WELCOME TO THE 3RD EDITION OF THE

WRTP | BIG STEP INDUSTRY PARTNER NEWSLETTER!

We are excited to share our latest news and updates with you and to highlight the impactful work that we are doing together.

WRTP | BIG STEP is a nonprofit workforce intermediary organization that provides comprehensive pre-apprenticeship readiness training, career navigation services, and job placement in Wisconsin's manufacturing, construction, transportation, broadband, and green energy sectors. We work collaboratively with sectoral partnerships to support equitable career pathways, offer ongoing retention and follow-up services, and advocate for infrastructure work.

MILWAUKEE UPDATE

SUCCESS STORY

The first cohort of the DOA – Equitable Recovery Grant started May 15, 2023 and ended in September of 2023. For the first cohort, we hosted 3 official information sessions and several one-on-one sessions and recruited 22 potential candidates. We ultimately enrolled 7 students, and 4 successfully completed the program.

The second cohort started September 11, 2023, and is scheduled to end December 22, 2023. For the second cohort, we hosted 3 official information sessions and several one-on-one sessions and recruited 32 potential candidates. We ultimately enrolled 10 students, and we are confident that 9 will successfully complete the program.

WANTO SUCCESS STORY

One shining example of success in the WANTO program is Carshella Porter, a determined single mother of two. Upon completion of the RPP (Residential Preference Program) Certification in March 2022, Carshella continued working on her career aspirations and enrolled in our Entry-Level Construction Skills Training (ELCS) class from April to May 2022. She earned industry-recognized credentials, including OSHA certification, First Aid training, a CDL permit, and more. In March 2023, she continued her journey as a Laborer Apprentice with Mortenson.

To support Carshella in her apprenticeship, through WANTO, we provided her with essential resources, including composite toe boots, uniforms, tools, a reflective jacket, and transportation support through gas cards.

Carshella Porter's story epitomizes the transformative impact of our programs and the determination of our participants. Through hard work and dedication, she has become a role model for those aspiring to nontraditional occupations. We are immensely proud of her achievements and the strides she has made both personally and professionally.

CHEERS TO CAREERS 2023

Cheers to Careers 2023 was a roaring success, thanks to our sponsors and celebrity bartending teams! Our mission to recruit, develop, and retain a more diverse and qualified workforce would not be possible without the generosity and enthusiasm of our guests. We would also like to thank The Ivy House for providing a beautiful venue for this essential fundraiser. We look forward to continuing this pursuit with your support.

CHEERS TO CAREERS COCKTAIL SPONSORS

CHEERS TO CAREERS BARTENDER EXTRAORDINAIRE SPONSORS

CELEBRITY BARTENDING TEAMS

Alicia Dupies

Mady Less

Benjamin Trubach

Randy Kisley

Tim Kroll

Baltazar De Anda Santana Lilia Paz

Veronica Castillo

Jorge Aguilar

Marten Mahan

Brianne Stewert

Jason Ruetz

Kimm Hansen

Jose Ornelus

Jaclyn Weitzel

Scott Wollenzein

COMPANY SPONSORS

Building Advantage

Klein-Dickert Milwaukee, Inc.

Gilbane Building Company

JP Cullen

Latino Academy of Workforce Development

Duwe Metal Product Inc.

Wisconsin Laborers District Council

Harley Davidson

USA Fire Protection

CG Schmidt

Hurt Electric

IBEW/NECA

International Union of Painters and Allied Trades DC7

Milwaukee Tool

Northwestern Mutual

VJS Construction Services

UA Local 118

United Steelworkers District 7: Sub-District 7

Associated General Contractors of Greater Milwaukee

Construction Resources Management

Heat and Frost Insulators Local 19

International Union UAW Wisconsin State Cap Council

Iron Workers Local #8

Milwaukee Building & Construction Trades Council, AFL-CIO

North Central States Regional Council of Carpentry

United Auto Workers Region 4

Construction and General Laborers No.464

PNC Bank

PMC/SMACCA

Mortenson

Wisconsin Building Trades Council

INDIVIDUAL SPONSORS

Brenda King

Casey Morgenson

Charlotte Cannon-Sain

Eileen Kursel

Erin Stampfl

Grace Foley

John Major

Kathy Pertl

Keith Saeger

Kidia Burns

Kristin Dufek

Mark Miller

Matt Waltz

Mike Stern

John Ferguson

Ryan Goerres

Ryan Leonhardt

Sadhna Lindvall

Stephanie Bloomingdale

Stephanie Johnston

Tracy Suber

Brenda Boyd

Emily Hurd

Holly McCoy

Joseph Nicosia

Michael Testolin

Pam Fendt

Stephanie Moreno

Vi Hammelman

Karen DeVos

Ivan Herrada

Heather Yoplac

Madeline Burke

Jelaqua Tucker

Jill Didier

Robyn Schultz

The Boldt Company

John Miceli

RACINE UPDATE

SUCCESS STORY

Iridian Ayala began her journey with WRTP | BIG STEP in June 2023. She went above and beyond, completing the Apprenticeship Readiness program and RWP certification in less than a week, as well as completing 7 weeks of construction training with perfect attendance. During her training, she assisted classmates with their homework assignments and engaged in all of the hands-on opportunities presented to her. She is currently applying with contractors affiliated with the Carpenters Union so that she can begin an apprenticeship.

Iridian has met with multiple contractors during the construction training course and will attend the Department of Transportation’s DBE event in February. There, she will represent WRTP | BIG STEP and network with DOT contractors from across the state. With her training, experience, and great attitude, we are looking forward to great things from Iridian.

SUMMER TRADES ACADEMY 2023

With 45 - 65% of the current Union Construction Trades Labor force nearing retirement, the construction sector seriously needs a revitalization in its workforce. SE WRTP | BIG STEP has taken initiative to nurture talent from Racine and Kenosha with a program called the Youth Summer Trades Academy. This program exposes youth from local high schools to various trades in the construction industry. The first Youth Summer Trades Academy in June 2023 brought students from Case High School, Park High School, and Waterford Union High School to various Union Trade Halls around Greater Milwaukee.

Many thanks go out to youth apprenticeship coordinators, counselors, staff and administrators from the Racine Unified School District (RUSD) and the Kenosha Unified School District (KUSD) for allowing SE WRTP | BIG STEP to bring awareness to professions in the trades.

Participants walked away from the Youth Summer Trades Academy with a great deal of information about various union trades and how registered apprenticeships work. Through this experience, several of the participants identified their own calling within the trades.

Given the enthusiasm of this year’s participants, SE WRTP | BIG STEP commits to continuing with the Youth Summer Trades Academy in the future to reach more youth and enrich the community’s and country’s workforce.

INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIPS & WORKFORCE ENGAGEMENT

SOUTHEAST WISCONSIN

CG Schmidt has been a reliable and long-standing industry partner with Southeast WRTP | BIG STEP, providing valuable industry-led guidance to the participants and graduates of WRTP | BIG STEP’s Certified Pre-Apprenticeship program and the Highway Construction Training Skills (HCST) program. The HCST, sponsored by the Department of Transportation, is an initiative to create a pipeline of ready-to-go apprentices to fill the many needed positions in the road construction sector.

October 9, 2023 – Breakwater Construction Site Tour with CG Schmidt Construction

Steve Flores, a Senior Project Manager for SG Schmidt, provided the HCST Trainees with a guided tour of the Breakwater construction project located in downtown Racine. Trainees were provided the opportunity to witness the various skilled trades workers in action, ask each of them questions about why they chose this trade, and have them share insights about their apprenticeship journey.

RACINE WORKS PROGRAM

As the Racine Works Program's certifying agency, WRTP | BIG STEP assists contractors and residents in making the most of this opportunity. Together, we empower more of Racine's residents with gainful employment opportunities in area construction projects.

CHECK OUT OUR 2023 REPORT

MADISON UPDATE

MADISON SUCCESS STORY: DERRICK POWE

We are thrilled to share the inspiring success story of one of our former students, Derrick Powe. With our support, he was able to overcome personal challenges and is now flourishing in his second year of the sheet metal apprenticeship program.

Derrick is a justice-impacted individual who participated in our Entry-Level Construction Skills program. He quickly proved himself to be dedicated and hardworking. Throughout our training, he exhibited exemplary performance in his coursework, demonstrating a genuine passion for sheet metal work and welding. His commitment to self-improvement translated into consistent attendance, a positive attitude, and a willingness to learn. His journey serves as a testament to the transformative power of education, mentorship, and a supportive community.

NATIONAL APPRENTICESHIP WEEK

In partnership with the Building Trades Council, we were honored to host Governor Tony Evers at our Apprenticeship Career Day & Fair in Madison, where he made the exciting announcement that the Wisconsin Registered Apprenticeship Program has reached 16,384 enrolled apprentices—a record high in the program’s 112-year history!

We saw a grand total of 298 attendees, which included 260 high school students from 10 area high schools and an additional 38 community members. We feel fortunate to be one of the many organizations helping pave the way for Wisconsinites looking for family-sustaining careers in the trades.

TRAINING & EVENTS

We completed a standalone OSHA 30 cohort on October 27 for interested and current Registered Apprentices needing to either obtain or renew their certifications. Eighteen participants successfully completed and received their credentials.

On November 6, we began our pilot Pre-Apprenticeship training for high school students in partnership with the Boys and Girls Club of Dane County and the Latino Academy. We have 12 students actively participating in the MC3 curriculum and hands-on instruction. Upon successful completion, one high school senior will be chosen for an apprenticeship opportunity with Boldt Construction, beginning their career. We are also instructing 12 middle school students through the Construction Soft Skills portion of BGCDC’s Essential Workplace Soft Skills program.

We continuously receive referrals from our training partner Operation Fresh Start. We provide construction industry awareness, education, Accuplacer testing services, and job placement services.

At the NAW Career Fair on November 14, we had 298 attendees from 10 area high schools. There were 20 hands-on booths with representation from area construction trade unions, employers, and community resources. Keynote speeches were provided by WI Apprenticeship Director David Polk, DWD secretary Amy Pechacek, South Central BIG STEP graduate David Arias, and guest of honor, Governor Evers.

COMING UP NEXT FOR WRTP | BIG STEP SOUTH CENTRAL

Diversity in Construction Career Fair

Tuesday, February 6, 11 AM - 3 PM

Location TBD

Women in the Trades Career Fair

Tuesday, March 5, 11 AM - 3 PM

Location TBD

COMMUNITY OUTREACH

MILWAUKEE

FIRST SOURCE CONSTRUCTION HIRING EVENT

The recent hiring event, hosted by Employ Milwaukee, proved to be a remarkable success. The attendees, consisting predominantly of BIPOC young men, arrived well-prepared and eager to gather all available resource information to secure employment. Our team, comprising of Franzetta, Jackie, and Joan, collectively referred to as the “DREAM TEAM”, were elated to witness the high turnout of job seekers interested in construction work for the city. This development offers great promise as these individuals will require RPP certification to work with employers who have upcoming projects with the city, fulfilling the requirement of their contracts that 30-40% of their workforce must be Milwaukee residents.

During the event, our team emphasized that now is the opportune time to prepare for construction work by attending our orientations. This will provide them with a comprehensive understanding of all trades and enable them to find their area of interest. For those disinterested in attending an orientation but still determined to work in construction, Franzetta and Joan provided information on RPP certification.

The hiring event proved instrumental in connecting job seekers and partners such as Jeff, Fred, and Vi from Employ Milwaukee and other organizations that provide community services. Our collective efforts hold promise in bringing about positive economic change for the individuals served.

In conclusion, the First Source Construction hiring event was a resounding success, and we are optimistic about the future of these job seekers and the city's economy.

RACINE

GROW RACINE

Mayor Mason launched a new campaign, website, and scholarship fund to

help Racine residents connect to city resources and transform their futures. The Growing Residents’ Opportunities and Wealth (GROW) Racine initiative is run by the mayor’s office and provides residents with access to key resources to help them earn high school degrees, pursue family-supporting jobs in the trades, become homeowners, and more.

Lindsay Blumer, President & CEO of WRTP | BIG STEP, said, “We are proud of our collaborative work with the City of Racine and Mayor Mason in creating

equitable ways for city residents to access quality training opportunities that

lead directly to family-sustaining wage careers. In developing this innovative

scholarship program, we are focusing on what truly matters—learners who are diligently working toward a life-changing career—which exponentially increases positive impact for families in our community.”

Included in these resources are two new tracks of scholarships announced by Mayor Mason. Racine residents will now be eligible for up to $1,500 scholarships to support them in earning their high school degree through:

The YWCA SEW’s 5.09 High School Equivalency Degree (HSED) program
The Racine Family YMCA’s First Choice Pre-Apprenticeship program
WRTP | BIG STEP Southeast Wisconsin’s Roadbuilding Training program

The scholarships provided through this initiative will assist underserved

communities in training for well-paying careers in the construction industry.

RACINE PARTY ON THE PAVEMENT

It was a pleasure to partner with Dynamic Workforce Solutions at our Party on the Pavement outreach event this past September in Racine! Thank you to everyone who attended and the staff who made it possible, including Milton Chitatariso, John Anderson, and Alonzo Payne at DWFS.