Press release
The GLOW With Your Hands Committee will officially launch the 2026 GLOW With Your Hands Manufacturing Career Exploration Event with a special kick-off celebration on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, at 11 a.m. at Orleans/Niagara BOCES’ Orleans Career and Technical Education Center (OCTEC) in Medina.
For the first time, the annual kick-off event will be held in Orleans County, highlighting the growing regional collaboration among schools, businesses, workforce development organizations, and community leaders dedicated to preparing the next generation of skilled workers.
Now entering its seventh year, GLOW With Your Hands has grown into one of New York State’s premier career exploration initiatives. What began with a simple vision of connecting students with careers before they make decisions about their future has evolved into a regional partnership that brings together educators, employers, workforce organizations, economic development agencies, and community leaders across Genesee, Livingston, Orleans, and Wyoming counties.
The initiative introduces students to rewarding careers in manufacturing, skilled trades, engineering, agriculture, construction, transportation, and other high-demand industries while helping employers inspire and build their future workforce.
Each year, middle and high school students participate in the hands-on career exploration event, interacting directly with employers, educators, apprentices, and industry professionals. Students gain a better understanding of the skills, education, certifications, and career pathways available while experiencing the technologies and equipment used in today’s workplaces.
This year’s event is expected to welcome more than 1,200 students from 32 school districts and more than 70 employers and post-secondary partners for interactive exhibits and hands-on demonstrations. The program’s impact continues to grow, contributing to nearly a 40 percent increase in related Career and Technical Education enrollment at Genesee Valley BOCES.
The kick-off celebration serves as the official launch of this year’s event while recognizing the partnerships that make GLOW With Your Hands possible. Attendees will hear from industry, education, workforce development, and students about how collaboration is creating meaningful opportunities for young people while strengthening the region’s workforce pipeline.
Featured speakers include Kelly Kiebala, Director of the Orleans County Job Development Center and event emcee; representatives from Brunner International, this year’s featured industry partner and a first-time GLOW With Your Hands participant; Tracy VanVleck, Executive Director of the Genesee-Livingston-Orleans-Wyoming Workforce Development Board; Dr. Michael Weyrauch, Director of Career & Technical Education and Adult Education at Orleans/Niagara BOCES; and Will Plummer, a recent Albion Central School graduate and Welding student at Orleans/Niagara BOCES, who will share how hands-on learning has shaped his education and career goals.
“Seven years ago, GLOW With Your Hands began with a shared vision of connecting students with careers before they had to decide what came next,” said Tracy VanVleck, Executive Director of the Genesee-Livingston-Orleans-Wyoming Workforce Development Board. “Today, we’re seeing students who first attended this event enrolling in Career and Technical Education programs, entering apprenticeships, pursuing college degrees, and beginning careers with employers they met through GLOW With Your Hands. That’s the power of bringing education and industry together.”
Following the program, guests will tour OCTEC’s Welding and Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering programs to see firsthand how students are developing the technical skills and industry credentials that prepare them for successful careers.
The 2026 GLOW With Your Hands Manufacturing Career Exploration Event will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026, at the Genesee County Fairgrounds in Batavia. More than 1,200 students from across the GLOW region will participate in a full day of interactive exhibits, live demonstrations, and hands-on experiences designed to spark interest in careers that are essential to the local economy.