CNC Programming + Operation
Tom Pupo
Executive Director
Executive Director | Moonlighter FabLab
Tom is a designer, maker, entrepreneur, and educator. He has taught architectural design at FIU College of Architecture and the Arts, Maker Cities, an interdisciplinary course at The Honors College at FIU, and Reimagining Cities for The Idea Center at Miami Dade College. His focus is on the democratization and accessibility of tools, skills, and opportunities to empower the community to build a better future. Tom has an M.Arch and an MAA from Florida International University.
Daisy Nodal
Education Director
Director | Moonlighter FabLab
Daisy is a designer, founder, maker, and educator. As Director of education for Moonlighter fab lab, she develops curriculum for various programs including Fairchild Innovation Studio maker workshops, Bass Museum STEAM sessions, and hands-on activities for LATE at Frost Science Museum. She has spoken at the Atlantic City Lab conference and the Nation of Makers convening at the White House OSTP. Daisy has an M.Arch. and an MAA from Florida International University.
Mario Cruz
Technology Director
Director | Watsco Ventures
Mario Cruz is an accomplished technologist, entrepreneur, investor, and musician. Currently serving as a Director at Watsco Ventures, he has worked in a variety of executive capacities including serving as Head of Product Development at Viggle from 2014-2015, CTO of Choose Digital from 2011-2014, CTO of Grass Roots America from 2009-2011, CIO of Rewards Network from 2001-2009, Director of Technology Infrastructure at Hotel Works from 1998-2001 and Senior Engineer at Executive Data Systems from 1994-1998.
Mario also excelled as an entrepreneur in 2011, when he Co-Founded Choose Digital which was later acquired by Viggle in 2014. His success is a product of over 19 years of experience and growing expertise in Cloud, Security, IoT, DevOps technology, and operations solutions for various industries including digital media, loyalty, SaaS, financial services, airlines, and Fortune 100 corporations.
His work has earned him many honors including the CIO Impact Award for Cloud Computing and the CIO Impact Best-In-Class Award from Frost & Sullivan, the Techweek100 Award from techweek.com, and the 2009-2010 CIO of the Year Award from the South Florida Business Journal. He has also been awarded Patents in 2011 and 2007 for two technologies he co-invented.
Mario is passionately committed to building community by producing the Miami Maker Faire and creating positive change through his work as a mentor at MentorDay, Venture Hive, StartUp FIU, StartUp Weekend, and for various tech start-ups. He has spoken at the Jenkins User Conference, Dev Ops Days Conference, DockerCon, Sime Miami, and Google Startup Grind. He also regularly hosts MeetUps for Docker, DevOps, and Raspberry Pi open-source electronics, as well as actively writing OpEds in The Miami Herald to discuss topics in Technology, Entrepreneurship, and Making.
When he is not working or engaging the community, you’ll find Mario playing the drums for his band, Switch, or creating a new maker/electronics project with his kids at Moonlighter.
Abbey Chase
Marketing Director
President + CEO | Chase Marketing Group
A native Miamian, Abbey Chase has been a community activist and involved in Miami’s business and arts community for over thirty years. From 1984-1994, she played a key role in the founding of The Beacon Council, Miami-Dade’s county-wide economic development organization, building expertise in strategic planning, development, production of marketing collaterals, management of media relations, meetings and special events. Her greatest accomplishment was helping raise $1 million dollars to the donor base for the organization.