The Times of Northwest Indiana -11/19/2025
VALPARAISO — Over 1,000 students from across Northwest Indiana were able to get sneak peeks into skilled trade careers on Tuesday.
The Center of Workforce Innovations (CWI) and the Construction Advancement Foundation (CAF) held their 3rd Annual Porter County Construction and Skilled Trades Day at the Porter County Expo Center.
Students from over 20 high schools in the Region were able to learn about 20 skilled trades careers from current apprentices and live demonstrations, where the students could try out bricklaying, roof installation or operating heavy machinery through virtual simulators. They could also take part in other hands-on activities, such as building their own tool kits from metal sheets or making their own marshmallow blow guns out of pipes.
CWI and CAF have hosted the career fairs since 2017, and most recently held one in Lake County last month.
Ami Reese, Director of Marketing and Communications for CWI, said construction and skilled trades offered promising career paths for the Region’s young people.
“We want to exist to be that source of information, resource, opportunity for these students that are about to graduate,” said Reese. “And really get an idea of what it’s like to have a career in the skilled trades.
Gracie Cornett, a student at Westville High School, said that while she prefers to pursue a career in the medical field, she found the fair to be both fun and informative.“I’ve more of an interest, I do like some of the things, especially the technical engineering or something with like welding would be really fun,” she said.
Kevin Comerford, director of professional development for CAF, said that in speaking with many local trade professionals, he notes there is a workforce need in the skilled trades right now.
“I hope that (students) take away that there’s good paying opportunities that don’t require you to go through college,” said Comerford. “There are opportunities out there where you’re not going to go into debt to gain some skill set that are going to lead to rewarding careers.”
More information about careers in the trades is available online at webuildnwi.com.