Lane Kimble

A Blast at the Ballpark: Annual Brewers Outing draws nearly 280 members

April 18, 2025 by Lane Kimble

MILWAUKEE — The buzz and laughter from good conversations paused briefly in the Northwestern Mutual Legends Club suite Wednesday afternoon.

WTBA members removed their hats, looked at the flag, and placed their hands over their hearts as a high school band played and a true legend–World War II veteran Ed Miklavcic–sang along to the National Anthem.

Moments later Miklavcic, the second-oldest Pearl Harbor survivor at 105 years old, would throw out the ceremonial first pitch; a powerful reminder that we’re all part of something bigger than any one of us.

Pretty impressive and fitting way to set the stage for one of WTBA’s most popular and diversely attended events.

From there, the laughter and joy returned, with nearly 280 members enjoying the Annual Brewers Outing at American Family Field. A 5-1 win over the Tigers certainly helped with the festive mood, but this event was more than just a chance to enjoy America’s Pastime.

Click HERE to view the Brewers Outing photo gallery!

There were asphalt guys giving high fives to concrete pavers, industry veterans drawing in up-and-coming project managers with hilarious stories and decades of wisdom, and sales reps–competitors on any given day–toasting to each other over an ice cold beer.

Doesn’t get any better than that. OK, except for Sal Frelick blasting his first homer of the year and giving the credit and honor to Miklavcic. Cool stuff.

Enjoy a few snapshots from the day HERE and thank you to all who made this event a memorable one!

WTBA’s Baas stresses importance of transportation, funding on Milwaukee to Madison “City Exchange”

April 11, 2025 by Lane Kimble

MADISON, Wis. — As the coach bus rolled smoothly westbound on I-94 Thursday morning, Steve Baas pondered the analogy he was about to deliver to the group riding on it, hoping they understood its weight.

“In a lot of ways, (roads are) like gravity,” Baas said. “It’s really, really easy to take for granted but you ignore it at your own peril. And without it you are completely screwed.”

Indeed, the only direct and practical way the 35 leaders would make their way from Milwaukee to Madison was on the interstate freeway designed, built, and maintained by WTBA members.

The journey Thursday was the latest “City Exchange” day for The Hoan Group; an independent organization that connects up-and-coming business and community leaders in Milwaukee and Madison.

While the group’s overall mission on this trip was to learn about real estate and housing challenges in both communities, Baas–WTBA’s Executive Director–reminded them of a key tenet through another good analogy.

“The growth of this corridor… and the connections between Milwaukee and Madison are dependent on the road you are driving on right now,” Baas said. “This is the artery that feeds all the capillaries of economic growth in Waukesha, Dane, Jefferson and Milwaukee counties.”

The Hoan Group includes people involved in commercial and residential development, construction, banking, and communications. President Ian Abston says the group’s average age is 43 and only one person per company can participate. He knows members are spending their most valuable resource on this trip: time.

“They know they’re going to get on a bus, they’re spending a whole day away from their team, their emails,” Abston said. “But what they’re getting out of it is connectivity to other leaders, time away to think big, and they’re going to be introduced to a whole bunch of similar people in situations in Madison as well.”

The bus stopped at Madison’s future Public Market site, the state Capitol, and several downtown venues for panel discussions, questions and connections.

Even though Baas’ role transitioned from speaker to listener after his brief remarks on the bus, Abston views his involvement–and the transportation industry’s buy in–as a key force in the group’s overarching goal of pulling us all together.

“It’s not just Steve’s title. It’s Steve’s love for the area, his expertise and his knowledge,” Abston said. “He’s got so much access and credibility, not only in Milwaukee and Madison but also in D.C. that things are going to get solved in ways because we’ve not solved them (that way) before.”

‘Feels like Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood’: State Senator’s interest piqued on immersive Wingra Stone tour

April 10, 2025 by Lane Kimble

FITCHBURG, Wis. — There was no red trolly, no one wearing a zippered knit sweater with sneakers, and no puppeteers.

And yet Wednesday, State Sen. Dianne Hesselbein felt a bit like Mr. Rogers.

“I just think it’s fascinating how this product comes to be,” Hesselbein said.

The product? Redi-mix concrete. Ms. Hesselbein’s “neighborhood?” Wingra Stone Company’s dual plant along McKee Road in Fitchburg.

The 90-minute tour was the perfect place for Hesselbein’s own little version of the “How People Make Things” – an adventure Fred Rogers would’ve been fascinated by, too.

“We take so much for granted. We just don’t know how things work anymore,” Hesselbein said. “And so that’s when I think it’s really helpful to get out in the community to find out (for example) what’s up with Wingra? How do they make all this stuff?”

The tour started in Wingra’s corporate offices for some history, ventured into the dispatch center for conversations with hard working staff, wound through the maintenance garage and mixing yard, and up into the control center.

On a busy day, more than 30 Wingra trucks will carry upwards of 1,200 yards of concrete to build roads, bridges, and buildings. The company covers essentially all of Dane County, while supporting operations to the north and east with plants in Sun Prairie, Waunakee and Lake Mills.

Hesselbein (D-Middleton) even climbed into two mixer trucks, learning some of the basics of handling the massive vehicles from an actual Wingra driver.

“That was wild,” Hesselbein said.

The tour guide, Wingra Stone Operations Manager James Ruston, says most people don’t get that involved when they visit.

“I think they don’t want to get in the way… You go up there and see all the computers and what everybody’s doing, gets a little intimidating,” Ruston said.

Ruston says the invitation is always open to any of his “neighbors” up the road in the state Capitol, ensuring they understand there are plenty of special people in this industry helping build our future.

“She was a champ, it was great,” Ruston said. “It was good to see she was engaged and interested in those people. I think it means more to them than anything else.”

ARTBA seeks contractor feedback on OSHA Heat Rule ahead of possible Trump admin. decision

April 9, 2025 by Lane Kimble

OSHA’s proposed heat rule may be on ice but hasn’t been thrown out of the freezer just yet.

The American Road and Transportation Builders Association wants your input on the proposal as the Trump administration now controls the rule’s future.

ARTBA released a one-question survey open to its members–especially contractors–to gauge where the industry stands on the matter.

The heat rule would require all companies with 10 or more employees to develop a written heat prevention plan in collaboration with non-managers.

It also would mandate at least one quart of water per hour for all employees on job sites and selecting a designated heat-safety coordinator, among other standards.

Stronger requirements go into effect when temperatures hit 90 degrees and up.

The Biden administration proposed the new requirements before leaving office.

ARTBA and WTBA members have urged the Trump administration to ditch the rule, noting it’s too broad (given the country’s varying climates) and unnecessary, with contractors already placing employee safety at the forefront.

Please take a moment to fill out the survey ASAP.