Shows
Road Trippin' with WTBAEpisode 9: Turn the PageThe 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. And you might not even know his name. Now, as Kevin prepares to step away from WTBA employment, Lane and Steve sit down with Kevin to "download" s...
2025-12-2337 min
Road Trippin' with WTBAEpisode 8: 'If it happened to me, it'll happen to somebody else'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 October, Perkins shared his story with WTMJ Radio (AM 620) in Milwaukee on Wisconsin's Afternoon News. WTBA recaps that interview, with permission from WTMJ's Julia Fellow, in thi...
2025-11-1413 min
Road Trippin' with WTBAEpisode 7: When Life Gives You LemonsSometimes 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 job. And also I have to have open heart surgery," Tauer said. Plan C? Put his civil engineering degr...
2025-10-0124 min
Road Trippin' with WTBAEpisode 6: The Most Influential IntrovertEver 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 then there were discussions about scooters, baseball bats, and liquor laws. Don't miss it.
2025-07-2355 min
Road Trippin' with WTBAEpisode 4: What makes Tim Michels tick?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 governor. Still, as Steve and Lane found out this week, there's a whole lot more to Tim Michels and he's happy to share it if you ask. Favorite band? Favorite boo...
2025-05-2235 minRoad Trippin' with WTBAEpisode 3: Admiration for the AdmiralMike 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 speaker at WTBA's Annual Convention in 2025 and the subject of our third podcast. The guys unpack some of Manazir's excellent leadership advice while sharing some of the incredible stories he taps i...
2025-04-3019 minRoad Trippin' with WTBAEpisode 2: Hail to the ChiefAt 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.
2025-04-0331 minRoad Trippin' with WTBAEpisode 1: Lessons from Lambeau LegendsIn 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 dozen questions from the audience. Hear what was going through Freeman's mind when he was lined up for his then record-setting Super Bowl touchdown catch, the intangible things Dotson learned from Reggie White and much more.
2025-03-1219 min