NOW AVAILABLE! The Full Conversation on the Future of Wisconsin’s Talent Pipeline Source: Milwaukee Workforce Hub The Milwaukee Workforce Hub is pleased to release the full interview between WRTP | BIG STEP President & CEO Lindsay Blumer and Wisconsin Policy Forum President Jason Stein and Research Director Joe Peterangelo. This wide-ranging conversation, recorded over
WRTP | BIG STEP President & CEO Lindsay Blumer was featured on Workforce on the Mic, presented by the National Association of Workforce Development Professionals (NAWDP). In the episode, “A BIG STEP Forward: Preparing Talent for Apprenticeship Success,” Lindsay discusses the importance of apprentice readiness in today’s climate with Alexis Franks, Director of Membership
MILWAUKEE, WI (January 21, 2026) – The Wisconsin Regional Training Partnership | Building Industry Group Skilled Trades Employment Program (WRTP | BIG STEP) has been awarded a Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations (WANTO) grant from the U.S. Department of Labor to train Wisconsin women for family-sustaining careers as commercial drivers and union skilled tradesworkers.The
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
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
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
As originally published by The TechEd Podcast. Workforce systems are often fragmented—built around short-term funding, disconnected programs, and a lack of coordination between industry, education, and community. But a different model is taking shape—one that’s not only working in practice, but has the potential to scale across states and regions. In this episode of The
WUWM 89.7 FM - Wisconsin apprenticeship program participation reached a record high in 2024, report finds WUWM 89.7 FM Lake Effect’s Joy Powers spoke with Joe Peterangelo, research director for the Wisconsin Policy Forum, about the recent report on Wisconsin’s apprenticeships and preparation of skilled workers. WRTP | BIG STEP provided data regarding pre-apprenticeship
