Totally Trades! Conferences for Girls

A Hands-on Conferences 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 girls 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
  • Alternative Energy
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 2018 conferences are right around the corner:

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
  • Mid-Coast School of Technology
  • 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
My Next Career Move2018-11-26 November 26, 2018
(ends December 17, 2018)		Build your CareerLewistonWestern
Exploring Careers2019-01-08 January 08, 2019Build your CareerBangorNorth Central/Downeast
First Impressions Matter: Resume & Interview2019-01-24 January 24, 2019Build your CareerLewistonWestern
My Next Career Move2019-01-23 January 23, 2019
(ends February 13, 2019)		Build your CareerBangorNorth Central/Downeast
Building Confidence2019-02-08 February 08, 2019
(ends February 15, 2019)		Build your CareerBangorNorth Central/Downeast
First Impressions Matter: Resume & Interview2019-02-26 February 26, 2019Build your CareerFarmingtonWestern
First Impressions Matter: Resume & Interview2019-02-27 February 27, 2019Build your CareerLewistonWestern
First Impressions Matter: Resume & Interview2019-03-06 March 06, 2019Build your CareerTurnerWestern
My Next Career Move2019-01-22 January 22, 2019
(ends March 12, 2019)		Build your CareerONLINEStatewide
Building Confidence2019-03-05 March 05, 2019
(ends March 19, 2019)		Build your CareerFarmingtonWestern
First Impressions Matter: Resume & Interview2019-03-20 March 20, 2019Build your CareerFarmingtonWestern
Building Confidence2019-03-14 March 14, 2019
(ends March 28, 2019)		Build your CareerLewistonWestern
My Next Career Move2019-04-22 April 22, 2019Build your CareerLewistonWestern
My Next Career Move2019-03-07 March 07, 2019
(ends May 02, 2019)		Build your CareerFarmingtonWestern