Madison, April 27, 2026 — Associated Builders and Contractors of Wisconsin (ABC-WI) is proud to acknowledge the tremendous success of construction apprentices working across the state, during National Apprenticeship Week.
“Wisconsin apprentices consistently win national competitions and demonstrate the skill and strength of their training,” said Kelly Tourdot, President of ABC-WI. “We are proud to partner with schools, apprentices and their employers to produce a professional and highly skilled workforce.”
ABC trains more than 2,600 apprentices in 12 distinct trades. The program is a combination of classroom instruction and on-the-job training, completed in partnership with professional instructors and ABC member companies. Apprentices from the Wisconsin program compete each year at a state skills competition, and then state winners go on to compete nationally. In both 2025 and 2026, ABC Wisconsin apprentices won gold at the National Craft Championships, demonstrating the success of the training methods used in Wisconsin.
Owen Spitz, a carpentry apprentice at AMCS, Inc. in Milwaukee, is the latest apprentice to win gold at a national competition.
“It was such a cool opportunity to showcase what I’ve learned,” Spitz said, about the national competition. “It’s inspiring to watch people do such excellent work. I hope my work can inspire the next generation of apprentices.”
Spitz will complete his apprenticeship later this year, and will then further his career by providing leadership on some of his company’s jobsites, and helping to train the newer carpentry apprentices.
ABC-WI represents the merit approach to construction. This includes builders and contractors who value open competition, direct relationships between employees, supervisors and owners, and the ability for teams to cross train and upskill. Apprentices join the program in order to master their trade, and many appreciate the upward mobility available in a merit shop environment.
“80% of Wisconsin’s construction workforce chooses to work for companies who believe competition produces the best outcomes,” Tourdot explained. “ABC apprentices value that competitive element, and work hard to earn their way into management and ownership roles.”
For National Apprenticeship Week, ABC-WI will celebrate apprentices by telling their stories, promoting training opportunities, and encouraging the public to consider registered apprenticeship as a preferred path to construction careers.
