WISCONSIN DELLS – Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) of Wisconsin honored almost 450 graduating apprentices representing 10 skilled trades at its 2026 Apprenticeship Graduation Banquet on Friday, May 15. The celebration, held at the Glacier Canyon Conference Center at the Wilderness Resort in Wisconsin Dells, welcomed nearly 700 family members, instructors, and friends to recognize the hard work and accomplishments of these future industry leaders.
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, and steamfitting.
“I honor the commitment you made to complete your program,” Kelly Tourdot, President of ABC WIsconsin, told the graduates. “Your story is a Merit Story. You have worked hard, mastered your trade and grown through the apprenticeship program.”
Keynote Speaker Celebrates Careers in Construction
The evening’s keynote address was delivered by Mark DeVoll, Workforce Development Superintendent for North American Mechanical, Inc., a full-service mechanical contractor based in Dane County. DeVoll, a former ABC apprentice himself, has since been an instructor and supervisor. He encouraged graduates to stay focused, honor their families and be proud of their work.
“You have the privilege of seeing how a building comes together,” he said. “People are using what you’ve built everyday, and you’ve created buildings that are vital to our communities.”
DeVoll also talked about the importance of family. He encourages graduates to do their best work, and to invest in their loved ones, and thank them for their shared commitment to make construction work possible.
Friday's keynote speaker was Mark DeVoll, Workforce Development Superintendent for North American Mechanical, Inc.
Paul Schumacher, electrical instructor at Fox Valley Technical College receives the 2026 Instructor of the Year Award.
Joshua Clauss from Epic Systems Corporation receives the 2026 Apprentice of the Year.
Top Honors for Instructor and Apprentice of the Year
ABC of Wisconsin also presented two special awards during the banquet:
Instructor of the Year was awarded to Paul Schumacher, an electrical instructor at Fox Valley Technical College in Appleton. Shumacher was nominated because of his commitment to meeting individual apprentice’s instruction needs, his willingness to add class sections to meet workforce demands, and his expertise as an electrician.
Apprentice of the Year was awarded to Joshua Clauss, an HVAC apprentice at Epic Systems Corporation and who also trained at Madison College. Clauss is described as a person who doesn’t just complete tasks, but fully owns their outcomes. Clauss competed in the ABC Wisconsin Apprenticeship Skills Competition and won gold in HVAC. He went on to compete at the National Craft Championships. He is celebrated as an apprenticeship graduate, a husband, father, and active church and community member.
ABC of Wisconsin congratulates all of the 2026 graduates and award recipients for their dedication, perseverance, and contributions to the future of the skilled trades in Wisconsin.
>>RELATED: Photos from the 2026 Apprenticeship Graduation Banquet
