campaign Committee, the premiere national organization dedicated exclusively to electing more Republicans to state legislatures. She has experience working in fundraising, grassroots advocacy and local government. Melanie is a native Pennsylvanian and resides in Northern Virginia.

Laurie Richards

Laurie Richards President , Laurie Richards & Associates

Laurie Richards is a strategic communication professional and best-selling author who helps clients win new business, diminish conflict and improve everyday communications. Richards has worked with thousands of executives, and is known for her practical, interactive, strategic and highly effective approach. Her clients span the spectrum—from individuals to small business professionals, association leaders and Fortune 100 executives.

Joyce Russell

Joyce Russell Senior Director of Sales , Visit Indy

Joyce Russell is a nine-year veteran of Visit Indy, the official tourism arm of Indianapolis, and senior director of sales. She oversees six sales managers who book association and corporate meetings into the Indiana Convention Center/Lucas Oil Stadium and Indianapolis hotels. Russell spent 23 years in sales across the country with Starwood Hotels. She graduated from Ball State University with a political science degree.

Brian Sampson

Brian Sampson President , ABC Empire State

As president of Associated Builders and Contractors, Empire State Chapter, Brian Sampson is responsible for coordinating its political and policy agendas, advocating for reform in state government, and promoting the overall growth of the industry on behalf of the chapter’s more than 400 construction and contracting firms. Sampson was twice named to City & State’s Albany Power 100 and the Rochester Business Journal’s 40 under 40.

Douglas Sawyer

Douglas Sawyer Executive Vice President , ABC Southern California

Douglas Sawyer is executive vice president of ABC Southern California and is responsible for overseeing all operations of the chapter. He retired from the United States Air Force after serving 27 years and flying 76 combat missions over Vietnam. After working 17 years in aircraft avionics, Sawyer taught 14 subjects at Phillips College and was academic dean at Platt College, both in Riverside, California.

Greg Spenner

Greg Spenner President and CEO , ABC Iowa

Spenner is president and CEO of the ABC of Iowa. He has served on numerous ABC National committees and task forces. Spenner is the presidents’ liaison on the ABC National Craft Championships Committee, is a member of the National Chapter Development Committee and an emcee of the Careers in Construction awards ceremony, and conducts board orientations and facilitates strategic planning conferences for many ABC chapters.

Nick Steingart

Nick Steingart Manager of State and Local Affairs , ABC National

Nick Steingart is ABC’s manager of state and local affairs. He joined ABC in 2016 after two years at the Republican State Leadership Committee, working in both political and official capacities at the state legislative level. In the 2014 election cycle, Steingart worked on Oregon state legislative campaigns. Prior to that, he served the Florida House of Representatives in the office of bill drafting.

ABC Staff