New Ventures Maine’s workforce specialists are passionate about helping people manage career transitions. Suzanne Senechal-Jandreau has been teaching classes and working individually with participants discovering new job pathways for 24 years.

“I believe that my empathy for others, combined with my ability to communicate well and facilitate groups, make me an effective teacher and trainer,” Suzanne says of her work.

With a mental healthcare background and a master’s degree in adult and higher education, Suzanne was facing a major career transition in the late ‘90s. She was familiar with NVME because, “…nearly 40 years ago, my mother was a regional manager for New Ventures Maine (then Displaced Homemakers Program) in Aroostook County. She had always spoken highly of the organization.” When Suzanne heard there was an opening, she rushed at the chance to work at NVME.

One of the highlights of her job is helping girls to learn about nontraditional careers, through Totally Trades programs. Suzanne has been working on a new online session, Connecting Women to Construction Careers to be offered on March 16th.

“I am so excited to expand our Totally Trades work to include women,” she says. “There are some great opportunities in Maine and I am eager to share resources and information with them.”

NVME workforce specialists are constantly expanding their knowledge and learning new skills. Recently, Suzanne has taken professional development courses in the area of diversity, equity and inclusion. “I want to make sure that I increase my understanding as our organization works to provide equal opportunity and a sense of belonging for everyone we serve,” she says.