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 which women are underrepresented.

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! Spring 2020 conferences are right around the corner:

Ellsworth TT WABI Coverage

Farmington TT Sun Journal Coverage

*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
Exploring Careers2020-01-21 January 21, 2020Build your CareerBangorNorth Central/Downeast
Building Confidence2020-01-10 January 10, 2020
(ends January 24, 2020)		Build your CareerCamden Midcoast
Building Confidence2020-01-16 January 16, 2020
(ends January 30, 2020)		Build your CareerBangorNorth Central/Downeast
First Impressions Matter: Resume & Interview2020-02-05 February 05, 2020Build your CareerLewistonWestern
My Next Career Move2020-02-04 February 04, 2020
(ends February 25, 2020)		Build your CareerBangorNorth Central/Downeast
First Impressions Matter: Resume & Interview2020-03-09 March 09, 2020Build your CareerLewistonWestern
Building Confidence2020-02-28 February 28, 2020
(ends March 13, 2020)		Build your CareerAugustaCentral
My Next Career Move2020-03-04 March 04, 2020
(ends March 25, 2020)		Build your CareerLewistonWestern
First Impressions Matter: Resume & Interview2020-04-09 April 09, 2020Build your CareerTurnerWestern
My Next Career Move2020-03-18 March 18, 2020
(ends April 15, 2020)		Build your CareerAugustaCentral
Building Confidence2020-04-08 April 08, 2020
(ends April 22, 2020)		Build your CareerBrunswickMidcoast
Building Confidence2020-05-07 May 07, 2020
(ends May 21, 2020)		Build your CareerEllsworthNorth Central/Downeast