Road Trippin' with WTBA

Mike Hahn never intended to get into road construction. He started college by studying to become an industrial engineer. But along the way, one thing led to another.  Each relationship led to a new one. And Hahn never lost one of his guiding principles: Never say never. "I've always gone into things with the mindset of: get done what you know how to do.  You have to have something that is in front...

Sky Capriolo wasn't sure where to begin when she won election to the Milwaukee County Board in 2024. The possibilities seemed endless. "You quickly learn that around every corner is a very worthy cause and you can just drown in them," Capriolo admitted. The roads seemed to be a pretty good place to start.  The Minnesota native spent years living and working in Chicago where people drive notoriousl...

If you've ever felt like the world is against you, nothing is going your way, and things are falling apart, Rob Jones would like a word or two. Jones lost both his legs when he stepped on an IED in Afghanistan in 2010.  It meant no more Marine Corps and–initially, he thought–no good reason to live. Instead, Jones proceeded to win an Olympic medal, bike across the continental United States, and run...

The learning curve of going from a newspaper reporter to becoming the budget and policy director of the WTBA is pretty steep.  Admittedly, there's a lot Kevin Traas didn't know about transportation funding and Wisconsin's heavy highway industry back in 2001. In the 25 years since, Traas has become one of the most knowledgable and important people on the WTBA staff and in the association as a whole...

Five surgeries down with more to come, fixing broken ankles, dislocated knees, a fractured hip, and road rash. Those are just the physical scars that will stay with Kyle Perkins for years. Then, there's the emotional damage that likely will never fade. Perkins, who was severely hurt after a car crashed through his work zone last June also lost his friend and colleague, Nano Alvarez. In late Octobe...

Sometimes life doesn't go as planned. Taylor Tauer's Plan A was to be the next great quarterback of the Green Bay Packers. Plan B was to follow in his father's footsteps and join the Marine Corps as a fighter pilot.  Then, the military discovered he had Loeys-Dietz syndrome, a genetic disorder that put him at great risk for a ruptured aorta. "That changed it, right?  Oh, now I have to get a real j...

Ever hear the word "Zemblanity" before? Us either. It wouldn't be the first time Eric Petersen taught us something new and it certainly won't be the last. In a fascinating discussion, the guys sit down with the legendary (and famously private) WTBA contract lobbyist to talk through the wild state budget process, politics, and the ripple effects felt throughout the transportation world. Oh, and the...

After 57 years, more than 3,000 unique performers, and countless memories formed in front of 12 stages, Summerfest has literally helped shape Milwaukee and its lakefront. But "The Big Gig" isn't just about the music.  There's the sights, the smells, the snacks, the scenery and the sentiment that you can't find anywhere else in the world. With opening day (June 19) on the horizon, the guys sit down...

You almost certainly know his name, but how well do you really know Tim Michels? The Michels Corporation owner and vice president has worked hard with his brothers to grow his parents' business from $150 million to more than $4 billion today.  Michels employs 8,000 people worldwide and works on a wide array of transportation and infrastructure projects. And, of course, there's that recent bid for...

Mike Manazir's resume and leadership chops speak for itself. Naval academy graduate, Top Gun graduate, commanding officer of a fighter jet squadron, commanding officer of a U.S. aircraft carrier, retired two-star admiral, Boeing executive, author. Still, he'd be the first to admit he's made mistakes.  Plenty of them. That disarming honesty and relatability made Admiral Manazir an excellent guest s...

At 40 years old, Dan Zignego has already accomplished a lot in his life.  Still, his overall goal is to be successful as possible. How does he define that?  And how do chickens, ice cream cones, and ballroom dancing fit into that calculus?  Listen in as the new WTBA Board President shares his insights into life, leisure and the pursuit of roadbuilding.

In the first-ever "Road Trippin' with WTBA" podcast, Wisconsin Transportation Builders Association Executive Director Steve Baas and Director of Communications Lane Kimble share some of the many notable, entertaining, and insightful moments from two Packers legends who joined WTBA for the 2025 Annual Convention. Antonio Freeman and Santana Dotson were general session speakers, taking more than a d...