Conversations from Global Conferences in 2026 Part 1: #CCID50 Recap
- Melanie Pellis
- Mar 27
- 2 min read
Last month, GCC Co-Founders Chris McKenzie and Kate Moore, along with Biotechnology Internship Placement Consultant Catherine Hanley, attended the Community Colleges for International Development (CCID) conference in Tucson, Arizona, celebrating CCID’s 50th anniversary. During the international education conference, Chris and Catherine each presented poster sessions — highlights of which are featured in this blog.
The conference kicked off with the SIO Professional Development Day. GCC visited the Consulate General of Mexico in Tucson with a panel on local and civic partnerships for international exchange and diplomacy. The team also visited the Consulate General of Mexico in Nogales, for conversation with US Consul General Michelle Ward, and Mexican Consul General Marcos Moreno Báez (pictured below).
Top left to bottom right: Kate, Chris and Catherine at the GCC table; Coffee and conversations; Visiting the Consulate General of Mexico in Nogales; Kate and Karen McBride from CCID; Colleagues enjoying a meal at #CCID50.
Chris presented a poster session on 'Global Competencies for Early Career Success' at #CCID50. In 2021, GCC developed a competence model that is relevant for all interns who are placed in practical assignments with organizations from a range of industries around the globe. The model was developed in concert with the best HR practices of global companies, with academic research, and drawing on the requirements of current employers and their future needs. The model provides a frame of reference related to the professional demands of the future.
GCC's Chris McKenzie presenting a poster session at #CCID50.
The principles of the model are that it is stakeholder driven, holistic, and interconnected. The team identified 5 main clusters that capture the key drivers for success of early-career professionals: Managing Complexity, Service Orientation, Culturally Conscious, Growth Affinity, and Forging Alliances. Each cluster is further defined by key skills and demonstrated behaviors. Download the full PDF version here.
Catherine Hanley's poster session at #CCID50.
Catherine presented a poster titled, 'Innovative Models for Short-Term International Programs'. The full PDF can be accessed here.
A few words from Catherine: "Understanding your student population and creating programs designed to meet them where they are is essential. Segmentation and analysis from both a demographic and psychographic standpoint is a critical step for community colleges, and really all institutions, focused on expanding international education opportunities for their students".
GCC attends global conferences each year to stay connected with the international education community, and remain up to date with ever-evolving industry trends. To see where the team may be headed for upcoming conferences, get in touch at info@globalcareercenter.org for further details!
The way Meticuly is using advanced engineering and 3D printing to improve patient outcomes is impressive and motivating for future engineers. It also highlights how attention to detail matters at every stage, much like when students carefully refine their work through proofreading thesis Chicago to ensure clarity and precision. Great initiative overall.