Lane Kimble

WTBA of Tomorrow Council dives into advocacy training ahead of April ‘Day at the Capitol’

April 18, 2025 by Lane Kimble

Sometimes the quality of your teacher can make or break your understanding and interest in a subject.

When your teachers are the likes of Bob Lang, Eric Petersen, Elise Nelson and Steve Baas and the subject is transportation funding and industry advocacy, you’re probably going to ace the test.

The WTBA of Tomorrow Council went “back to school” Thursday for the group’s kickoff meeting of its 2025 season.

The Council is preparing for a “Day at the Capitol” in a few weeks where members will get to meet one-on-one with lawmakers and their staff members.

WTBA of Tomorrow members are rising stars in WTBA member companies who are interested in learning more about the state budget and the association’s role in seeking reliable, long-term funding from the state of Wisconsin.

Lang–who is legendary in the Capitol for analyzing and guiding hundreds of legislators throughout the complicated budget process over his 50 years running the nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau–offered a fascinating dive into the history of the budget process, the Joint Finance Committee, the powers of the governor’s line item veto, and what this budget’s implications are for transportation.

Petersen is WTBA’s long-time contract lobbyist. He dished out his always entertaining and unvarnished view of this budget cycle and the makeup of the current legislature, then took questions from Tomorrow Council members who clearly enjoyed his candor.

Nelson and Baas highlighted what WTBA likes in the governor’s 2025-27 budget proposal, covered the association’s priorities, and urged attendees to speak from the heart and share their personal stories when they go into lawmakers’ offices later this month.

Some of the WTBA Board of Directors will also join WTBA of Tomorrow members during the Capitol visits.

In addition to Capitol advocacy, the WTBA of Tomorrow Council also judges annual WTBA Scholarship entries, coordinates and hosts construction site tours, and solicits dozens of donations for the Scholarship Auction.

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.”