From March 27-28, 28 U.S. citizen Exchange Alumni from 11 states gathered in Kansas City, MO the “Heart of America,” to bring their international exchange experiences home at the latest Career Connections seminar, “Skills for Success in the Heartland.” The seminar, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State and organized by Global Ties KC and Global Ties U.S., was an opportunity for alumni to build their professional networks, learn from civic leaders from the Kansas City area, and leverage the unique skills they built through their international exchange experiences.
Group photo of Career Connections KC attendees, partners, and supporters. Photo by Global Ties KC
Career Connections Kansas City opened with a networking reception held at the Kansas City Art Institute’s historic Vanderslice Hall, where attendees included U.S. Exchange Alumni seminar participants, visiting staff from the Department of State and Global Ties U.S., and Global Ties KC leadership, staff, and community supporters.
In his welcome remarks, Nolen Johnson, Global Alumni Coordinator in the Office of Alumni Affairs, urged the alumni to “Rekindle friendships, reach out to colleagues, and strengthen those connections.”
Private citizens like the alumni in attendance are the ones who will make a difference in the world, Nolen added. He highlighted the important role that U.S. citizen exchange program participants play as citizen diplomats, both during their exchanges and particularly in the years after, by using their international experience to bolster people-to-people ties that help make the United States safer, stronger, and more prosperous.
During the main conference sessions held at the Kauffman Foundation Conference Center, participants were immersed in keynote presentations, panel discussions, and breakout activities beginning with Richard Kim, the Kauffman Foundation’s Senior Director of Entrepreneurship, who shared insights on creating meaningful community impact through entrepreneurship. Participants also heard from local civic and business leaders Dr. Bridget McCandless, City Councilmember At-Large for Independence, Missouri; Elli Houston, Vice President of Kansas City SmartPort; and Jeffrey Lodermeier, a U.S. Foreign Service Officer serving as a foreign affairs advisor in the Kansas City Mayor’s Office through the U.S. Department of State’s local diplomat program.
Councilmember Dr. Bridget McCandless (left) discusses community engagement and outreach during a panel on bridging local impact and global diplomacy. Photo by Global Ties U.S.
Participants also learned how Kansas City became one of the host cities for one of the biggest sporting events of 2026, the FIFA World Cup, and the role of local government and industry in preparing Kansas City to host the event. The session highlighted the strength of the Midwest, and how U.S. citizen diplomats are ensuring that Kansas City will shine on the world stage.
Breakout sessions on Kansas City’s private sector and how to have an impact on local communities through entrepreneurship illustrated the way Exchange Alumni could use their global experiences to drive change locally. Participants were also given the direct tools to position themselves in the job market with one-on-one resume reviews and professional headshots.
Several participants noted that regardless of whether they grew up in the Heartland or had moved there more recently, they learned a great deal about the Midwest’s vibrant international connections in diverse fields – including business, academics, and civic initiatives – and that they felt that their bonds with their fellow Exchange Alumni were stronger as a result of attending.
The next Career Connections seminar in the 2025 series will take place in July in Washington, DC at a new location: the Foreign Service Institute. Titled “Powering American Innovation,” the fourth annual anchor seminar promises to be bigger than ever with networking, insights on the current local job market, and an employer fair.
Exchange Alumni enjoy a panel conversation at Career Connections KC. Photo by Global Ties KC