The Totally Trades Conference, coordinated by  New Ventures Maine, will be offered virtually this fall with an online Totally Trades Career Week, October 19 – 23.  The sessions are designed to encourage girls to consider careers in fields traditionally underrepresented by women. 

Five virtual workshop sessions will be offered to girls currently enrolled in Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs, those considering pursuing non-traditional employment in the five career sectors represented or enrolling in future CTE programs. The career sectors being highlighted are Bridge and Highway Building Trades, Communications and Technology Trades, Automotive Trades, Public Safety Careers, and Building Trades.

“We want to provide girls in grades 8-12 with information and support in career sectors of interest to them. Maine’s career and technical education schools and Community College system are doing amazing work introducing students to programs such as building and metal trades, automotive technology, and heavy equipment operations as well as other trade and technical careers,” said Suzanne Senechal-Jandreau, conference planner for New Ventures Maine. “These careers, for the most part, are considered high wage and high opportunity in Maine and the United States.”

New Ventures Maine is a statewide community outreach program of the University of Maine at Augusta.

The workshops are free, and open to girls in grades 8 through 12 who are exploring or considering employment in the featured career sectors. Funding for the virtual Totally Trades Career Week is provided by the Maine Department of Education/CTE and the Maine Department of Transportation. Additional support and in-kind contributions are provided by businesses and community partners.

Individuals seeking more information on the virtual Totally Trades Career Week sessions, or interested in registering should contact Suzanne Senechal-Jandreau at 207-768-9635 or senechal@maine.edu or check out our website at www.totallytradesmaine.org.

New Ventures Maine creates an empowering environment for Maine people to define and achieve their career, financial, and small business goals. Through tuition-free classes and individual coaching, we help people find good jobs, start or return to college, launch small businesses, manage their money and build their assets.

UMA transforms the lives of students of every age and background across the State of Maine and beyond through access to high-quality distance and on-site education, excellence in student support, civic engagement, and professional and liberal arts programs.  For more information, please visit https://www.uma.edu/.