Employer Information

Western works closely with Wisconsin’s ATRs—your go-to resource for launching or expanding an apprenticeship program. ATRs provide personalized guidance and on-site assistance to help you assess your workforce needs and align them with the right apprenticeship pathway.

Bureau of Apprenticeship Standards - Apprenticeship Training Representative:

Darrell Ferguson
2860 21st Place S
La Crosse, WI 54601
608-514-3233
darrell.ferguson@dwd.wisconsin.gov

No two businesses are alike—and your training model shouldn’t be either. Your ATR will guide you in building a program tailored to your company’s job roles and future needs. You can adopt an existing model or design a new program from the ground up, all with Western’s support for classroom instruction.

What Western provides: Quality classroom education aligned with current industry standards, delivered by experienced instructors in modern, hands-on learning environments.

Once your program is designed, it’s time to register. Through the Wisconsin Bureau of Apprenticeship Standards, your business becomes an official sponsor. You’ll join over 2,000 Wisconsin employers committed to growing their skilled workforce through apprenticeship.

Your responsibilities:

• Hire and mentor apprentices
• Provide structured, supervised on-the-job training
• Pay apprentices for both work and classroom instruction
• Support wage progression as skills are gained

Western ensures the classroom portion of your apprentices' training meets high educational standards, helping them succeed both on the job and in the classroom.

With your program in place, Western continues to be your partner. Together with your ATR, we’ll help you evaluate program outcomes, troubleshoot challenges, and adjust for continuous improvement. You’ll build a pipeline of talent and preserve the hard-earned skills of your current workforce.

The result: Loyal, highly skilled employees trained specifically for your business and your future.