When Felipe Irizarry celebrated his 31st birthday the week of his graduation, it marked a turning point in his life. A father who had been sober for two years, Felipe decided to pursue a future in the building trades to create more stability for his family. Like many apprenticeship opportunities in Wisconsin, entry into
Source: Racine County Eye As the Racine Community Foundation (RCF) celebrates 50 years of service, countless stories highlight what happens when a community invests in its people. Across Racine County, organizations are helping girls discover their confidence, young adults find meaningful careers, and families facing hardship feel supported and seen. Together, they show how nurturing potential—at
Source: Wisconsin Policy Forum Our July 2025 report, Mastering Apprenticeships, found that the number of people employed as registered apprentices in Wisconsin reached an all-time high in 2024, but that participation varied considerably by occupation and county. That was welcome news given employers in the state continue to report struggles to find needed workers in many
WRTP | BIG STEP expands into northern Wisconsin, marking the start of serving communities statewide.
MILWAUKEE, WI (October 27, 2025) —Lindsay Blumer, president and CEO of WRTP | BIG STEP, has been selected as a Wisconsin Titan 100 for the second year in a row. The Titan 100 program recognizes 100 Wisconsin CEOs and C-level executives who demonstrate exceptional leadership, vision and passion. “I’m honored to receive a 2026
Despite having prior experience in construction, Russell Pawelko was looking for additional knowledge to level up from working a job to starting a career. While on probation, Russell’s parole officer recommended WRTP | BIG STEP and the union trades. Russell came to our Racine office and learned about what the unions had to offer.
WRTP | BIG STEP’s Entry-Level Construction Skills certified pre-apprenticeship training provides credentials and hands-on experience to connect individuals to careers in construction. In partnership with Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) and Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC), this incentivized program focuses on the water and sewer sector, preparing participants for apprenticeships in the trades with
Milwaukee Training Center Naming, Renovation Honors Wisconsin’s First Black Apprentice $1.5 million renovation of WRTP | BIG STEP’s Milwaukee office unveiled at 50th anniversary gala MILWAUKEE, WIS. (10/1/2025) — The Milwaukee training center for the Wisconsin Regional Training Partnership | Building Industry Group Skilled Trade Employment Program (WRTP | BIG STEP) has a new
Celebrating 50 years is no small feat, and we are eternally grateful for our partners, collaborators, and sponsors. Thanks to our staff, participants, government officials, union partners, employers, CBOs, and supporters, we have been able to reach an incredible number of people across Wisconsin in our mission to introduce the trades as a valuable
Hear how the Highway Construction Skills Training (HCST) Program in Racine, WI, helped Gregory step into a career in the skilled trades. WRTP | BIG STEP and our partners are providing individuals with the skills and training they need to meet the expectations of employers for family-sustaining careers.
