Women Sample Nontraditional Careers

GRAND RAPIDS — For all the women out there who have ever watched “CSI” and dreamed of being a forensic scientist or flown on a commercial airliner and thought, “I could do this,” now there’s an opportunity to reach those goals.

The Women’s Resource Center and Grand Rapids Community College are offering a free conference from 5:30-8:30 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 2, called the “Nontraditional Occupation for Women Conference.”

The event will give women an opportunity to learn about careers that are considered nontraditional for women, meet someone in that field of work and explore their interest in the specific career.

Breakout sessions will be held in four categories, including public safety, skilled trades, technology and mixed bag. Public safety careers include police officers and firefighter. Women will also have an opportunity to experience a skilled trades occupation, including heavy equipment operator, electrician, tool & die, sheet metal worker and carpenter.

Those interested in technology can learn to be a programmer or technician and the mixed bag includes careers such as a mechanic, pilot, forensics and stockbroker.

The event will be held at the GRCC Applied Technology Center at 151 Fountain St. NE. The organization asks that attendees arrive early for free parking beneath the ATC.

The event schedule is as follows:

5:30 – 6            Registration and networking

6 – 6:10            Opening remarks — Women’s Resource Center

6:15 – 7            Breakout session 1

7 – 7:15            Break

7:15 – 8            Breakout session 2

8 – 8:30            Next steps/closing remarks – GRCC

Seating is limited to the first 75 registrants. Call the Women’s Resource Center at 458-5443, Ext. 11, to make a reservation or for more information.