Green Bay to Host First Annual Trades Day

By Jason Mathwig | February 11, 2026

GREEN BAY, WI –February 11, 2026 – The Green Bay Area Public School District (GBAPS), the City of Green Bay, the Northeast Wisconsin (NEW) Construction Alliance, and the Northeast Wisconsin Youth Apprenticeship are excited to announce its first annual Trades Day on Wednesday, February 18, 2026.

This newly launched event is dedicated to showcasing careers in the construction trades and the vital role they play in Northeast Wisconsin’s economy. This event is designed to connect construction employers directly with students and community members interested in learning more about careers in the skilled trades.

GBAPS high school students will be invited to attend a presentation about the construction industry and then have an opportunity to learn more about various businesses/trades within the construction industry.

The Trades Day will be hosted in the gym at Southwest High School, 1331 Packerland Drive. Community members are invited to attend and learn about employment opportunities at the participating businesses from 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

The media is invited to attend from 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

  • Please enter at the north entrance
  • Presentation to students will be in the auditorium at 10:00 a.m.
  • Students will then proceed to the gym to visit with the business representatives
  • The following individuals will be available in the gym after the presentation for
    interviews:

    • David Polk, Director of the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development Bureau of Apprenticeship Standards
    • Jason Mathwig, Industry Alliance Director, New North Inc.
    • Eric Genrich, Mayor Green Bay, WI
    • Amaad Rivera-Wagner, State Assembly Representative, District 90
    • Dan Webster, Development & Community Engagement, Walbac Group
    • Michael Whisler, Principal, Green Bay Southwest High School
    • David Gordon, Youth Apprenticeship (YA) and Career Technical Education Coordinator, CESA
    • Danielle Wahlen, YA School Based Coach, Southwest High School

Green Bay Area Public School District
Founded in 1856 with the opening of the Sale School, the Green Bay Area Public School District is more than 150 years old. A unified school district of 92 square miles, it covers the city of Green Bay, all of the village of Allouez, the village of Bellevue, the town of Scott, as well as part
of the towns of Ledgeview, Eaton, Green Bay and Humboldt. For more information, visit the district website http://www.gbaps.org.

City of Green Bay
The City of Green Bay is the flagship city and economic hub of northeastern Wisconsin, serving as the county seat of Brown County and home to approximately 107,000 residents along the Bay of Green Bay at the mouth of the Fox River. Governed by a mayor and 12-member city council, the City provides a full range of municipal services while fostering public–private partnerships that support neighborhood revitalization, business growth, and strategic reinvestment in infrastructure. As Wisconsin’s oldest city and a gateway to a metropolitan area
of more than 330,000 people, Green Bay combines a strong industrial and visitor economy with a vibrant quality of life, anchored by its historic downtown, waterfront, parks, and cultural amenities.

Northeast Wisconsin (NEW) Construction Alliance
The Northeast Wisconsin (NEW) Construction Alliance, under the leadership of New North, Inc., is an association of employers in the construction trades and friends of the industry collaborating to work with educators, workforce development, economic development, and
government to promote careers in the building and construction trades in our 18 county region of northeast Wisconsin. We are a united voice for the construction and trades industry and careers.

Northeast Wisconsin Youth Apprenticeship
Cooperative Educational Service Agency 7 (CESA 7) is strengthening Northeast Wisconsin’s workforce pipeline through the Northeast Wisconsin Youth Apprenticeship (NEWYA) Consortium, a regional partnership connecting school districts, employers, and students through paid, career-connected learning. Through NEWYA, CESA 7 partners with local employers to ensure students gain meaningful, real-world experience while helping districts and businesses build a skilled, homegrown workforce. The combined impact—student wages, district reinvestment, and workforce development—positions Youth Apprenticeship as both an educational strategy and a driver of regional economic development.

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