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 more than 600 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
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:
- Rockland: October 10, 2018, at the Mid-Coast School of Technology
- For more information, contact: Melinda Wildes 593-7942
- Calais: October 26, 2018, at Washington County Community College
- For more information, contact: Suzanne Senechal-Jandreau 768-9635
- Farmington: November 8, 2018, at Foster Career and Technical Education Center
- For more information, contact: Janet Smith 778-2757
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
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
Related Classes
| Class | Date | Program Area | Location | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Building Confidence | 2018-07-10 July 10, 2018 (ends July 24, 2018) | Build your Career | Turner | Western |
| My Next Career Move | 2018-06-27 June 27, 2018 (ends July 25, 2018) | Build your Career | ONLINE | Statewide |
| Exploring Careers | 2018-09-11 September 11, 2018 | Build your Career | Lewiston | Western |
| Exploring Careers | 2018-09-12 September 12, 2018 | Build your Career | Bangor | North Central/Downeast |
| Building Confidence | 2018-09-13 September 13, 2018 (ends September 20, 2018) | Build your Career | Ellsworth | Central |
| Building Confidence | 2018-09-18 September 18, 2018 (ends September 25, 2018) | Build your Career | Gardiner | Central |
| Exploring Careers | 2018-10-11 October 11, 2018 | Build your Career | Oxford | Western |
| Building Confidence | 2018-10-05 October 05, 2018 (ends October 19, 2018) | Build your Career | South Paris | Western |
| Building Confidence | 2018-10-16 October 16, 2018 (ends October 30, 2018) | Build your Career | Damariscotta | Midcoast |
| My Next Career Move | 2018-09-19 September 19, 2018 (ends October 31, 2018) | Build your Career | ONLINE | Statewide |
| My Next Career Move | 2018-10-15 October 15, 2018 (ends November 05, 2018) | Build your Career | Bangor | North Central/Downeast |
| My Next Career Move | 2018-10-16 October 16, 2018 (ends November 13, 2018) | Build your Career | Brunswick | Midcoast |
| My Next Career Move | 2018-10-17 October 17, 2018 (ends November 14, 2018) | Build your Career | Boothbay Harbor | Midcoast |
| My Next Career Move | 2018-10-25 October 25, 2018 (ends November 15, 2018) | Build your Career | Rockland | Midcoast |
| Building Confidence | 2018-11-14 November 14, 2018 (ends November 28, 2018) | Build your Career | Lewiston | Western |
| My Next Career Move | 2018-11-26 November 26, 2018 (ends December 17, 2018) | Build your Career | Lewiston | Western |