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414.342.9787
3841 W. Wisconsin Ave
Milwaukee, WI 53208

Eric Parker & Vincent Toran

Eric Parker 1961-2007, founding director of WRTP

Eric devoted his life and work to making America work better for working people. He worked steadily, tirelessly, and selflessly to build the knowledge, relationships and institutions to make such change a reality.

Eric Parker received a Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1994. He published dozens of articles on innovative economic and workforce strategies to improve the livelihood of working people. His contributions were published in books, journals, and newsletters, and consistently argued that labor unions could play a central and progressive role in building the bridge from communities into jobs, and helping keep employers competitive.

But his more concrete work, and living legacy, is the Wisconsin Regional Training Partnership, a national model of workforce development. The mission of WRTP is to improve the ability of employers to recruit, retain, and develop a highly diverse, committed and qualified workforce.

Under his leadership, WRTP has placed 4,000 community residents into family-sustaining jobs, raising their average annual earnings by 165% their first year on the job. The twelve-month employment retention rate has always exceeded 70%. From modest beginnings, Eric led the WRTP to an annual budget of some $2.2 million from diverse public, private, and foundation sources.

These numbers are a powerful testament to the quality of Eric's contributions. But beyond these numbers are thousands of individuals whose lives Eric's work directly touched. From the 9,000 children whose parents got good union jobs through the WRTP, to the practitioners throughout the country who were inspired by him, to the policy and foundation leaders whose very thinking about workforce development strategies were reshaped, Eric's legacy stretches far beyond the boundaries of Milwaukee.

In an effort to sustain Eric’s legacy, the Eric Parker Memorial Fund has been established. Eric was a profound leader, visionary, mentor and friend. Although he will be missed greatly, his legacy will live on.

Contributions to the fund will be used for the following purposes:

  • Development of the Eric Parker Leadership Award. This award will be given annually to an individual or group that exemplifies the qualities that Eric possessed.
  • Naming of a room within the Center of Excellence.
  • Annual planting of flowers in the planters outside the entrance of the Center of Excellence. Eric couldn’t wait to plant when the building was purchased in September of 2006. He donated the flowers and had great joy planting them in the spring. We will continue his contribution.
  • Twice a year, fresh flowers will be placed on the front desk of the Center of Excellence so that we will have a living reminder of the man that he was.

Eric Parker Memorial Fund
WRTP/BIG STEP
3841 West Wisconsin Avenue
Milwaukee WI 53208

Vincent Toran, founding director of BIG STEP

Vincent Toran has been a role model for two generations of Milwaukee apprenticeship seekers, and his influence is the basis for the success of the present day BIG STEP program and the Center of Excellence.

After completing a carpentry course in 1948, Vincent was unable to participate in the state’s apprenticeship program, which was closed to African Americans. Through his determination and with the help of staff at the Milwaukee Vocational and Adult School who strongly advocated for his inclusion in the program, Vincent became the first African American apprentice in Wisconsin.

In 1968, Vincent was named a tradesman specialist for Milwaukee’s Labor Education Advancement Program (LEAP), which set the stage for him to help make the path easier for future generations of minorities to be placed in apprenticeships and other skilled trade positions.

Vincent was named Affirmative Action Consultant for the Milwaukee chapter of the National Electrical Contractors of America (NECA) in 1974. As such, he was responsible for coordinating recruitment and placement of minority and female applicants.

In 1975, Vincent became the first executive director of BIG STEP.

Vincent was inducted into the Wisconsin Apprenticeship Hall of Fame in 1991. His legacy remains as WRTP/BIG STEP strives to create and sustain opportunities for minorities and women in the trades.

More on Vincent Toran