Listen to this articleKelly Tourdot, vice president of the Associated Builders and Contractors of Wisconsin, will begin her new role as the organization’s next president on September 20. John Mielke, current president of ABC of Wisconsin, will become ABC National’s next chief education officer.
Tourdot was selected by unanimous decision of the ABC board, Mielke said in a message to members on Friday.
“She has earned this position through her years as an education director, her work on our association’s committees and the Board of Trustees, and her current role as vice president,” Mielke said in a statement. “Kelly’s promotion is a perfect example of our association’s performance philosophy. Many of you know Kelly well and recognize her commitment to our members. We are very excited to announce her new role and know that the association will continue to grow and thrive under her leadership,” he added.
John Mielke began his career at ABC in 1992, when the company had 400 trainees at the time, officials said. He started as training director and was promoted to director of government relations, vice president and finally president in 2013.
In August, ABC reported a record 2,475 apprentices participating in its nationwide program, with 600 new apprentices enrolled for the first time ever. In June, the traditionally non-union association announced it had reached more than 1,000 member companies.
Mielke said the organization’s growth is a testament to the work of its members and staff.
“Our team in Wisconsin remains strong, with many familiar faces managing our membership, safety, training, apprenticeship programs and more,” Mielke said in a statement. “We look forward to the future of the construction industry in Wisconsin and growing support for the men and women who work hard to build our infrastructure,” he added.
“I’ve come full circle. I’m excited about this new challenge to expand our programs nationwide, and I’m confident that ABC of Wisconsin will continue to grow strongly under Kelly Tourdot’s leadership,” Mielke said.
Tourdot also started as a training director at ABC of Wisconsin in 1996, officials said. She spent her career supporting the workforce at Wisconsin’s Merit Shops. As president, she will focus on growing the workforce, expanding member reach across the state and advocating for members to win contracts through open bidding, officials added.
In his new role, Mielke will focus on bringing Wisconsin’s apprenticeship model to other states in the ABC network, officials said. Wisconsin is one of the leading ABC affiliates in the country in terms of membership and the number of apprentices trained through its programs, officials added.
“We are proud of the work ABC of Wisconsin does in our state,” said Jess Cannizzarro, board chair. “We thank John Mielke for leading the ABC team and are thrilled that Kelly Tourdot is ready to lead our association to even greater opportunities,” she added.
