October 3, 2025 – In an era where the demand for skilled labor continues to grow, events like Touch a Trade play a crucial role in strengthening the connection between education and workforce development. More than 300 students from across Northern New Hampshire and Vermont gathered at Heritage Park in Berlin on October 3, 2025, to attend Touch a Trade, an interactive trade and technical career fair designed to explore many in-demand careers powering New Hampshire’s economy.
From welding sparks and line worker climbs to occupational therapy demonstrations and surveying challenges, Touch a Trade provided students with a dynamic, hands-on learning environment that connected what they’re studying in school to rewarding career pathways in the trades and technical fields.
Touch a Trade was organized by PACE, a program of the Education Alliance for New Hampshire, in partnership with New Hampshire Employment Security and ApprenticeshipNH. The event invited students from 12 high schools and 6 regional Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs and featured nearly 30 employers from across Northern New Hampshire.
“Events like Touch a Trade showcase the cross-section between education and the trades,” said Stephanie Lesperance, the Chief Strategy Officer of the Education Alliance for New Hampshire. “There are many rewarding post-secondary pathways for North Country students to choose from. It’s important to demonstrate that students do not have to leave their hometown to have a great career, they can find one right here.”
Students explored opportunities in fields such as advanced manufacturing, construction, transportation, energy, health care, and hospitality before the event transitioned to a job fair for White Mountains Community College students and the public.
A cornerstone of Touch a Trade was the involvement of trade schools. The Community College System of New Hampshire was well represented by White Mountains Community College, River Valley Community College, Manchester Community College, and Lakes Region Community College. Each hosted interactive exhibits and demonstrations showcasing their unique programs.
White Mountains Community College brought a full suite of “tools of the trade,” offering students the chance to try their hand at welding, participate in an automotive speedwrench challenge, reviewed cake displays from the Baking & Pastry program, and learn about Environmental Science and Conservation Law. Manchester Community College allowed students to try out the Pro-Press tool that allows HVAC technicians to connect pipe almost instantly, demonstrating the tool’s advantages in time and safety compared to traditional soldering methods.
River Valley Community College’s team engaged students with occupational therapy assistant demonstrations, allowing them to explore adaptive devices and tools that highlight how science and compassion intersect in healthcare careers. Granite Edvance guided students through questions about financial aid and helped them better understand the pathways to postsecondary education. With Patten’s Commercial Driving School and NH School of Mechanical Trades rounding out the postsecondary options, Touch a Trade offered students a one stop shop of opportunities.
Many employers also brought interactive displays that transformed career exploration into memorable experiences. Eversource New Hampshire drew crowds with its line worker pole climb demonstration, giving students an exciting look at what it takes to maintain the state’s power grid. The NH Department of Transportation invited participants to take part in a tire-moving challenge using a backhoe, while Mount Washington Valley Vision used a corrective lens kit demonstration to teach students about the precision and care involved in optical work.
Touch a Trade employers included: ApprenticeshipNH, Asplundh, Berlin Fire & EMS, Camden National Bank, Eversource, Garland Mill, Harlan Construction, HEB Engineers, Littleton Regional Healthcare, Mechanik Mechanix, M.J. Electric, Mount Washington Auto Road, Mount Washington Valley Vision, New England Wire, New Hampshire
Department of Corrections, New Hampshire Department of Transportation, New Hampshire Employment Security, Omni Mount Washington Resort & Spa and Bretton Woods Ski Area, Portland Glass, Pratti Mechanical, Prescott Metal, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, U.S. Customs & Border Protection, White Mountain Oil & Propane, White Mountain Paper Co., and York Land Services.
By bringing employers, colleges, and students together in one place, Touch a Trade created space for real conversations about opportunity, career preparation, and the skills that shape New Hampshire’s future.
“What a great day for so many people!” said Kim Callen of White Mountain Oil & Propane, whose booth allowed students to participate in an activity challenge. “I hope that Friday’s event makes at least one student see the value in going into a trade and makes at least one student tell another person that didn’t come this year that it was worthwhile.”
Behind the day’s excitement were months of coordination among PACE staff and community partners, all united by a shared goal: to connect students with thriving industries and opportunities that exist right here in New Hampshire.
The Education Alliance for New Hampshire and PACE team worked closely to include regional high schools and CTE centers by coordinating transportation for hundreds of students. In collaboration with New Hampshire Employment Security and ApprenticeshipNH, the PACE team organized the event logistics and curated the lineup of exhibitors and colleges representing the breadth of New Hampshire’s technical landscape. The day of the event, ApprenticeshipNH highlighted a variety of registered apprenticeships programs in the state while New Hampshire Employment Security offered application and resume assistance to the attending students.
Michael Piaseczny, the Western Hub Developer for Apprenticeship Building America, echoed the event’s collaborative teamwork. “It takes a lot of time and effort to pull off an event like that, and PACE and the Education Alliance for New Hampshire team really came through. Touch a Trade was a success, and we had many students come and talk with us.”
The success of Touch a Trade stands as a reminder that when schools, communities, and employers come together, we strengthen the technical and skilled trade knowledge that lead students from curiosity to career. Employers left Touch a Trade inspired by the enthusiasm of a generation ready to learn, build, while students left with new ideas, new connections, and a deeper understanding of what’s possible.