Building Bodies and Legacies

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Coming to Northeast Wisconsin live from the Civic Media Studios, this is Mino and the Mayor.

And here are your hosts.

John

Minow and Jim Schmidt.

Hey, thank you very much.

Also special thanks to Nick.

She's her Nick for coming on in today and for...

Paul and Derek and Molly from the Green Bay Hard Bodies, bodybuilding and figure championships for coming in.

And now our favorite segment, or one of our favorite segments of the week, the interesting people that Tori Wittenbrock from Headlines with the Press Times brings in.

And today she's got Jesse and Savannah Van S. No relation to Luke Van S. I would imagine of the markers.

Negative.

Talking about the bodybuilding show at the matter.

First of all, Tori, hello.

Hello.

Can we just briefly mention what you told me on your way out?

the door last week that I don't think we talked about that you're going to do a super great project.

Yeah, I'm getting started on a book about the history of women's basketball at GB.

I think that is sensational because that is such a story to be told.

I don't know if there's anybody in the country that went from zero as far as support whatever whatever you

Terrible accommodations facilities where they had to play and everything like that for that women's basketball program to get from there to literally basically I think it should be considered a top 25 women's basketball school.

I really and truly do and I Can't think of a school in the country that rose in such a short time the way UW Green Bay women's program did

Yeah, for sure.

And I mean, it's super exciting because I'm still just in the the research phase and everything.

But getting, I mean, I went to UWGB.

So it's really cool that like from my perspective to look into and to dig around and find out stuff about this program that I really had no clue about the history.

You're going to have so much fun.

You're going to meet some unbelievable personalities.

Yeah.

It's a great great because you know what?

There's there's such it's like when you've been through hard times or

whatever,

whatever you really do to forge, you get forged into a.

You know, a great teamwork to it.

And that's the way the UW Green Bay Women's Program has always been.

Didn't have the greatest facilities, didn't have the whatever.

Fight for practice time.

But man, did they forge it all together.

Well, everybody's excited to talk about it, too.

Like as soon as I got started in this, it was like, this person wants to talk to you.

This person wants to talk to you.

I have contact information for another person.

And it's like, OK, I've got a lot to go off of because everyone's excited about

it.

Good for you.

And I think what you find there, I mean, you're going to obviously talk about coaching and players.

But the community really did step up back in 2002.

Three, I mean, Mrs. Bush's family, Mrs. Bush especially.

I mean, that's named after Carol Bush, right?

And that's their company right across the street.

They didn't have to do that.

And they went in big on that.

That's a beautiful arena you guys playing in.

I just, I prefer the men's game.

games.

I'm glad the men's

games are really.

There's more of them this year.

But anyway, there's just there was a whole lot more community support.

There's even some support from the state on that too.

So it wasn't a packer thing, but there was just a lot of community support from a lot of levels.

And I just hope you cover that as well as the obviously the coaching the players and everything else.

Let's be good book.

Yeah,

of course.

All right,

cool.

Congratulations on that.

Hey, let's talk to Jesse and Savannah bodybuilding show at the

Tell a little bit again, because you know, I think there's a preconceived thing.

Of course, I was telling them when I used to cover these to have the national bodybuilding championships in Tucson when I worked in TV down there.

And that was back before they tested anything.

And

these people would come out and I said, there'd be five foot six this way and five foot six

this way.

You know, the types

that I'm talking about.

It just muscle here, muscle here, muscle, whatever, whatever.

Now it's natural.

You guys get polygraph tests and testing everything.

First of all, welcome and talk about

how you

guys decided to get into the world of bodybuilding.

Yeah, well, I I joined the army when I was 19 and so I never stepped foot in in a gym in my life and when I was in processing in Texas this guy that was kind of going along with me asked if I wanted to Go to the gym with them and I'm like I have nothing else to do I have no vehicle and you do so I will go with you and I'll try it out and I Mean I've been in the gym mostly since then it's that addicting you just

Got it.

It took it took time for me to really like

we're talking earlier.

We're not

you don't

get it

working out You get addicted to seeing those results.

They help.

Yeah.

Yeah, for sure.

It will keep you going back.

I believe yeah

Yeah, you're married, right?

You're a couple.

Okay.

I just think I don't want the reason I want to say that is I think that's you get your son with you and I think parents might be interested in this because it is drug-free and we don't like sending our kids into environments that are yeah

questionable or whatever we're looking for.

But that's pretty cool.

Is that part of the reason for the attraction to that?

I mean, as a young, you could do whatever you want.

What made you pick this lane?

I think it's just for myself and my morals and values as a Christian woman to really bring, for me, Christ into everything I do.

So being involved in the Heart Body Show, knowing that it's a tested show, and you get to just showcase what you worked on.

And

then the family aspect of it, having a little one.

And then last year, going to my husband's show, I was uncomfortable at first.

This is my first year in the gym all over the place.

So I've never worked out before.

So I'm like, well, I don't know what it's gonna be like bringing my son into this environment.

I went just to be supportive, but I was really amazed of how supportive each person is, especially in this,

Tested type of environment.

You're there to just showcase your ability to work out into nutrition, you know, really focus on that nutrition and support each other.

So

I love your confidence.

I don't know how many people would say, Hey, you know what?

I haven't worked out in a really long time, but I'm going to, and I'm going to join the bikini competition.

So you, you not only went to support your husband, you loved it.

You loved the environment, the people, the support.

You jumped in.

I did.

This

is your first year.

First, yep, 11 months, almost.

Yep, I was not a gym person.

I was just blessed with a small body.

I never had to work out in my life.

You know, I was in the military too, but I did not like that part of, you know, the physical fitness and ultimately led me to just end my contract and move on.

But seeing Jesse on the stage and just what really got me was the women who had children.

Who were competing like you have a stomach their skin there and these women were just like yep for kids I'm doing it Wow, and that was so like oh my gosh.

This is real life, you know And then I was like what would it look like if I was on stage,

you know So you've worked out obviously yes

And you get on and then, what do you pose for two minutes?

Or how does that work?

Like how, you're gonna wear a bikini, you said that.

Yep, so the-

What kind of music do you come out to?

Did you pick your music yet?

I did.

So the second part of the show, the finals, as an amateur, we get 60 seconds to a song.

60, okay.

And you do whatever you want on stage, hit any kind of poses, any sort of, you know, there's a general format of how you walk on stage, but you can do whatever you want.

So the song I picked was Undeniable by Bianca.

Blanca, sorry.

Awesome.

Yeah, I'm looking forward

to it.

Are you nervous about it or do you feel good?

I was nervous in the beginning just because of the posing aspect that's so not natural.

I have to say something else.

I'm glad I don't have a two-way

mirror.

But just the women that I've met, the other Christian women, thank God,

just supporting me and learning how to pose and, you know, Kristen Renard, she was really there for me coaching how to, you know, just how to present your body in a feminine way, um, according to the regulations.

So that really just offset.

When

I was talking to you guys one of the things that I thought was really interesting was I know you said that this is your first year You just said 11 months that you've been training for it and everything but um one of the things that I thought was really interesting when I was talking to you guys for the paper was When you're talking about like advice for people that are looking to first get into it how it's important to you know Take things slowly so that you can establish a routine before you just jump in and that of one of the biggest mistakes a lot of people make is just going like I

I need to make a change, I need to diet, I need to exercise, and they try and do everything all at once, and then it never works.

Those

kind of crazy people, hey Jim?

Who would do that?

Why are you looking at me?

I can't believe it.

I sprained my back lifting yesterday.

I hadn't been in the gym in six years.

I don't know how this

happened.

That happens all the time.

It's a great question, Terry.

Did you get a program?

How did you, yeah, that's a good question.

You have to start slow, right?

Yeah.

Right, yeah.

Jesse really kind of...

was my mentor and coach through it all, fitness and nutrition, because of his experience and your years of knowledge.

So he's kind of been the one coaching me.

Give us some nutrition advice.

Start small.

Small portion of cake.

No,

I like to tell people just to start small.

Maybe you stop putting sugar in your coffee, switch lower calorie soda, something small.

That Uncle Mike's cringle that's almost done, that's not ours.

What do you think of these two?

I mean, I think it's really impressive and I've had friends and stuff and siblings of friends that have done competitions like this Yeah, and it's really interesting when you follow along with like social media because it in I mean I've never done it But in my opinion from what I've seen is that it really does become a lifestyle and it becomes your whole life I mean, it's like you kind of almost have to obsess about like your nutrition your workout and everything to get to that Like you said

if you get the self-confidence to walk out there

in right speed

oh basically it's for lack of a

a better word.

You better commit, right?

Exactly, yeah.

And it's kind of cool that you're young, but this thing can go on for a lifestyle.

There's a six plus category.

There is, yeah, correct.

Why are

you laughing?

Hey, pop in the masters

Next

year if you wouldn't mind

sure yeah, I joined right after high school pretty much when I turned 19 and I did Three years my one contract I did one deployment for nine and a half months, and then I got where'd you go?

Afghanistan

what unit?

Would you go with?

Oh, yeah, it was it was 3-1, but the unit disbanded shortly after

yeah, so your regular army that

yes,

okay, I didn't hear one for the Manitowoc area.

Oh, no, no, I was stationed in forpless, Texas So

okay, we're in Afghanistan

a helman province.

Oh, sure.

Wow.

That's

not a nice place.

No

You just lost the lottery when they say where you're

going did you

have right wow?

Yeah

same I joined right out of high school.

I remember I turned 17 on a

I think it was on a Sunday and I was like, Monday, Monday morning, parents come with me.

I'm signing up.

It was right away.

I knew I was going to join pretty much early high school.

Yep.

I could do the army.

I joined the army as an 88 Mike, which is a heavy truck driver station.

We both were stationed in Fort Bliss, Texas.

We both were in the same unit, three, one AD, but separate, you know, areas.

And then deployed to Afghanistan as well over on the West area, West side of

Afghanistan.

I was only there for six months and then we all came home.

And then, so I did the three and a half years active duty and then did a, well, about another four years reserves.

Kind of different areas in Wisconsin.

That's cool doing that.

Absolutely.

So your high school, sweetheart, she did this all together.

Not really.

Oh,

she is.

Not

from Manitowoc,

North Carolina.

No, we

met.

Well, we were both stationed in Texas.

I did that by design.

We met after I had gotten

out.

From what I've heard of Fort Bliss, there is not a lot to do, right?

There's a lot of burritos.

There's a lot of Mexican

food.

The

food's good.

It's great.

Thanks to Press Times for a wonderful article about a 96-year-old UWG professor.

Jack Day, very well done.

He was one of the first in 1968 when the school started, will you?

Nice job, you guys.

You

guys

are don't they do

a great I get excited when I

see their paper in my mailbox Friday.

No lie

Yeah, that's always good to hear and I mean we've gotten a lot of really good feedback

I just really hope you stay with the printed.

I mean I just I like it.

You know that I just like we need great papers print What do you guys do outside of this?

I work for Bell and Health as a medical biller trainer, so I train the medical billers for Bell and Health we love now amplify.

Yes

I am the warehouse manager for Mako's floor covering.

Oh, cool.

Yeah, with them, too.

Awesome.

All right.

Oh, very cool.

Yeah.

This is something that you're going to compete on Saturday.

We're going to come and watch you.

Are you going to?

Continue this is this something that's in your blood or you get it's a one-and-done thing We

like to take it one show at a time But we're already kind of talking about next year lightly because I mean we just have so much fun doing it together So sounds like

it

and once again takes place at the Meyer this coming Saturday The event starts at 11 o'clock $25 for general admission for the first judging and then $40 for the finals with $65 all day all sessions $10 for kids 12 and under this sounds really

exciting

Apparently, I've heard, so this will be the year to come for the first time.

All right, I'll be

standing.

All right.

Thank you all so much for being here, Tori.

Thanks for being here.

Anything I could do to help you with that book?

Please let

me know.

Of course.

All

right.

Quick break.

Back

at you.

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This coming Saturday at the Meyer theater just good people.

Oh, yeah, aren't they?

Everybody they all support each other I think it's one of those things where you want everybody to win some is going to but yeah, they they seem to really get along How much

confidence

you gotta

do I don't have enough to go in my best greatest day I ever had whatever whatever you

You gotta have self confidence to do that man.

I think I mean everyone in there is just such an inspiration because not only do you have to have insane levels of confidence to get up there and Literally put your body on full display for everyone to examine every inch Every little nook and cranny on your body, which I think is like a huge terror for a lot of men to know

the interesting part It's not like well I played hockey for seven years and then I was a you know bodybuilder before in high school or as a

power.

None of them.

They're all just like, nah, I never went to the gym and in a year, year and a half or whatever.

It's like, boom, boom,

boom.

Yeah.

Did I tell you the prep?

You know what they do?

They spray it down twice with tea.

I want to get some of that.

That's pretty cool.

I want to get some of that.

The pictures are

unbelievable.

So anyway,

Tori

Wittenbrock, headlines with the press times.

Well, Tori, we're talking a little bit about the UWB Green Bay Women's Basketball Program.

You know, it's one of those things, though, too.

And Kevin Borseth is a great friend of mine.

We're with his daughter.

It's like the people that have coached in Green Bay, other than one, Coach Bolland, he wasn't crazy about it here and went to Illinois, but he had really successful teams, I will say that.

But it seems like once you coach women's basketball in Green Bay and you realize the talent pool around the Green Bay, Minnesota,

areas.

It's like this, you know, for the men, it's so hard.

And we've gotten a lot better over the last 10, 15 years of having D1 boys, men's, whatever you want to call it, prospects.

Okay.

But women were way ahead of the game for them as far as being D1 athletes around this area before the guys.

So I mean, that's pretty cool for these coaches at Green Bay.

And I think the Carol, I think Carol Hammerley was so instrumental at at

building with her camps and everything like that, getting young girls who never had that real, you know, high level of coaching before really got them to love basketball.

So what I'm trying to say here is girls basketball up here in this part of the state is really, really good.

But I think Carol Hammerly way back in the late 70s is the impetus as to why we are.

I'm just throwing that out there.

Yeah.

And I mean, I'm excited to looking into all that.

I know it's really exciting for me now to see, you know, like things that Kayla is doing to bring in those local girls, whether it's from the transfer portal, they went and played somewhere

else and

now they're ready to come home or recruiting locally because there is so much local talent.

You know, and that's for a school like Green Bay.

It's so important to do that because you're pulling in that local fan base

and

people are excited to support kids that they saw through their high school careers here, you know, not just some kid that came out from California or whatever.

And I mean, that ad obviously will add to the talent pool.

OK, I've been watching Cassie play basketball for like 10 years, legitimately, because that Luxembourg cast going to do several games or whatever.

It's

like, you

know, since she was a freshman in high school through five years, literally, you know what I mean?

So you get a chance to see the.

these young players develop all the way through.

Grash, Gracie

Grash.

I remember watching Gracie when she was in junior high.

And her family is so well known around the community for being involved at St.

Norbert and everything.

So it's like, it's so exciting to see them actually come back and play at UWG.

It's like the story is completing.

You've got

a really interesting, compelling, unique story to tell in your book.

Yeah, I'm really looking forward to digging into

it.

I think the other reason that helps is they win.

Yeah, you know and I really and I think you're right through that men's and it's like people would always say hey, you know I get season tickets to the women's nothing I've been to games, but I don't know I just but people it's unbelievable how many people bought season tickets to that you know and that's because I think they were wouldn't obviously everyone's to support you know UWGB but So I think that all helped and that's gonna be interesting because I'm assuming I haven't read your book yet, of course you haven't written it yet either But I don't think there's gonna be one thing that made it happen.

Yeah, that would be my

And I mean that's definitely something

that was

used as a recruiting factor too when I was coming out to UWGP was I was talking to the coach Jason Spain at the time and he was talking about how like our one of our strongest programs here that gets the most pull at games is women's basketball and how rare that is because usually it's football first and then if not it's men's basketball you rarely see a women's basketball being like the draw you know the sport that has the most draw at a school and I thought that was awesome.

Well, that's the thing too, when you're being recruited, you know, sometimes, you know, they say that drives coaches crazy, drives them insane.

They can recruit a kid, recruit a kid, recruit a kid, recruit a kid.

And they can offer him everything in the world, every opportunity, everything, whatever, whatever.

And he walks in to the cafeteria or the whatever at high school the next day, and he's wearing their t-shirt or their cap or something.

It's like, where's that?

So, oh, they suck.

And it's like, you know what?

He's not gonna go to that school peer pressure is such a big thing but for women with UW Green Bay basketball Oh, I saw them play against Tennessee.

Oh, I saw them against who they play this year.

Um, there was Tennessee was no

well Yeah,

but I saw them against Kentucky again.

I saw them against Brittany Griner.

Yeah

for Baylor They play the best of the best.

Yeah, it's true.

And I mean, yeah, like

Tennessee baseball last night.

I was texting my mom.

She was watching the Tennessee baseball game and I was like, they're playing NKU.

That's a horizon league team.

So I mean, just because they're

their horizon league or a smaller, you know, mid major school.

I mean, there's just as much talent there.

And I think that that's one of the really interesting facets of the recruiting of recruiting nowadays is it's really up to the players to choose what you want to play for.

You know, do you want to like, you might have a lot of talent, but if you don't want to play, go play for a school like Alabama, or you don't want to ride the bench for three years before you had a big program like that, you can go play, you know, same level of talent, you can go play for Green Bay.

And you brought up a great point.

Okay.

Because I think sometimes people have the luster of going to a big tan school.

And if you don't win, life isn't great.

Trust me, you've been a collegiate athlete.

I've covered it for a billion years.

That experience, if you're losing, ain't great.

Yeah,

and college is becoming more like pros, where it is very cutthroat.

If you're not

getting

it done, you're

out of here.

See

ya,

and if that, but also if you're, you're not gonna get noticed if you're on the bench.

And people will transfer to get some playing time, so.

Try getting a date when you're on the end of the bench.

Trust me on that one.

Now there he's been.

Tori, wind rock.

Love what you do for the press times.

Thank you.

And I want to be with you every step of the way, whatever we can do to help with that book, make a coming reality.

Sounds good.

I'll definitely take you up on that.

Thanks so much for being here.

Yep.

Thank you.

All right.

We'll

get us to a quick break back right after

this.

From local stories to local voices, we're shining a spotlight on what matters right here in Northeast Wisconsin.

It's more than just talk.

It's about connecting with the community.

This is Mino and the Mayor.

Now, here's John Mino and Jim Schmidt.

Hey, thank you very much.

Welcome back, Mino and the Mayor.

Special thanks, Tori Wittenbrock.

Headlights of the Press Times, Jesse and Savannah Van Ness.

Bodybuilding show coming up at the Meyer.

Paul Hadler, Derek Boswell and Molly Tinan from Green Bay Hard Bodies.

Bodybuilding competition taking place this Saturday at the Meyer Theater.

And of course, Cheese Curt Nick for filling us in on so many things happening behind the scenes.

And again,

He's a perfect spokesperson because he was in the trenches.

He's not a corporate

guy.

He's lived

this for like six months.

Oh, I

think all of that, right?

And he's got experience.

He's been to things.

So yeah, he was, I always like talking to people who are on the front line.

He cuts right through everything.

So just done

stump.

I can't pronounce your other.

Don Grenzer Stump.

Grenzer Stump, Grenzer.

How are you?

Hey, first of all, just to give you a title, Educational Engagement Manager at the Myron Apprenticeship Program, getting young people involved with something like this.

And I just want to say some, just a personal connection.

Had lunch with your esteemed owner of the company a couple of years ago, and it was because he wanted to talk to me about a program he thought we should start when I was with the Veterans Organization in getting, again, young kids.

high school, middle-aged, whatever, to learn more about our veterans, to have them come there, do some work, understand.

So he's got a real saucepot in his heart for a mentorship type of program in a lot of different entities.

So go ahead, explain what this one is, because I think it's fantastic.

Yeah, so as the Education Engagement Manager, I get to do a lot of great things to help connect our young adults into the construction industry.

So not only through the registered apprentice opportunities,

collaborative with our local unions of students graduating from high school but also our youth apprenticeship opportunity and ironically today is National Apprenticeship Day so it's great to be able to advocate for the great career opportunities within the construction industry through getting a jump start through youth apprenticeship as well as then bridging into registration.

Kids getting into trades.

on a daily basis.

Yeah, I teach at TC and my concern years ago was it was too narrow of a lane, but now they're learning a lot of other things besides the trade.

You know what I'm saying?

I think that's good because I now that they have to learn, you know, Russian literature, but which I still think was a waste of money.

But there's other things I think that they and I think the school really, really turns out a great product.

And the apprenticeship, but that's a younger.

Are you in high schools?

Youth apprenticeship is for our high school students that are going to be juniors and or seniors.

So they can earn high school credit as well as the state certification.

Nice.

And then many of our apprenticeship programs will accept those hours and that experience as they roll into a registered apprentice after graduation.

And the

cool thing is I've talked to some kids that have been in programs like this.

I was talking to the kid's dad one time and he goes, he get a phone call.

Dad, guess what I did today?

I have no day.

Guess what I did?

I operate a backhoe.

You know what I mean?

Or it's like, this is something you'd

never be able to do it anywhere else.

So it's that you've always wanted to

do

that.

You've always wanted, we've all, every person's wanted to do that.

And

it's cool.

You guys give these young people that opportunity.

Right.

And they're on our projects that are building our communities.

They will someday be able to drive down the highway and say, I got to be a part of building that building, whatever that may be.

If it's working on title town or a clinic, hospital, a large casino, whatever that may be, our young adults are able to.

to be a part of that I think

it's fantastic that's pretty cool that and you're right about Myron especially your company I mean there's a lot of good construction jobs out there but I mean yeah you can drive by a lot of stuff just in our little city here and see the Myron sign your name's on it you know the other thing I think is good about apprenticeships and I'm a big advocate of those I think it gives it's discernment for the student as well they may

Think they want to do something and it's like

Well, and then they they have the opportunity to put a paycheck in their pockets learning on the job and then incrementally Oh, they get paid for these or absolutely.

Yes.

Yes So they're they're making a great income learning on the job alongside mentors and determining if this is the best, you know career path for them.

Is there an age

limit?

Youth Apprentice is 16, but then a registered apprentice would be 18 and graduate from high school.

Hello, I could do this.

Yeah.

All right.

I thought you retired, and now you're back in the industry.

So why not jump into a red apprenticeship?

Yeah.

You could be a great carpenter.

Oh, thank you.

Hey, one thing about you guys, so if you get involved with Myron, you might be offered a job in Dubai.

I mean, you guys are a worldwide company.

We are a nation premier construction company.

Primarily, our offices are in the Midwest here in Wisconsin, upper Michigan, and Cedar Rapids.

But we do work all throughout the nation.

And it really is because of the relationships that we've built with our clients close to home that have taken us to their projects throughout the nation.

And

the other thing that...

Someone needs to with Myron and I want to say there's some other good companies out there I know but Myron is The career path like you can start here and go over there or over there and we're talking about geography right now Which I think is great for a student or a young adult to to move around.

I mean I was I remember You guys built the baseball stadium.

I forgot where we were I was sitting next to a Myron guy and I said what are you doing here?

I built the thing so it's just all over the place and some great cities and communities but But also you may start in one field and

have a interest in another field and you guys are good about transferring them with more education.

Absolutely.

Absolutely.

We have a lot of homegrown leadership within Myron Construction, so they may start as an apprentice work to get their journeyman card and then are into a foreman or even a superintendent and are the quarterback of a project or choose to go into project management.

So they don't

We see a lot of our talent, you know, moving up into leadership roles and not necessarily always doing the physicality component, but behind the scenes and making the project successful.

I remember a guy one time told me he was going to go to school and he worked construction in the summer.

And he thought, you know what, I really actually, instead of going to be a teacher who's, you know, back in those days, teachers are making 8,000 a year or

whatever.

And there, you know, construction workers are doing twice that.

And he said, a guy told me if he said, if you ever learned how to read a blueprint, he said, you got a job for.

life that's really high paying, and you'll always have work no matter what.

Is that still a thing?

I know it's CAD now and things like that, but there are certain aspects that if you take just one more step, you get a whole new window of opportunity, correct?

Oh, correct.

Yes.

You know, from design, virtual construction, project management, IT.

I mean, there's still all of those career paths within our office that make a construction project happen.

And the project management, I think, is...

It's just so important.

I mean, we're working with you right now on a project.

And

I just love when they come in with your charts.

And I know that's, you use that for other people, but that wasn't like that.

years ago and it's just detailed on this day and you know the whole pert charts and that you put together for us and it's like when people ask you know when's the design gonna be done boom we just grabbed the chart and it's good you know it's it's right there and I think it was out pretty far too I was surprised how far you guys went out on that but he's in charge you know we're the customer but I mean it's like wow how can you argue with something like that so absolutely

yeah that strategic planning and laying out the deadlines and dates right really to help build that dream for that client because

this might be their one and only opportunity to make that dream come true.

Okay, you guys, somebody's

parents listening right now.

They've got a 13 year old son who would like to get involved in construction down the road.

Who can they contact?

What can they expect?

Yeah.

Um, 13 is, I would definitely have them continue to work with their tech ed students.

But as they 16, 16.

Okay.

So 16.

But don't

fly the whole, let's say

15.

John's a

little

bit of a slave driver.

So John, what's your kid?

There's some child labor laws out there.

Yeah, there are.

Give them a party.

I was at my brother's gas station when I was 13.

Okay.

So that's 16.

Yes.

At 16, if it's individuals interested or students interested, they can certainly jump.

on our website, join the team at My Ring Construction.

We have a youth apprenticeship website that they can apply specifically to that opportunity.

They'll get an email from myself and we'll begin that conversation.

The other thing I get to do which is really exciting is youth apprenticeship is one way to get exposed to the construction industry but I get to coordinate education engagement opportunities.

So meeting the student where they're at or the educators where they're at and provide experiences for them to get exposure on a project site.

in our office by doing job shadows, project site tours, some hands-on activities.

Because it's, as we know, it's not one and done exposure to convince them that this is a good fit for them.

And I think that's so awesome for kids.

We've had people in here from the workspace and these engineers, I don't even think we knew what engineers were.

We thought they drove a train where I went to school with the nuns and everything.

I would

love to do that

though.

I've always wanted to work on a train.

Oh my God.

I think that was so fun.

Civil engineers and just elect, all these.

types of engineers.

And they were just saying that if your kid is taking stuff apart, don't get mad.

I mean, that's a sign.

And like you said, you talk to the teachers, which I think.

teachers have pretty good eyes for talent and they can say look you talk to Johnny over there because I think he's an aptitude for that kind of thing.

I think

that's when you go through the applications.

I think she does.

You go to the you meet with them right?

Yeah we meet with educators youth apprenticeship coordinators school counselors to talk with them to identify different skill sets and sometimes it's the skill sets that you don't necessarily think are aligning with the construction industry that we may make them great candidates so and sometimes it's the exposure too they might they don't know what they don't know until they have that

opportunity to connect with a fellow carpenter or a mason or what what's a millwright you know and I think the students have that opportunity to job shadow and connect and I have

Jim's Jim dip around for good point maybe it'll be the opposite way maybe he's gonna realize well you know what this isn't the field I want to go in but he wouldn't have known it

right

And it could potentially save them a lot of time and financial dollars as well.

And especially with youth apprentice, our students may get paid to realize this isn't what they want to do, but they also built

work experience, their employability

experience.

Got

credit?

Yes.

Got high school credit.

A network of professionals that help them navigate.

And as you know, it's sometimes who you know, not what you know that gets you to the place.

I'm just going back to the walk into the lunchroom thing.

Hey, Mino, you coming this afternoon?

We're going to skip classes and we're going to go get a six pack

and sit by the river.

You know my answer, babe?

Can't.

I got a construction job.

I'm building a new hospital in Green Bay.

Huh?

Yeah.

How cool is that?

Absolutely.

Cool factor.

I'm sure that

would

have happened.

Exactly.

Done.

Grenzer Stuff, Educational Engagement Manager at Myron Apprenticeship Program.

This sounds phenomenal.

I just, another plug for your company though.

I mean, I know your company very well.

I've worked with them for years and years and I just, it's just a,

They're very employee focused, take

great

care, I mean, financially, but I'm talking about the whole wellness.

And the other thing I like, I tell students, if you're gonna work for, you're gonna go work for someone, see what they do for the community.

And you're one of those companies, like, there's a lot of good companies out there, but I, you know, you come to mind, Nickelodeon, companies who really take some of their profits, Shriver across the street, and give it back to the community.

I think that.

that helps attract talent.

Yes, absolutely.

We are encouraged regularly to give back to our communities, to be involved, to volunteer, even the projects that we work on.

We have a great connection with a lot of nonprofit organizations and, you know, really building legacies, digging deep to our values really stand behind that, to encourage us as a company, but even individually as workers for my ring construction.

And then

employment is

tough.

I mean, not, that's always a challenge.

We ask businesses, how are things going?

Well, it's going pretty good.

Work is out there.

We just don't have the talent.

So you're smart getting in there early.

Yeah,

and getting building your own trade pool.

Exactly.

And we

know,

we

know there isn't going to be enough bodies to fill the job.

So we need to tell you that, right?

There's no mystery that we're not, we have fewer employees.

So yeah, this is

great way.

I think it's awesome what you guys are doing.

Fantastic.

All throughout Northeast Wisconsin from kids can apply from

Yes, absolutely.

We have projects that are throughout the state right now.

We have 31 youth apprenticeship students throughout the state of Wisconsin up in the Wasa area down in Milwaukee.

So wherever we have projects, if we have an opportunity

that...

Yeah, we do have a student working on a project up in the U.P.

So wherever we have projects and are able to partner with our local school districts and the communities that we are in, we'll certainly look to get those students.

Okay, just two last

quick things.

Okay, it's wonderful having you.

We want to keep from the two quick things.

Number one, I worked with a gentleman, worked for the Chamber of Commerce and they applied and when they get their feedback.

He said, overwhelmingly, the highest grades they got reviews were kids that had grown up on farms.

Yes.

Yeah.

Is that the truth?

Absolutely.

Yes.

That's a talent pool.

Yeah.

That's a

talent pool right there.

Farm boys,

farm girls.

Last quick thing, you said I'd be a good carpenter.

Had you seen one of my bird houses from back in the old days?

Is that where you said

that?

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

You are very talented.

You got the knit.

Oh, thank

you.

Oh my gosh.

Dawn, come

on.

Blow up our next guest.

She's coming in.

Dawn, you're awesome.

Thank

you so much for this opportunity.

Thank you so much for this opportunity.

We said

hello and thank him for everything he does.

I will certainly do that.

Thank you for this opportunity.

Come back again.

We'll do.

We'll do.

Outstanding.

Thank you.

Back

after this.

You're listening to Civic Media.

Find the latest news, information, and archives of all your favorite shows on the Civic Media website, civicmedia.us.

Hey, thank you much.

Welcome back.

We have had such a great lineup of guests.

Todd and Amanda, whoever put this all together, thank you for putting

it all together, make it really easy for us.

Cheese curd, Nick, that was, you got a million texts on that one hot, Todd.

People are talking about that.

I think we're going to be talking about that for a while.

I think we really will.

Cause I think Jim, you, you were touching the subject.

Hey, listen, were we told this was going to be

these small businesses?

They don't have a lot of resources.

Absolutely.

I mean, like he said, $13,000.

That's a lot, a lot of money.

We make a break for a week.

When you make $1,000, you know, yeah.

1,200 and going

into it.

Right.

Hey, let's talk.

Is Jack there?

Jack is there.

All

right.

Hey, I'm going to an event I'm really, really excited about today in Appleton.

We have Jack Voight, who is a Vietnam veteran, has done so much for veterans pretty much since the day he stepped back into Northeast Wisconsin.

Jack Voigt, tell us about what's going on at noon at your place on Richmond in Appleton.

Well, this is somewhat of a somber day.

A day that many people may have may have remembered that 50 years ago, the Vietnam War ended on April 30th, 1975.

And so we're here today to mark that occasion as well as to dedicate a

Memorial wall to the veterans of Wisconsin 1249 but Wisconsin Vietnam veterans lost their lives in that war and So we're dedicating the wall which has the wall has both the name and a photo of every veteran from Wisconsin that died in Vietnam

That's sensational jacket again.

It is somber, but it's it's also great that you're honoring them the way you are.

I remember I

I know for a fact there's gonna be some people whose faces are gonna be on that that I know their parents or they're well not their parents their brothers or sisters or whatever and it's gonna be really I'm gonna get choked up I guarantee it when I see a couple of them and and she used to say the mom who was still alive she used to talk about how every Veterans Day they would go down to the Vietnam vets Memorial which is just kind of a small thing behind the Neville right across the river from us right here and all she would do is go up she donate money but just to thank every one of them

For being where their son was where he died She said meeting these Vietnam vets is is something she had to do because that was her connection to her son from Vietnam So I imagine today's today's ceremony and everything Jack and when they see these people their loved ones pictures on this they're gonna have some of those same feeling I'm bringing a Marine Vietnam that was that case on with me today because he wants to be a part of this

Oh really really?

Yes, sir.

He was rather a sad woman as well where I've met a person looking up the wall

Yesterday we had 20 or 30 people here coming by and one particular individual says That's my brother on the wall.

My twin brother on the wall really said yes He said I would not have gone to Vietnam.

I knew what happened.

He says I got to Vietnam next day He told me my twin brother was killed and now

I Know exactly who you mean.

I mean, yeah, I know exactly who you mean Jack

Yeah, yeah, Jack tell tell everybody where you guys are what you're doing the whole thing if you don't mind

We're looking at 2508 or Richmond Street and a lot of people maybe recall Mary's restaurant as a and also this Columbus Club Well, I'm in that area and money three businesses north of Mary's restaurant on the east side of Richmond Street So you take 41 you go south and 40 on Richmond Street and go around the

roundabout and about a half mile to the south yet, that's where we're located.

Where could people park, Jacks?

Parking's a little sketchy at times around there.

Well, it's going to be chaotic a little bit, but we have parking available at Mary's Place as well as the old Columbus Club.

The Columbus Club has over 40,000 square feet, and so I'm getting volunteers to usher people to park there as well.

The Apple and Police Department is aware of the event and hopefully will have the chaos somewhat organized.

Is Mary's not open?

No, they're

open.

Mary's is open.

I said,

yeah.

So

we can't, but

we can park there.

Oh yeah, it can.

Yeah.

Okay.

That's

awesome.

Okay.

Okay.

So I thought, I know, so I know the bank next to you guys are one of the things where I was, they didn't want people parking around there.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Well, I mean, certainly.

But if you got the green bay police, I mean the aptin police there, it'll be fine.

Well, they'll tell people where to go Yeah,

okay, but so it's uh, you know, it's I have a sister says I'll park at Taco Bell I mean that's a half half a half mile away possibly but certainly a Quarter of a mile away, but she said I need to walk in a way.

So you can't attend

perfect day.

Yeah, perfect day

for a check congratulations on this buddy

Yeah, Jack.

Thanks for doing this.

I mean you you put your heart and soul into this and you do

Do you one of those guys I see all the time around town or been on TV many times as well?

And yeah, this is important and yeah, like Johnny said, you know, it's a somber day, but you know, it's also I'm glad we're celebrating it.

We're recognizing that yeah, because sometimes these things kind of come and go and It's it's nice.

You're taking this time to do this.

It must have taken you some time to get that wall done with the

pictures

Okay, Jack, we're, we're, we're, we're losing it.

We're, I'm sorry, buddy, but I will see you shortly in Appleton, uh, 2508 Richmond, the dedication of a, uh, tremendous honor.

Again, 50 years ago today, when the Vietnam War came, I remember it like it was yesterday.

Like, nothing.