Take Your Career in Construction to the Next Level

Construction Education

ConstructionU Education

ABC Wisconsin offers comprehensive education programs for our members designed to support and grow construction professionals from the apprentice through the experienced contractor. ConstructionU education programs are designed to make a great impact on your team, your projects, and accelerate your career in the industry.

ConstructionU offers a wide variety of craft and professional development education in a variety of formats. Whether it is in-person, online, or a customized in-house education experience, we have something that meets the needs and budgets of our members. Please email our Education Department or call 800-236-2224 or 608-244-5883 for more information on any of the classes listed within our program.

Course Overviews

Field Crew & Support Team

Communication Skills: For You & Your Crew

Who Should Attend:

Field workers
Rising leaders & key personnel in team culture
Administrative professionals
Entry Level Workers & Apprentices
People interested in enhancing their communication skills

Mastering communication and interpersonal skills are an essential in the success of projects. Construction projects follow a chain of communication from one person to the next, and from one party to another. With strong communication skills and workplace relationships, you can avoid delays, rework, and costly misunderstandings. Communication Skills was designed to enhance communication and improve teamwork which ultimately impacts your project success.

What You Will Learn:

Understanding your role as a trainer, role-model, and mentor
Recognizing communication & behavior styles in yourself and others
Explore active listening techniques and recognize the barriers
Discuss the importance of feedback and identify successful techniques for giving and receiving it
Understand the impact of professionalism on the job site with peers, supervisors, and clients

2027 Coming Soon!

When: April 7, 2026, 8:00a.m. – 3:00p.m.
Where: Professional Development Center, ABC of Wisconsin, 5330 Wall St., Madison, WI
Instructor: Elise Radawitz, Velocity Leader
Registration Fee: $225 Members; Refreshments and lunch will be provided.
*This course counts for 7 hours of Unpaid Related Instruction (URI)!

Foreman Fundamentals

Who Should Attend:

Field workers looking to explore and grow into the role of a foreman
Foreman looking to improve skill sets and enhance the function of a team
Small – midsize construction company owners wanting to improve his or her leadership abilities

Construction foremen play a critical role in successful construction sites. They act as leaders and managers on complex construction sites; provide communications between the field and the home office and are often on the front line with the customers. Being a successful foreman requires skill. This person is an individual who not only produces a high-quality final product, but also one who is profitable, productive, and personable.

What You Will Learn:

Understand the role of a foreman
Explore your leadership style and understand it’s impact
Discuss why delegation is critical to your success and how to do it effectively
The steps to building an engaged team and establishing a positive workplace culture

When: April 17 2026, 7:30a.m. – 3:00p.m.
Where: Professional Development Center, ABC of Wisconsin, 5330 Wall St., Madison, WI
Instructor: Bill Rozga, Trade Talk, LLC
Fee: $225 Members & Apprentices
*This course counts for 7 hours of Unpaid Related Instruction (URI)!

When: May 8, 2026, 7:30a.m. – 3:00p.m.
Where: Professional Development Center, ABC of Wisconsin, 5330 Wall St., Madison, WI
Instructor: Bill Rozga, Trade Talk, LLC
Fee: $225 Members & Apprentices
*This course counts for 7 hours of Unpaid Related Instruction (URI)!

Plan & Specifications Reading

Who Should Attend:

Entry level workers
Apprentices
Admin professionals
Team members interested in enhancing their skill set in reading construction documents

Reading construction documents and plans are fundamental skills necessary for anyone striving to be successful in the construction industry. This Plan & Spec Reading course has been designed for individuals with little to no experience with reading construction plans and specifications. This course will provide a basic overview of construction plans and specs including, Civil, Site, Foundation, Floor, Roof, Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing.

What You Will Learn:

Architectural Lines & Symbols
Terminology Used in Drawings & Specifications
Guidelines for Reading Plans
Specifications
Building Codes

2027 Coming Soon!

When: April 23-24, 2026, 7:30a-3:30p
Where: ABC Professional Development Center, 5330 Wall Street, Madison
Instructor: Gary Roehrig
Registration Fee: $350
*This course counts for 16 hours of Unpaid Related Instruction.
*Plumbing apprentices are still required to take Plumbing Blueprint Reading.

Project Coordinator: A 6-Day Education Series

Who Should Attend:

Project Coordinators
Assistant Project Coordinators
Administrative Assistants
Office Managers

The Project Coordinator is an integral member of the construction team. This person must be organized, detail-oriented, and able to handle project documents, contracts, progress reports, and closeout documents. This program offers project coordinators and office support staff the ability to enhance their skillsets and operational understanding in project life cycles, plans and specifications, organization, team collaboration, and time management.

What You Will Learn:

Understanding of the construction industry and the Project Coordinator role
Explore and work with construction documents to gain an understanding of the requirements for an entire project
Discuss communication models and negotiation techniques necessary for project success
How to read and interpret plans and specification documents
Discuss the concept of breachless contract and introduce contract basics and terminology
Learn how to efficiently plan and maintain your projects

When: Begins October 13, 2026, 8:00a.m. – 3:00p.m.
Where: Professional Development Center, ABC of Wisconsin, 5330 Wall St., Madison, WI
Series Fee: $1,500 for first attendee, $1,200 for each additional attendee from same company
Individual Classes: $325

Registration deadline is 5 days prior to each course offering.

COURSE OVERVIEW

DAY 1: INTRO TO PROJECT COORDINATOR – OCTOBER 13, 2026

Instructor: Denita Schreier, WDS
Through engaging peer discussions, attendees will discuss the roles and responsibilities of Project Coordinators through the life cycles of Project Delivery as well as the characteristics that help to make a Project Coordinator successful. This session will also provide insights on how to identify and prioritize important tasks to maximize your ROI on time investment and minimize non-productive activities.

DAY 2: PLAN & SPEC READING – OCTOBER 20, 2026

Instructor: Gary Roehrig, Instructional Solutions, LLC
Reading construction documents and plans is a fundamental skill necessary for anyone working within the construction industry. Attendees will work with a set of construction plans and specifications to learn common terminology and symbols used within construction documents.

DAY 3: WORKING WITH CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS – OCTOBER 27, 2026

Instructor: Gretchen Bockenhauer, UW of Wisconsin Platteville
Through work and review of construction documents, participants will gain an understanding of the requirements for an entire project.

DAY 4: CONTRACT LAW & NEGOTIATION – November 3, 2026

Instructor: Josh Levy, Husch Blackwell
This session will teach definitions and terminology used in construction contracts as well as discuss the concept of breachless contract. Attendees will learn communication models that positively impact negotiation practices both in the office and out.

DAY 5: TEAM COMMUNICATION & MEETING MANAGEMENT – NOVEMBER 9, 2026

Instructor: Sarah Fecht, Best Self Leadership, LLC
Attendees will identify their communication style preferences, learn how to be more effective with the people they interact with daily, and learn how they may be perceived by other styles as well as explore best practice steps of effective conflict resolution. This session will also provide tips and techniques that will keep meetings running smoothly.

DAY 6: CREATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING – NOVEMBER 10, 2026

(This session is a half-day class followed by a celebration lunch and not available to purchase as a stand-alone session)

Instructor: Sarah Fecht, Best Self Leadership, LLC
Now more than ever, organizations are needing to find innovative, creative solutions to remain competitive. In this energetic and interactive session attendees will learn strategies for enhancing creative problem-solving to go beyond our current patterns of thinking.

Crew Leadership: The Good, The Bad, & The Uncomfortable

Who Should Attend:

Crew Leaders
Foremen
Project Supervisors
Office Managers

In this interactive session, get ready to dive into leadership strategies that will propel you, your team, and your organization forward! Discover what it truly means to be an effective leader, learn how to empower your employees to excel on the jobsite, and understand your vital role as a trainer. You’ll also gain essential tools for managing conflict and leading with impact. This full-day experience will equip you with the skills, techniques, and confidence to run your crew successfully. Don’t miss out on transforming your leadership approach!

What You Will Learn:

Identify your role and responsibility as a leader
Learn key strategies on how to build and lead an effective team
Learn how to effectively navigate conflict
Understand how to effectively give and receive feedback individually and in team settings
Identify leadership skills that empower your employees to succeed

2027 Coming Soon!

When: March 24, 2026, 8:00a.m. – 3:00p.m.
Where: Professional Development Center, ABC of Wisconsin, 5330 Wall St., Madison, WI
Instructor: Cory Kundert, Kundert Construction
Registration Fee: $225 members; refreshments and lunch will be provided.
*This course counts for 6.5 hours of Unpaid Related Instruction (URI)!

Entry Level & Middle Management

Executive Leadership Intensive: Lead with Confidence

COURSE OVERVIEW

Who Should Attend:

Owners
Presidents
CEOs
COOs
Senior Project Executives
Division Leaders
Department Heads
Next-Generation Leaders in Construction Companies
High-Potential Senior Managers Preparing for Executive Responsibility

Construction leaders are being asked to lead in a different era. The skills that made them successful – technical excellence, hustle, problem-solving, loyalty, and execution – are still valuable, but they are no longer enough.

The Executive Leadership Intensive: Lead with Confidence is a two-day, action-oriented program for construction executives, owners, and senior leaders who want to lead with greater confidence, think more strategically, and execute on what matters most. Participants will step back from day-to-day demands, examine how they lead under pressure, and build a practical execution plan they can immediately use with their teams and organizations.

Details: This two-day intensive includes instructor-led discussion, executive-level reflection, peer conversation, and hands-on planning. Lunch and refreshments are included. Participants will explore how leadership is changing in the construction industry and what it takes to lead effectively through uncertainty, growth, technology-driven change, and increasing organizational complexity.

What You Will Learn:

Identify their personal leadership style and how it shows up under pressure
Recognize strategic blind spots that may be limiting their effectiveness
Explore common executive traps, including the Doer Trap, Certainty Trap, Loyalty Trap, and Technology Trap
Assess the balance between business growth, leadership capability, and personal energy
Clarify their top business, professional, and personal priorities
Build four SMART goals using Spearity’s SPEAR™ framework
Identify one clearly defined SPEARhead™ priority
Create a practical action plan with strategies, initiatives, resources, and tasks
Establish a review rhythm and accountability structure for follow-through

Each participant will leave with greater clarity about the leader they need to become, four strategic goals, one focused execution plan, and a practical rhythm for turning priorities into action.

When: October 8th & 9th, 2026
Where: Professional Development Center, ABC of Wisconsin, 5330 Wall St., Madison, WI
Instructor: Darren Fisher
Registration Fee: $499
*Refreshments and lunch will be provided.

Project Supervision

Who Should Attend:

Project Managers
Project Supervisors
Crew Leaders / Foremen wanting to enhance their skillset

The Project Supervisor is responsible for the overall success of the project delivery including the planning phase, safety components, employee relations, and overall details of the construction project. Advance your career and excel in project supervision principles. The interactive program consists of multiple sessions taught by industry leaders, covering construction-specific topics every supervisor needs to know.

The Project Supervision program gives both seasoned and newer field managers an opportunity to develop their skills, share experiences and best practices and enhance their role as Project Supervisors.

2027 Coming Soon!

Course Session Time: 8:00a.m. – 3:00p.m.
Where: Comfort Inn & Suites, 5025 County Rd V., DeForest, WI
* For hotel accommodations, please call the hotel directly at (608) 846-9100 and mention ABC of Wisconsin.
Registration Fees: $2,400 for the first person, $2,200 for each additional person from the same company

COURSE OVERVIEW

DAY 1: January 27 – PROJECT DELIVERY: THE BIG PICTURE

Instructor: Jim Bunkelman, Royal Construction, Inc.
This session discusses the transitional skills required to move into a leadership position, the format to deliver a profitable project, and examine a project from the initial estimate to closeout. Discover why projects go wrong, examines common reasons for cost overruns, and learn how to efficiently plan and maintain your projects.

DAY 2: January 28 – CONTRACT LAW

Instructor: Josh Levy, Husch Blackwell
Project supervisors are often on the front line of disputes or potential disagreements between contractors and subcontractors. This session discusses the concept of breachless execution. Learn common terminology, issues and resolutions, progress billing and the payment process, performance issues, default, and termination. Through interactive discussions, attendees will practice dispute resolution and how to avoid disputes through best practice standards.

DAY 3: FEBRUARY 10 – COMMUNICATION FUNDAMENTALS

Instructor: Dan Paulson, InVision Development International, LLC
In the often-high-pressure environment of a construction site, effective communication is crucial for ensuring project success and safety. This session introduces the DISC model as a tool for understanding and adapting to different communication styles within your team. Learn how to identify and interpret the four primary DISC personality types and how these styles are demonstrated in team interactions. Attendees will understand the importance of their role in the flow of communication and learn how to overcome the barriers necessary for productive workflow within the team, and on the job.

DAY 4: FEBRUARY 11 – COST CONTROL

Instructor: Sam Daniels, Daniels Construction & Roger Thimm, Wondra Construction
The success of any project requires effective control of construction costs on the job site. This session specifically focuses on construction cost and applies principles and practices associated with cost awareness and production control to different elements of a project. Cost control begins with the estimate and then continues through work and cost analysis, production scheduling, reporting, production control, and ends with project evaluation. Attendees will solve common construction problems using case studies and discussion of common cost control issues.

DAY 5-6: FEBRUARY 26-27 – SUPERCON

Select from a variety of safety, personal development, leadership, and business management sessions taught by industry experts that will best meet your needs. SuperCon also provides the valuable opportunity to network with industry peers.

DAY 7: MARCH 10 – PROJECT EXECUTION

Instructor: Lee Hill, Koppers, Inc.
Project supervision is more than managing the job—it’s about ensuring the project is completed on time, safely, and within budget, while also looking after the well-being of your team. Success depends on navigating daily communication challenges with a variety of people, and on equipping your team with the skills and foresight to anticipate problems, identify obstacles, and act as your eyes and ears when you’re not there. In this program, we’ll explore key skills such as swift investigation, effective follow-up, delegation, clear communication, critical thinking, and long-term planning—all aimed at helping you and your team work more successfully and efficiently.

DAY 8: MARCH 11 – STRATEGIC THINKING & PROBLEM SOLVING (8:00AM-1:00PM)

Instructor: Darryl Feldman, ActionCOACH Milwaukee

Strategic planning provides both a process and a set of outcomes that help you find the answers to core questions about projects and direction. Learn the role strategic planning plays in enabling long-term success by understanding the strategic planning process and its essential components and how it applies to complex problem solving.

Enhancing Emotional Intelligence in Construction

In the evolving world of construction, transitioning and ensuring communication remains fluid may require a new set of skills. ABC of WI has developed a course that will help those in this transitioning world to be able to thoroughly understand what is causing employee reactions, rationale and logic, and appropriate ways to navigate difficult conversations. Emotional Intelligence (EI) is a critical skill in the construction industry due to its significant impact on team dynamics, communication, and overall project success.

Who Should Attend:

Field Workers
Foremen / Team Leaders
Rising Leaders & Key Personnel in Team Culture
People Recognized as “Influencers” in the Organization

What You Will Learn:

Improve self-awareness within leader to peer conversations
Develop an understanding in the 4 competencies of emotional intelligence
Improve communication with everyone on the job
Develop an understanding of the modern-day workers value and reward system
Integrate communication and value systems to deliver employee development plans

“Part of the instruction changed my entire perspective on how to apply myself on the job site and gave me a different mindset.” -Lead Foreman and Past Attendee

“The instructor has lots of first-hand experience with the topic and has learned from managing in construction.” -Superintendent and Past Attendee

2027 Coming Soon!

When: March 27, 2026, 8:00a.m. – 3:00p.m.
Where: Professional Development Center, ABC of Wisconsin, 5330 Wall St., Madison, WI
Instructor: Lee Hill, Capital Railroad Services
Registration Fee: $225 Members & Apprentices; Refreshments and lunch will be provided.
This course counts for 7 hours of Unpaid Related Instruction (URI)!

Upper Management

Transitioning Ownership of Your Construction Business

Exiting your business is one of the most important decisions you’ll ever make as an owner.
This on-demand virtual session is designed to help ABC members understand their options, prepare intentionally, and ask the right questions, long before a transition becomes urgent.

This session is educational in nature and focused solely on increasing understanding, not selling services.

Who Should Attend

This program is valuable for:

Business owners at any stage of ownership
Contractors beginning to think about succession or exit planning
Leaders who want to protect employees, culture, and company value
Owners who want clarity before making long-term decisions

You do not need to be actively planning an exit to benefit.

Where: Virtual, via Zoom
Instructors: Bill and Karen Monfre, Monfre Consulting
Registration Fee: $25 for ABC members only

Become an ABC Education Partner!

To learn more about this opportunity to gain brand awareness and exposure at Construction U education events contact the Director of Education, Jennifer Ellestad.

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