How the Trailblazers Program Sparked a New Career Path

In Fall 2024, Vermont Works for Women partnered with a group of students from a University of Vermont Public Communications capstone class to research and develop blog posts on topics related to our mission. The blog post below is written by one of these students, Sadie Ensana.

Each year the Trailblazers program offers free trades training courses to women and gender-expansive individuals throughout Vermont. Trailblazers is completely free to participants and includes comprehensive, hands-on training.

Throughout the program, participants attend classes multiple nights each week and spend their time getting experience with practical skills through real-life projects and field trips. To ensure a safe and inclusive environment, all participants work alongside instructors and mentors who have received gender equity training, making it a uniquely supportive space for individuals who might not feel comfortable in a typical trades setting.

This program makes an intimidating job field easier to break into for  women and gender-expansive folks. Leigh Gamble (they/them) enrolled in the 2024 South Burlington Trailblazers class.

With a background in music education, Gamble discovered the program at a turning point in their career. Graduating UVM in 2017 with a music education degree, they started their career journey with teaching k-12 students general ed and instrumental music. After 2 years in the field they realized that they wanted more out of their career. “I wasn’t really-able to serve the population of students I wanted to work with,” shared Gamble.

They then started to work as a store manager at a local hardware chain while in graduate school to advance their teaching career. This shift from education to trades was sparked by a search for practical skills and a desire to connect with tradespeople at the hardware store. This eventually led to Leigh applying to the Trailblazers program.

They signed up with the mindset of improving their managerial skills at the store. “I wanted to improve my general skill set, I guess I would say in terms of ability and being able to help customers”.

Soon Leigh realized the Trailblazers program was designed to help people get jobs in the trades, so they left their job at the hardware store to dive more deeply into the program.  Through Trailblazers Leigh discovered that their interest in trades could evolve into a fulfilling career.

In the classes Leigh attended multiple nights a week learning hands-on skills—they also found a community of like-minded individuals, with similar passions. “Our cohort was so supportive.”….”we have a group chat and still keep each other updated,” they explained. These connections weren’t just friendships; they were a network of support that would continue after the program.

Being a part of a gender-expansive group made a huge difference for Leigh helping them gain community and learn in the program.  “We encouraged each other in ways that may not have happened in a traditional setting.” Said Gamble. For many Trailblazers graduates, this supportive environment is critical to their success, allowing them to build confidence as they take on new challenges in their careers.

The Trailblazers program is driven by the belief that a career in trades should be accessible to anyone willing to learn and that gender should not be a barrier to entry in these high-demand fields. Trailblazers not only equips participants with technical skills but also instills a deep sense of accomplishment and independence.

“The most rewarding thing is, at the end of my workday, I have always fixed something. If  someone’s heat is out and I can fix that, if someone’s air conditioning is out and it’s 95 degrees, I can fix that. Every day of the week, I go home with a sense of, I have an answer and I have a solution.” Gamble shared. That sense of purpose, paired with the joy of exploring Vermont’s scenic landscapes on the way to job sites, makes their work incredibly satisfying.

During the Trailblazers program, Leigh interned with Control Technologies, a mechanical systems company based out of Williston, Vermont. Initially hoping to work directly with an electrician, they adapted to the available HVAC opportunities, gaining valuable skills and experience which landed them a permanent position as a mechanical technician at the company. Leigh has since become an independent technician, working on job sites across the state and enjoying the independence and satisfaction that each workday brings.

Today, Leigh is eagerly advancing their career with a four-year electrical apprenticeship, working towards a specialty in control systems, with a vision of achieving their journeyman’s license.