Our success would not be possible without the support of our staff and board members.

WRTP | BIG STEP is industry-led, worker-centered and community-focused. Our mission is to enhance the ability of private sector organizations to recruit and develop a more diverse, qualified workforce in construction, manufacturing and emerging sectors of the regional economy.

  • Pat Stiff – Co-Chair
    WEC Energy Group: Business Services, Power Generation Business Unit, & Vice President, Coal & Cogeneration

    Anthony Rainey – Co-Chair
    United Autoworkers, Region 4 UAW:
    Servicing Representative

    Ross Winklbauer – Secretary/Treasurer Ex-Officio
    United Steelworkers District 2:
    Sub-District Director

    Dan Bukiewicz – Secretary
    Milwaukee Building and Construction Trades Council:
    President

    Robert Rayburn – Treasurer
    National Electrical Contractors Association – Milwaukee Chapter:
    Executive Vice President

    Grahm Ault – Director
    Harley-Davidson Motor Company:
    Director, Labor & Employee Relations

    Scott Bartz – Director
    S.M.A.R.T Local 18:
    V.P/ Business Representative – Madison / Janesville

    Stephanie Bloomingdale – Director
    Wisconsin State AFL-CIO:
    President

  • Steve Breitlow – Director
    Plumbers Local 75:
    Business Manager

    Mike Follett – Director
    IBEW Local Union 2150:
    Business Manager

    Henry Hurt – Director
    Hurt Electric Inc.:
    Owner

    Nathan Jurowski – Director
    Building Advantage:
    Executive Director

    Mark Kessenich – Director
    Associated General Contractors of Greater Milwaukee:
    CEO

    Jonathan Kowalski – Director
    Plumbing and Sheet Metal Contractor’s Alliance:
    Executive Director

    Jeannie Lauret – Director
    Duwemetal:
    CEO/President

    Tony Neira – Director
    Laborers International Union of North America Local 113:
    Business Manager

WRTP | BIG STEP

WRTP | BIG STEP is a 501(c)3 nonprofit workforce intermediary dedicated to connecting people to family-sustaining jobs.

Our mission is to enhance the ability of public and private sector organizations to recruit, develop, and retain a more diverse, qualified workforce in construction, manufacturing and emerging sectors of the regional economy.

WRTP was initially created to renew our traditional industrial base in the Milwaukee area during the 1990s. The recovery of manufacturing, retirement of an aging workforce, and diversification of the regional economy created a growing skills shortage by the end of the decade. In response to this threat to economic growth and prosperity, we created our successful model of pre-employment training for job seekers to qualify for family-sustaining jobs in the industrial sector.

Supported by public, private, and philanthropic investments, WRTP | BIG STEP’s mission is to assist economically disadvantaged minorities, women, and youth (primarily from the central-city) develop the skills needed to participate meaningfully in the workforce and share in the area economy while ensuring that member companies have the skilled workers needed to prosper and grow in a competitive global economy.

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN

  • 3841 W. Wisconsin Ave
    Milwaukee, WI 53208

  • (414) 342-9787

  • milwaukee@wrtp.org

  • Mon – Fri . 9:00 – 5:00

SOUTH EASTERN, WISCONSIN

  • 1001 S Main Street Room T-217
    Racine, WI 53403

  • (262) 619-6560

  • southeastern@wrtp.org

  • Mon – Fri . 9:00 – 5:00

SOUTH CENTRAL, WISCONSIN
ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA

  • 175 Aurora Ave
    St. Paul, MN 55016

  • (651) 335-2896

  • minnesota@wrtp.org

  • Mon – Fri . 9:00 – 5:00