Totally Trades! Conferences for Girls

A Hands-on Conference for 8th Grade and High School Girls*

New Ventures Maine organizes free, one-day Totally Trades! conferences throughout Maine to encourage female students to consider careers in fields traditionally dominated by men.

This year almost 800 students will have the opportunity to explore careers in trades and technology.  Featured careers include:

  • Heavy Equipment Operation
  • Welding
  • Information Technology
  • Building Construction
  • Engineering
  • Cable Technician
  • Electrical
  • Plumbing and Heating
  • Cyber Security
Welding Student Ariel Pelton

Non-traditional welding student Ariel Pelton shares skills with other girls. Read more.

“We give girls a hands-on workshop experience to spark their interest and raise awareness about a career field that they may not have previously considered, as well as provide female role models – women who can lead by example, having already succeeded in pursuing work that traditionally is viewed as ‘man’s work’,” says Suzanne Senechal-Jandreau, Aroostook County Regional Manager.

Mark your calendars!

The Totally Trades! Fall 2019 conferences are right around the corner:

*conferences for self–identifying girls and gender-expansive youth.

Images from Totally Trades around the state

Primary funding is provided by the Maine Dept. of Transportation and Maine Dept. of Education/Career and Technical Education. Additional in-kind and financial support is provided by:

  • Cianbro
  • Cynthia McMullin Fund for Women of the Maine Community Foundation
  • Hardypond Construction
  • Charter/Spectrum Communications
  • Central Maine Community College
  • Foster Career and Technical Education Center
  • Hancock County Technical Center
  • Northern Maine Community College
  • Washington County Community College
Deirdre Wadsworth looks at blue print with colleague

Westbrook Totally Trades! advisor and funder, Deirdre Wadsworth (Owner of Hardypond Construction), was recently recognized in MaineBiz’s Women to Watch. Read her story here.

There are Career and Technical Education (CTE) Centers and Regions throughout Maine that provide hands-on training programs for high school students. For more information about a CTE Center close to you, visit mainecte.org.

For more information on how New Ventures Maine is working to introduce girls and women to non-traditional career fields contact Jean Dempster at 207-621-3434 or dempster@maine.edu
Totally Trades Logo
logo_mainedotImage result for maine cte logo

ClassDateProgram AreaLocationRegion
First Impressions Matter: Resume & Interview2019-09-25 September 25, 2019Build your CareerBuckfieldWestern
Building Confidence2019-09-12 September 12, 2019
(ends September 26, 2019)		Build your CareerEllsworthNorth Central/Downeast
First Impressions Matter: Resume & Interview2019-10-08 October 08, 2019Build your CareerLewistonWestern
First Impressions Matter: Resume & Interview2019-10-15 October 15, 2019Build your CareerMexicoWestern
My Next Career Move2019-09-11 September 11, 2019
(ends October 23, 2019)		Build your CareerONLINEStatewide
Building Confidence2019-10-10 October 10, 2019
(ends October 24, 2019)		Build your CareerLewistonWestern
First Impressions Matter: Resume & Interview2019-10-28 October 28, 2019Build your CareerWindhamSouthern
Exploring Careers2019-10-30 October 30, 2019Build your CareerBangorNorth Central/Downeast
My Next Career Move2019-10-03 October 03, 2019
(ends October 31, 2019)		Build your CareerFarmingtonWestern
My Next Career Move2019-10-22 October 22, 2019
(ends November 19, 2019)		Build your CareerCamdenMidcoast
Building Confidence2019-11-06 November 06, 2019
(ends November 20, 2019)		Build your CareerBangorNorth Central/Downeast
Building Confidence2019-12-03 December 03, 2019
(ends December 17, 2019)		Build your CareerOxfordWestern