SMCC Prepares for Thousands as Bring Back the Skills Expo Hits 75% Capacity
SOUTH PORTLAND, ME – Bring Back the Trades (BBTT) and Southern Maine Community College (SMCC) announced today that the exhibitor floor for the upcoming Maine Skills Expo on May 19 is nearly sold out, signaling a surge in industry interest for Maine’s premier hands-on trades workforce event.
The BBTT Skills Expos are not your typical career fair, as the event will transform the SMCC campus into a job site where students, parents, educators and community members will engage with the trades like Maine has never seen before. Attendees will be able to operate an excavator, harness up and climb a scaffolding rig to learn professional tie-off maneuvers, wire a circuit, use metal benders to make their own cell phone holder, race RC ships, do virtual and mixed reality welding, compete for prizes, talk with industry experts, and so much more!
“We don’t do boring career fairs,” said Steve Turner, Founder of Bring Back The Trades. “We want students to get their hands on the tools and feel the power of the equipment. When people realize they can actually do this for a living – and thrive at it – that’s a win for the entire Maine economy.”
The Bring Back the Trades Maine Skills Expo is presented by F.W. Webb Company. As F.W. Webb celebrates its 160th year in business, their support of the Bring Back the Trades Skills Expos series underscores a century-and-a-half commitment to the people who build and maintain the region’s infrastructure.
“For 160 years, F.W. Webb has grown alongside the skilled professionals who keep our communities running,” said Sean Davis, Vice President of Marketing at F.W. Webb Company. “Supporting the Maine Skills Expo is about more than just a sponsorship; it’s about ensuring the next generation has the resources and the inspiration to carry these essential trades into the future. We are proud to invest in the hands-on learning that turns curiosity into a career.”
The event is hosted by SMCC. As Maine faces a growing need for skilled labor, the Expo serves as a direct bridge between the classroom and high-paying, essential careers.
“Bringing this event to our campus is a natural fit,” said Kristen Miller, president of SMCC. “We are training Maine’s future workforce, and seeing thousands of students experiencing these trades firsthand is exactly how we keep our state’s industries moving forward.”
Local major industry representatives from Casella Waste, Eastern Propane & Oil, General Dynamics Bath Iron Works, Lighthouse Credit Union, Milwaukee Tool and dozens more will be on-site, offering a rare opportunity for attendees to network directly with the companies actively seeking to raise awareness about the lucrative, viable careers in the trades.
- Event Highlights:
- Heads-On Activities: Run excavators, build toolboxes, and try your hand at professional soldering.
- Scholarship Awards: BBTT will be awarding scholarships during the event to support students pursuing trade certifications, licenses and degrees thanks to area companies supporting the event.
- Direct Recruitment: Real-time information on apprenticeships, entry-level roles and educational pathways.
- BBQ Lunch: Free lunch for all attendees to facilitate informal networking (tickets required).
- Details:
- Admission: Tickets are required and are free if you apply the promo code MEDIA. BBQ lunch included. Ticket deadline is Friday, May 15 (while supplies last).
- Location: Southern Maine Community College, South Portland Campus, HUB Athletic Center, 2 Fort Road, South Portland, ME.
- Date: Tuesday, May 19, 2026, 9:00 am to 2:30 pm
- Scholarship: Deadline to apply for scholarship awards from this event is April 30, 2026. Applications received after April 30, 2026 will still be considered for the BBTT monthly scholarship awards.
Visit the Maine Skills Expo event page for more information.
About Bring Back the Trades
Bring Back the Trades is a non-profit organization committed to providing scholarships and equipment to students pursuing careers in the skilled trades. By partnering with industry leaders, BBTT works to change the public perception of trade careers and ensure the next generation of American craftspeople has the resources to succeed. BBTT.org. Learn more at BBTT.org
About F.W. Webb Company
An industry pioneer since 1866, F.W. Webb Company is the largest wholesale distributor of plumbing, heating, HVAC, LP gas, refrigeration, pipe, valves and fittings in the Northeast. F.W. Webb has grown from a single location to more than 100 across nine states and proudly offers customers an extensive inventory of products and dedicated services that reach from underground to the rooftop. Covering 16 areas of expertise, specialty markets include process controls, water works, environmental services and more. F.W. Webb also operates more than 49 Frank Webb Home bath, kitchen and lighting retail showrooms. Media contact: [email protected].