Road Trippin' with WTBA

Episode 11: Staying in Her Lane

Sky Capriolo wasn't sure where to begin when she won election to the Milwaukee County Board in 2024. The possibilities seemed endless. "You quickly learn that around every corner is a very worthy cause and you can just drown in them," Capriolo admitted. The roads seemed to be a pretty good place to start. The Minnesota native spent years living and working in Chicago where people drive notoriously fast. And yet, people in Milwaukee seemed to be even worse in her mind. Tired of seeing preventable crashes, reckless driving, and injuries on local streets and highways, Capriolo launched a safe driving campaign. She started handing out hands-free cellphone holders for drivers during public events. The freebies were a hit, so this year she's expanding the campaign with free stuffed teddy bears wearing t-shirts that say "I care about safe driving." "One of the things I remember when I was probably in seventh grade, there was the push to wear seatbelts. Parents weren't wearing seatbelts and my teachers told me, 'Go home and tell your parents you need to wear a seatbelt.' So, I think getting to kids at an early age is a really great idea," Capriolo said. It's that commitment to safer roads for everyone that prompted WTBA to feature the now two-term Milwaukee County Supervisor on the latest edition of the "Road Trippin' with WTBA" podcast.

Episode 10: On Your Own

If you've ever felt like the world is against you, nothing is going your way, and things are falling apart, Rob Jones would like a word or two. Jones lost both his legs when he stepped on an IED in Afghanistan in 2010. It meant no more Marine Corps and–initially, he thought–no good reason to live. Instead, Jones proceeded to win an Olympic medal, bike across the continental United States, and run 31 marathons in 31 consecutive days. He now tours the world with Echelon Front [https://echelonfront.com/], showing people how the laws of combat and the leadership skills associated with them can (and should) apply to all of our lives. "Things happen to people. You can't change what's happened in the past," Jones said. "What you can do is take extreme ownership of your own life." He brought that mindset and advice to WTBA's 2026 Annual Convention as the opening morning's keynote speaker. Jones' 75-minute presentation was interactive and inspiring, producing tears, laughter, and a lasting impression. WTBA Executive Director Steve Baas talked with Jones shortly after he came off the stage for our latest "Road Trippin' with WTBA" podcast.

Episode 9: Turn the Page

The 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" some of his vast knowledge, hear about some of his greatest successes and bitter failures, and find out what it takes to become a budget expert. Oh, and then there's stuff like AC/DC concerts and wild adventures in train travel in Cold War-era Germany. Enjoy!

Episode 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 this edition of Road Trippin' with WTBA.

Episode 7: When Life Gives You Lemons

Sometimes 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 degree from Michigan Tech to good use. "I was lucky enough to have an opportunity at Northeast Asphalt," Tauer said. "After a couple interviews, because they weren't sure, right? I was hired and I've been here ever since." We'd say that's worked out pretty well for Tauer, the construction industry, and WTBA as a whole. Tauer is the latest guest on the "Road Trippin' with WTBA" podcast. During our 20-minute conversation, we learn more about one of the young industry leaders in our association and Tauer's critical role in helping launch WTBA's new work zone safety billboard campaign in the Fox Valley.