ACE Academy: Building Wisconsin's Skilled Trades Construction Workforce

Building Futures, One Skill at a Time: The ACE Academy Story

From 9 students building birdhouses in a boardroom in Burlington to 235 students learning 16 skilled trades in a 6,000 sq ft facility in Fond du Lac, the transformation of construction education in Wisconsin has been remarkable. The Architecture, Construction, and Engineering (ACE) Academy is more than an educational program. It shows what's possible when industry leaders, educators and communities come together. What began in 2003 as AGC Wisconsin's first modest effort has grown into premier skilled trades programming. The ACE Academy at Fond du Lac High School is supported by 58 contractor partners who provide expertise and real-world experience.

With construction employment in Wisconsin growing faster than manufacturing, healthcare and education over the last five years, the ACE Academy has proven that practical learning is essential for building the workforce our economy needs. This isn't just preparing students for careers; it's ensuring the future of an entire industry.

The Journey: From Vision to Reality

The story of the ACE Academy begins with a simple observation and a bold vision. In 2003, when AGC Wisconsin first visited Burlington's construction program, they found nine students working in a boardroom-type space, building birdhouses. After expanding that program, Pat Smith with C.D. Smith, who was serving as AGC's vice president at the time, saw the opportunity to build something bigger in Fond du Lac.

One of the first ACE Academy classes in Wisconsin working on a project in Burlington as part of construction skilled trades program.

It took nearly a decade of persistence, planning, and partnership-building to turn the idea into reality. The program launched in 2015 with 35 students in a classroom at the back of the woodshop. Vern Widmer, ACE Academy Instructor at Fond du Lac High School, recalls that pivotal moment: "It took Pat Smith and Bob Roehrig to have a dream and a vision, which is now here."

Building a Hub for Hands-On Learning

The new facility needed to support every aspect of modern construction education. As Christopher J. (C.J.) Smith from C.D. Smith explains, "The new ACE Academy building needed to be able to support electrical work, plumbing work, HVAC work, framing work, concrete, masonry, steel erection and it needed to store all of the materials and equipment to accomplish those tasks."

ACE Academy students in Fond du Lac High School facility learning Tyvek exterior framing details as part of Wisconsin's construction training program

But the real shift wasn’t just the space. It was how students were learning. The purpose-built Fond du Lac facility gives students first-class, immersive training and turns career possibilities into real-world experience. "When you take students, put them in a cohort of other students who learn the same way and share similar interests, then they thrive and they succeed," notes Bob Barker, Executive Vice President of AGC Wisconsin.

Community and Industry: The Power of Partnership

What sets the ACE Academy apart is the way community partnerships drive its success. From the beginning, local contractors and businesses contributed more than funding. They brought their time, expertise and passion into the classroom.

Construction industry mentor working alongside students at ACE Academy, supporting workforce development and hands-on learning.

As Jim Jarvis, Executive Vice President of J.F. Ahern Company, explains, "We involved our people in helping develop the program, helping develop the curriculum and also helping some of the teaching that gets done."

High school students engaged in skilled trades education at the ACE Academy, practicing jobsite techniques with instructor supervision and CD Smith Construction mason

The result? A program that mirrors the real world. Students learn in a space that looks and feels like a jobsite. They get direct access to professionals who know what it takes to succeed. And they leave high school with confidence, clarity and career-ready skills.

From Blueprint to Reality: The ACE Shanty Build

One of the program's most celebrated traditions perfectly captures the learning approach that makes the ACE Academy special. The annual ACE Shanty Build takes students through the complete construction process.

Finished sturgeon spearing shanty built by ACE Academy students as part of the annual hands-on Shanty Build project in Wisconsin.

According to C.J. Smith, students build a sturgeon spearing shanty from the ground up with input from industry leaders and professionals. This allows them to see a project go from blueprint to material list, to build-in-progress, to a finished product they can proudly share with the community. During Sturgeon Spearing weekend, the finished shanty gets raffled off to the community, raising funds that go right back into the program.

TOmorrow's Workforce: Career Pathways Start Here

Behind the stats are real students and their life stories. ACE Academy programs open doors. Whether it's an apprenticeship, technical college or even a four-year degree, ACE helps students see all of the opportunities available in construction and beyond.

ACE Academy student learning wall building framing HVAC or electrical skills as part of Wisconsin's high school construction training program.

The timing couldn't be more critical. With Wisconsin's construction economy continuing to expand, the demand for skilled craftspeople has never been higher. The ACE Academy provides exactly the kind of exposure and training that young people need to become skilled contributors to a growing industry.

Students collaborating on a real-world construction project at ACE Academy, gaining career-ready skills in skilled trades education classroom learning.

Here's what Bob Barker finds most rewarding about the program: "When I attend events at Fond du Lac, you can really sense the excitement of the students about what they're doing, and that makes it all worthwhile."

Building More Than Careers

Students collaborating on a real-world construction project at ACE Academy, gaining career-ready skills in skilled trades education classroom learning.

Programs like the ACE Academy are preparing students for jobs and careers while sustaining an industry and strengthening communities. Most importantly, they show what happens when students are given the right tools and support: They don’t just learn trades. They build confidence, community and careers that shape the future of Wisconsin.