2026 Golden Triangle Career Expo
Relive the excitement! Watch our 2025 Career Expo Highlight Video and read about the event in Connections Magazine.
FORGE Your Path Career Expo: Inspiring the Next Generation of Skilled Trade Professionals
The FORGE Your Path Career Expo is where hands-on learning meets real-world opportunity. Each year, thousands of 8th graders from across our region step out of the classroom and into an interactive environment filled with heavy equipment simulators, skilled trade challenges, and industry experts ready to share their craft.
Over two action-packed days, students discover career possibilities in construction, roofing, concrete, heavy equipment operation, electrical, welding, and more — guided by professionals who do the work every day. From operating a mini-excavator to laying brick or testing their skills in PPE races, the Expo offers unforgettable experiences designed to spark curiosity, build confidence, and inspire future career paths.
Whether you’re a student, educator, trade partner, ambassador, volunteer, or sponsor, the Career Expo is your chance to be part of shaping our future workforce.
Event Details
- Dates: Wednesday, October 21st and Thursday, October 22nd (Set-up on October 20th)
- Time: 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM
- Location: East Mississippi Community College Communiversity | 7003 S Frontage Rd | Columbus, MS 39701
Sponsors
The FORGE Your Path Career Expo is made possible through the generous support of organizations that believe in preparing the next generation for successful careers. We are proud to recognize our Title Sponsors, whose investment helps provide thousands of students with meaningful, hands-on career exploration experiences. Their commitment to workforce development is helping shape the future of our region.
Schools
The FORGE Your Path Career Expo is a unique opportunity for 8th graders to explore the world of construction and skilled trades through interactive, real-world activities. Schools invited to attend will receive registration details by email, with a finalized schedule sent in mid-September.
Trade Partners
Join us as an exhibitor and bring your trade to life through hands-on activities, simulators, skill challenges, and live demonstrations. Your booth will give students a memorable experience while introducing them to rewarding career opportunities in the skilled trades.
Together with our trade partners, we are forging pathways to career readiness and workforce success.
| Build Mississippi |
| Phillips Contracting |
| Volunteer Mississippi |
| Delta Industries |
| USM School of Construction & Design |
| New Home Building Stores |
CTE Centers
The Golden Triangle Region Career & Technical Education Centers are an important part of the FORGE Your Path Career Expo, providing hands-on activities that showcase the wide range of career pathways available through CTE. Students have the opportunity to explore interactive demonstrations, participate in skill-based activities, and connect with instructors and students who bring these programs to life. These experiences help students discover their interests while learning how Career & Technical Education can prepare them for high-demand careers and future success.
Volunteers
Volunteers are the heart of the Career Expo! There are several ways to get involved and help us create an unforgettable experience for students.
Volunteer at the Career Expo
From greeting schools and guiding student groups to assisting trade partners and helping keep the event running smoothly, volunteers play an important role throughout both days of the Expo. Whether you have a few hours or can spend the full day with us, your help makes an impact.
Help Pack Student Cinch Sacks
Can’t volunteer during the Expo? Join us before the event to help prepare the cinch sacks that will be distributed to every student attending! Volunteers will help pack bags with students’ required PPE, career exploration materials, and other Expo items so they’re ready to go when students arrive.
EMCC Ambassadors
EMCC Ambassadors will lead groups of students through the event, supervise their activities, and encourage them to participate in the hands-on experiences at each booth. They will help them connect with industry professionals, explore a variety of career paths, and make the most of their time at the Expo. Their support and enthusiasm plays a vital role in creating a positive, impactful experience for every student who attends.
Career Coach Ambassadors
As a Career Coach Ambassador, you’ll lead groups of students through the event, supervise their activities, and encourage them to participate in the hands-on experiences at each booth. You’ll help them engage with industry professionals, explore a variety of career paths, and make meaningful connections between what they learn in school and opportunities in the skilled trades. Your guidance and enthusiasm ensure students get the most out of their Career Expo experience.
Sponsors
Your sponsorship helps cover event costs, expand student participation, and create high-quality, hands-on learning opportunities. With your support, we can continue connecting thousands of students to the careers that build our communities.
Business After Hours at the Career Expo
Join us for a special Business After Hours event at the FORGE Your Path Career Expo — a chance to connect with fellow business and community leaders while getting a behind-the-scenes look at the Expo in action.
- Date: Tuesday, October 20th
- Time: 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
- Location: East Mississippi Community College Communiversity | 7003 S Frontage Rd | Columbus, MS 39701
Enjoy refreshments, tour the interactive booths, and meet the industry professionals, trade partners, and educators who make this event possible. This is a great opportunity to see firsthand how the Career Expo is shaping our region’s future workforce.