The Landing School said it is developing a community program designed to support women in Maine and beyond who are in the marine industry or want to join it.
The Arundel, Maine-based post-secondary school said the primary goal of the Women in the Marine Industry Initiative is to inspire, educate and lead women to a fulfilling and successful career in the industry with confidence and pride.
The school, which teaches modern yacht design, boatbuilding and marine systems technology, said the marine industry in Maine and nationally is enjoying a great deal of success, but women have not always been made aware of the excellent career opportunities that await them.
The initiative seeks to raise awareness among women across the country that pursuing a career in the marine industry is rewarding and worthwhile. The school said people across the industry will need to create a network of resources to ensure the effort succeeds.
Industry members can help by acting as a collaborator, becoming a mentor, offering internship opportunities, contributing to a scholarship fund, providing tuition matching and becoming a thought leader by presenting ideas at events, symposiums and conferences, the school said.
“This initiative is coming at an optimal time,” Barry Acker, director of industry relations at the school, said in a statement. “The industry is enjoying an economic surge, bringing with it a great deal of career opportunities. That coupled with the desire and need for a community initiative of this kind, that will support the continued diversification of our industry, makes for a winning situation for everyone involved.”
