March 7, 2025

By Lane Kimble

As four past WTBA Board presidents shared stories and advice with Annual Convention attendees last week, Zach Dittberner was paying close attention.

“They gave me inspiration to strive to do more in our industry,” Dittberner told WTBA.

Dittberner will have a golden opportunity to do that over the next year, becoming the new WTBA of Tomorrow Board Chairman for 2025.

Dittberner started his career with Michels Road & Stone two decades ago, first laboring with the pipeline and directional drilling division during summers in college.

He joined the company full-time 17 years ago and now serves as General Manager of Paving Operations.

Dittberner holds a degree in Construction Management from UW-Platteville.

The WTBA of Tomorrow Board is made up of more than a dozen up-and-coming leaders from diverse construction industry backgrounds.

The Board reviews and selects scholarship winners, collects dozens of donations for the annual WTBA/TEF Scholarship Auction, and learns the ins and outs of the state and federal budget process as it pertains to transportation funding.

“First and foremost, I want to keep showcasing our industry’s projects,” Dittberner said of his goals for his one-year term.  “It’s unique to get a lawmaker on a jobsite–as we did many times last summer with the WTBA–and show them what we actually do, rather than just, ‘Here are the orange barrels again.’”

Dittberner will work closely with WTBA Director of Legislative Affairs Elise Nelson to prepare for the “Tomorrow Board’s” Day at the Capitol with lawmakers this spring.

Dittberner says he’s also excited to serve on the full WTBA Board of Directors and be a “sponge” in a room full of people he looks up to, much like the past presidents he enjoyed hearing from at convention.

“It’s amazing what those four individuals had to say and what they have done over their careers to shape our industry today,” Dittberner said.  “I’d be honored to leave just a fraction of the mark they have when all is said and done.”