Building Advantage

Build your future without the burden of student debt. 💪

Union registered apprenticeship offers an exciting “earn while you learn” pathway where you'll get paid while gaining hands-on experience and classroom training in a skilled trade.

Instead of choosing between work and education, you get both. You’ll build real-world skills, earn competitive wages, receive benefits, and graduate with a nationally recognized journeyworker card.

Ready to get started? Your future is waiting. 🔨 https://buildingadvantage.org/becoming-a-union-tradesperson/

Thank you to Jose Ramirez and Laborers Local Union 113 for hosting our first Parent/Student Open House to share information about the registered apprenticeship process and the many career opportunities within the Laborers Union.

To learn more about careers in the union building trades, visit our website: https://buildingadvantage.org/trades/

For almost 120 years, Dahlman Construction Company has been shaping the Milwaukee region with expertise built on integrity, craftsmanship, and long-standing client relationships. Today, the company is embracing new opportunities for growth while staying true to the values established by founder John A. “Honest John” Dahlman in 1908.

Building Advantage sat down with Andy Matheson, Vice President of Construction, to talk about Dahlman’s history, their approach to project delivery, and how they’re positioning themselves for the future.

Read More: https://buildingadvantage.org/dahlman-construction-a-century-of-craftsmanship-and-a-vision-for-the-future/

Dahlman Construction: A Century of Craftsmanship and a Vision for the Future - Building Advantage For 117 years, Dahlman Construction has been shaping the Milwaukee region with expertise built on integrity, craftsmanship, and long-standing client relationships. Today, the company is embracing new opportunities for growth while staying true to the values established by founder John A. “Honest J...

Building Advantage welcomed 46 signatory general and specialty contractors to our third annual Contractor Matchmaking event at American Family Field.

During timed networking, attendees connected, shared insights about their companies, and sparked new opportunities for collaboration. The fun continued as we celebrated St. Patrick's Day with golf, Guinness and food at X-Golf.

This event not only strengthens relationships but expands industry networks to help build a stronger union construction industry. We're thankful for all of the attendees and partners that supported this event, including our sponsor, Associated Bank.

Allied Construction Employers Association Associated General Contractors of Greater Milwaukee National Electrical Contractors Association - NECA, Milwaukee Chapter Plumbing Mechanical Sheet Metal Contractors' Alliance WRTP / BIG STEP

📸 Kevin Harnack

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! ☘️ Looking for your own pot of gold at the end of the rainbow? In the union building trades, you can earn while you learn through registered apprenticeship — gaining hands-on training and great wages and benefits.

It’s a career path that helps you build skills, support your family, and create a bright future. 🌈🏗️

Start building your own pot of gold: https://buildingadvantage.org/trades/

Union construction careers build more than structures — they build strong futures. 🏗️

Through registered apprenticeship programs in the union building trades, you can earn while you learn, gaining hands-on training, great wages, and benefits — without student loan debt.

It’s a career path that offers stability, opportunity, and the chance to help build the communities where we live and work.

Learn more about careers in the trades: https://buildingadvantage.org/becoming-a-union-tradesperson/

At our quarterly Training Directors meeting, guest speaker Joshua Johnson, founder of The Redemption Collective, shared powerful insights on the value of hiring justice-impacted individuals and how employers can tap into this often-overlooked talent pool.

Union registered apprenticeship provides a pathway to family-sustaining wages and long-term careers. For justice-impacted job seekers, strong community retention partnerships improve readiness and long-term success by connecting individuals to training, preparation, and critical support systems.

There are also incentives available for employers who hire justice-impacted individuals. As Joshua emphasized, the goal is simple: never return to prison—which means these workers are motivated to learn, contribute, and succeed.

Thank you to Daniel Webster MBA for sharing the employer perspective on behalf of Walbec Group and highlighting the many ways your team is engaging with the community and creating opportunities for job seekers.

These conversations reinforce that building our future workforce requires partnership. When employers, training programs, and community organizations work together, more people have the opportunity to succeed.

Help us give a warm welcome to our new Building Advantage executive board member, Jason Schneider 👏

Jason Partner began his career at VJS Construction Services, Inc. as an intern and steadily advanced through the company, becoming a partner and now serving as Executive Vice President of Construction. In his role, Jason oversees VJS’s self-perform and special projects teams, along with various large-scale projects. His hands-on experience and strategic vision ensure teams deliver exceptional results while maintaining VJS’s reputation for outstanding client service.

Thank you to Jason, and all of our board members, for their time and commitment to advancing the union construction industry. To learn more about our board of directors, visit our website: https://buildingadvantage.org/about-us/ -board

Looking for your shot to become a union ? Check out the Northern Midwest Regional Council of Carpenters's Hiring Event on Saturday, April 18th at American Family Field.

Step onto their skills course to show contractors your positive attitude and hustle. Contractors are ready to hire and offer excellent pay and benefits, including a pension, retirement annuity account, and premium healthcare.

No experience? No problem. Your registered apprenticeship will give you the right training to succeed in the construction industry.

Register today 👇🏾
https://airtable.com/app5zwM6FxduTrs7k/pagvNqzJmZNmbuEv2/form

Great way to close out at Connecting to Build! This annual event brings together women and allies from both the field and the office to build meaningful connections, share advice and learn from one another. The lightning-round style presentations were quick, engaging and packed with valuable insights that left plenty to reflect on.

Congratulations to Eric Premo from CG Schmidt on being honored as the 2026 Ally of the Year!

To learn more about our industry partner, empowHER, visit: https://empowherwi.org/

Big thanks to Tom Hermann for hosting the industry at the annual Southwest Milwaukee Consortium Hands On Hiring Event at Franklin High School. Great to see so many motivated students interested in careers in the trades!

We’re always proud to share the benefits and opportunities available through registered apprenticeship in the union building trades. This career path allows you to —which means you get paid while gaining the training, and experience necessary to become a safe and highly skilled tradesperson.

If you’re looking for a rewarding career with great pay, benefits, and long-term opportunity, check out the union building trades.

To learn more about union registered apprenticeship and each of the trades, visit our website: https://buildingadvantage.org/trades/