WISCONSIN DELLS – Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) of Wisconsin honored 350 graduating apprentices representing 11 skilled trades at its 2025 Apprenticeship Graduation Banquet on Friday, May 16. The celebration, held at the Glacier Canyon Conference Center at the Wilderness Resort in Wisconsin Dells, welcomed nearly 400 family members, instructors, and friends to recognize the hard work and accomplishments of these future industry leaders.
Approximately one-third of the graduates traveled from across the state to cross the stage in person, celebrating the completion of their apprenticeship programs in trades including carpentry, concrete finishing, electrical, heat and frost insulating, heavy equipment operation, HVAC, plumbing, roofing, sheet metal, sprinkler fitting, and steamfitting.
“This is the most rewarding event ABC of Wisconsin holds all year because of the accomplishments we are recognizing,” said Kelly Tourdot, President of ABC of Wisconsin. “These men and women represent the future of our industry, and I am confident they will keep it in good hands.”
The evening’s keynote address was delivered by Cole McCloskey, President and Owner of The Electrician, Inc., a full-service electrical contractor based in Dane County. McCloskey, a former ABC apprentice himself, began his career working with his father, a tradesman and former ABC instructor. He joined The Electrician in 2011 as a youth apprentice and became the company’s first registered apprentice after graduating high school in 2012.
McCloskey excelled during his apprenticeship, winning the ABC of Wisconsin Skills Competition in 2017 and representing the state at the National Craft Championships. That same year, he was named ABC’s Apprentice of the Year. After completing the program, he launched his own business before returning to The Electrician as a partner. In 2019, he became the company’s Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, and today continues to lead the firm as Chief Executive Officer.
“You’ve chosen a career where your work is real, your skills are irreplaceable, and your impact is lasting. The world needs you now more than ever,” McCloskey told the graduates. “We’re not just building structures—we’re building lives, families, communities. The future of the trades is in your hands, and there’s no ceiling to what you can achieve,” he said.
Robert Boenisch, carpentry instructor at Moraine Park Technical College receives the 2025 Instructor of the Year Award.
Matthew Dineen from Dave Jones, LLC receives the 2025 Apprentice of the Year.
ABC of Wisconsin also presented two special awards during the banquet:
Instructor of the Year was awarded to Robert Boenisch, a carpentry instructor at Moraine Park Technical College in West Bend. Boenisch received multiple nominations recognizing his commitment to hands-on learning, curriculum innovation, and dedication to student development. He has grown his program to nearly 100 apprentices and is praised by both colleagues and students for fostering a positive and supportive learning environment.
Apprentice of the Year was awarded to Mathew Dineen, an apprentice at Dave Jones, LLC and who also trained at Waukesha County Technical College. Dineen is described as a perceptive, curious, and collaborative leader in the classroom. A U.S. Marine Corps veteran, he balanced long work hours and academic demands with his responsibilities as a husband, father, and active church member. He has competed twice in the ABC of Wisconsin Skills Competition and is known for his commitment to safety and maintaining a positive attitude.
ABC of Wisconsin congratulates all of the 2025 graduates and award recipients for their dedication, perseverance, and contributions to the future of the skilled trades in Wisconsin.
>>RELATED: Photos from the 2025 Apprenticeship Graduation Banquet
