Robert Artley and Zacharias Smith have similar stories: Both came to WRTP | BIG STEP as veterans after falling on hard times, and both found themselves job-hopping with little success, lacking confidence, and looking for support that could lead them back to family-supporting careers. They got the support they needed when the Center for
Isaias Cisneros is a second-generation Mexican American born in Brooklyn, New York and raised in Madison, Wisconsin. He enjoys music, art, physical activity, and practicing his faith. Before enrolling in WRTP | BIG STEP, Isaias worked at Kwik Trip but felt unfulfilled in his job. Isaias learned about WRTP | BIG
Jessica Lazo Figueroa, 17 years old and a senior at Madison East High School, is a Youth Apprentice through the Madison Metropolitan School District. Growing up, she always wanted a career in construction, but did not have much knowledge about it or know where to begin. She heard about WRTP | BIG STEP through
José Garcia is a union journey worker carpenter and the father of nine children. His journey to and through the skilled trades held many challenges, but it ultimately fulfilled his dreams. When José first learned of WRTP | BIG STEP, he had recently returned from incarceration and was struggling to find a job due
My name is Justin Hirsch. I’m 31 years old and a father of three beautiful children. I enjoy spending time with family, fishing, boating, and camping. In my early teenage years, I struggled on and off with drug addiction; this led to me being a felon in my early twenties, which made it hard
Gabriel Gniot graduated from WRTP | BIG STEP’s Entry Level Construction Skills (ELCS) program in 2022 and is currently a carpenter apprentice with Selzer-Ornst. From a young age, he always had a passion for working with his hands and creating things. Initially, he had aspirations of becoming a civil engineer, but later discovered
As first published by Molly Snyder, OnMilwaukee.com. Milwaukee is revered as a “working class” city and a local, not-for-profit organization called WRTP | BIG STEP strives to ensure it remains that way. WRTP | BIG STEP is a Wisconsin-based training partnership and skilled trades employment program. The group’s mission is to – pun intended –
The First Step to a Career in the Skilled Trades Learn About: Occupations and career pathways within the construction skilled trades Our service offerings, including: one on one tutoring to assist with apprenticeship tests, industry interview prep, and industry recognized credential pre apprenticeship trainings
WRTP | BIG STEP Hosts Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh in Milwaukee Stop of American Job Plan Tour
As posted in Milwaukee Courier The nation’s economy took a hit when the pandemic began, and Milwaukee was no exception. The federal government is hopeful that the American Rescue Plan Act will help give cities the boost they need to get their economies rolling. Mayor Tom Barrett is submitting a proposal to the Common
