In the Headlines

PALM HARBOR, Fla., July 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Geographic Solutions has been named as a finalist for the 2026 SaaS Awards in four categories: Best SaaS Product for Education and Nonprofits, Best SaaS Solution for HR and Workforce Management, Best Data-Driven SaaS Innovation, and Best Bespoke or Specialized SaaS Solution.

Celebrating a decade of recognizing software excellence since its launch in 2016, The SaaS Awards is operated by the global cloud computing awards body, The Cloud Awards. The SaaS Awards recognizes cutting edge innovations and applications of software-as-a-service solutions across a broad range of use cases and sectors. Geographic Solutions among the selected organizations representing all corners of the globe progressing to the finalist stage.

"Being named a finalist in the SaaS Awards for the second consecutive year is a testament to our team's relentless focus on innovation and customer success," said Paul Toomey, President and Founder of Geographic Solutions. "We are committed to advancing AI-powered workforce technology that helps agencies modernize service delivery, improve operational efficiency, and create better outcomes for the individuals, businesses, and communities they serve."

James Williams, CEO of The Cloud Awards, said: "This year's SaaS Awards nominees are proving that the future of software lies in absolute reliability and performance. Our judges look for products that don't just innovate but actively solve complex business hurdles. Geographic Solutions has demonstrated the exact mix required to lead the market. Reaching this stage is a prestigious benchmark of quality. We congratulate the team on their finalist placement and look forward to celebrating their continued success."

The program's judges will now determine which of the finalists should be crowned the winner in each category. The SaaS Awards winners will be announced on Tuesday August 11, 2026.

Article first published at and distributed by PR Newswire.

TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Labor (KDOL) is proud to announce that the Labor Market Information (LMI) Division has received two national awards from Geographic Solutions (GSI) during the 2026 Workforce Technology Conference for Today's Occupations, Tomorrow's Opportunities (T.O.T.O). The state’s free online career exploration application is designed to help Kansans explore careers, education pathways and workforce opportunities. 

Built on GSI's Virtual Career Center platform, T.O.T.O. earned the Largest Annual Increase in Traffic to an Education Site award for the highest year-over-year traffic growth and the Most Innovative Application award for its customized career exploration tools, Kansas-specific labor market information, educational resources and the Wizard of Jobs budgeting application. 

"We are committed to providing innovative tools that prepare Kansans for successful careers and strengthen our state's workforce," said KDOL Secretary Amber Shultz. "Receiving these national awards is an incredible honor and a reflection of the LMI team's commitment to creating meaningful resources for students, educators and job seekers.” 

"Being recognized with the Most Innovative Application award is a testament to the department's vision for transforming career exploration through technology,” said Paul Toomey, Founder and President of Geographic Solutions. “Together, we're helping build a stronger talent pipeline that benefits students, educators, employers and communities across Kansas. We are honored to partner with Kansas in developing T.O.T.O.” 

Article first published at the Kansas Department of Labor's News List page. For more information about T.O.T.O., visit toto.dol.ks.gov. 

We are thrilled to share that our Founder and President, Paul Toomey, was recently featured in a Fast Company article exploring one of the most critical decisions facing modern business leaders: when to promote talent from within versus when to hire externally.

As a member of the prestigious Fast Company Impact Council—an invitation-only collective of innovative founders, executives, and leaders redefining the future of business—Paul joined 18 other national business minds to share his leadership philosophy on organizational growth and talent development.

Aligning Talent Decisions with Company Lifecycle

The feature, titled "19 leaders on promoting from within versus hiring externally," highlights the delicate balance of building a sustainable, high-performing workforce. When asked how he approaches this critical decision-making process, Paul emphasized that leadership choices should always be driven by a forward-looking assessment of what the company needs at its specific stage of growth.

Rather than relying on a rigid formula, Paul advocates for evaluating a role's immediate demands against the long-term impact on company culture and client success:

"I start by asking what the role requires at this stage of the company. If we have someone internally who has earned trust, understands our clients, and is ready to grow and succeed at the next level, promoting from within is especially valuable. It reinforces culture and continuity. In some circumstances, senior roles can require experience or expertise we have not yet developed internally, so an external hire can bring needed perspective or scale. The key is to make decisions based on future impact, and not just past familiarity."— Paul Toomey, Founder and President of Geographic Solutions

Cultivating Culture While Embracing Innovation

At Geographic Solutions, this philosophy is woven directly into our DNA. Promoting from within rewards dedication, preserves our deep institutional knowledge, and honors the trust our team has built with the workforce development agencies we serve. At the same time, selectively introducing fresh, external perspectives allows us to scale our technology, stay agile, and continuously innovate.

To read the full article and explore insights from all 19 featured Impact Council members, you can head over to the official piece on Fast Company.

Palm Harbor, FL (July 10, 2026) – Geographic Solutions today announced that its proprietary VOS Sapphire AI platform has been named Best AI/ML Solution in the 2026 Tech Ascension Awards.

VOS Sapphire AI leverages artificial intelligence to streamline case management, enhance job matching, automate routine tasks, and deliver personalized assistance to job seekers, employers, and workforce professionals across 40 states and U.S. territories. By improving efficiency, reducing administrative burden, and enabling data-driven decision-making, VOS Sapphire AI helps agencies modernize service delivery and achieve better employment outcomes through a secure, fully integrated AI solution.

"Receiving the Tech Ascension Award for Best AI/ML Solution is a tremendous honor and reflects our commitment to developing AI technologies that deliver real value for workforce agencies," said Paul Toomey, President and Founder of Geographic Solutions. "VOS Sapphire AI empowers workforce professionals to work more efficiently, improve services for job seekers and employers, and achieve better workforce outcomes through secure, practical innovation."

The 2026 Tech Ascension Awards recognize organizations developing innovative technologies that solve critical business challenges and deliver measurable customer value. Winners are evaluated on technology innovation, market impact, and competitive differentiation.

"The 2026 DevOps Award winners are helping define what modern technology operations look like in an AI-driven era," said David Campbell, CEO of Tech Ascension Awards. "These companies stood out for delivering solutions that bring greater intelligence, automation, visibility, and operational control to complex environments. Their innovations are helping organizations move faster, work smarter, and build more resilient digital systems."

Palm Harbor, FL – July 8, 2026 – Geographic Solutions successfully concluded its 2026 Workforce Technology Conference in Monterey, California, bringing together hundreds of workforce professionals, technology leaders, and government officials for three days of learning, collaboration, and innovation.

Representing 37 states and territories and 105 distinct agencies, attendees explored the latest workforce technologies through expert-led educational sessions, hands-on demonstrations, collaborative discussions, and pre-conference training focused on the newest capabilities of VOS Sapphire® and Virtual LMI®. 

The conference showcased emerging technologies and strategies designed to help workforce agencies modernize services for job seekers, employers, and communities. More than 95 industry leaders and subject matter experts presented sessions covering artificial intelligence, workforce modernization, labor market information, unemployment insurance, apprenticeship, education partnerships, employer engagement, and reentry initiatives.

Attendees also participated in roundtable discussions and product enhancement voting sessions, providing valuable feedback that will help shape the continued evolution of Geographic Solutions' workforce technology solutions. 

Returning this year was Partnership Row, featuring organizations whose integrated solutions complement the Geographic Solutions software suite. The company extends its appreciation to this year's participating partners: Big Interview, Metrix Learning, Engage by Cell, SaraWorks, Amazon Web Services, and JobTarget. Their collaboration helps workforce agencies deliver more connected, technology-driven services.

Another conference highlight was the keynote presentation by Formula 1 and IndyCar racing legend Derek Daly, whose session, Culture Formula WON: How to Shift from Good2Great2Extraordinary, encouraged attendees to embrace continuous improvement, innovation, and AI-driven efficiency.

Drawing from his distinguished racing career and leadership experience, Daly demonstrated how the pursuit of marginal gains can help workforce agencies achieve extraordinary results by empowering teams, improving service delivery, and creating better outcomes for employers and job seekers. 

Additionally, Geographic Solutions also recognized the many guest speakers whose expertise and real-world experiences contributed to a dynamic educational program addressing today's most pressing workforce challenges. The ideas, feedback, and partnerships developed throughout the week will continue to influence product innovation and support workforce agencies as they prepare for the future.

The 2027 Workforce Technology Conference will be held in Clearwater Beach, Florida. More updates on the conference to follow.

Geographic Solutions has been named to the shortlist for the 2026 SaaS Awards in several categories, recognizing our continued innovation and excellent in software-as-a-service solutions. This year, we’ve been shortlisted in the categories of Best SaaS Product for Education and Nonprofits, Best Bespoke or Specialized SaaS Solution, Best SaaS Solution for HR and Workforce Management, and Best Data Driven Solution.

Now in its 10th year as an awarding body, The SaaS Awards recognizes excellence across industries, business processes, and technical areas, including artificial intelligence, data, and content management. This year’s shortlist was selected following the first round of assessment of all nominees received. Geographic Solutions is among a group of organizations from around the world advancing to the next stage of judging.

“Technology buyers are becoming more discerning as budgets are tightened, and expectations heightened, said James Williams, CEO of The Cloud Awards. “Being able to blend ingenuity with demonstrable results is a must to stand out in today’s market – and Geographic Solutions has done just that."

The program will now move into its second round of judging, which will narrow the shortlist to finalists in each category. SaaS Awards finalists are scheduled to be announced on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, with final winners revealed in August.

Palm Harbor, FL – June 19, 2026 – Geographic Solutions, the nation’s leading provider of workforce development software for state and local government agencies, is proud to announce that it has been named in the Top 100 for the 2026 North America Inspiring Workplaces Awards for the third consecutive year.

The Inspiring Workplaces Awards recognize organizations that prioritize their people by fostering a culture built on trust, purpose, and belonging. These are more than just great places to work – they are environments where individuals are encouraged to grow and succeed. This year’s winners represent a diverse range of organizations that are redefining what it means to put employees first in today’s complex and rapidly evolving workplace.

“Achieving Top 100 Inspiring Workplaces winner status for the third year in a row is a testament to the culture we’ve built together,” said Paul Toomey, President and Founder of Geographic Solutions. “This recognition reflects our ongoing commitment to empowering employees, fostering inclusion, and ensuring every team member has the opportunity to thrive."

Independent judges recognized the company’s strong core values, intentional approach to growth, and ability to maintain a flourishing culture. Judges also highlighted impressive employee retention, commitment to diverse hiring practices, and leadership representation, underscoring continued focus on building an inclusive, values-driven workplace.  

In 2024 and 2025, Geographic Solutions was named in the Top 50 North America Inspiring Workplaces Awards and received recognition in the Culture and Purpose category. In 2024, Geographic Solutions was named to the Top 50 of the Top 100 Global Inspiring Workplaces Awards, standing out as one of the few North America–based organizations recognized at the global level.

For more information on this achievement, visit www.inspiring-workplaces.com/company/geographic-solutions.
 

Geographic Solutions' President and Founder Paul Toomey was recently featured in Fast Company's article, "14 leaders on Handling Major Client Loss," which shares leadership perspective on how companies can respond, adapt, and grow after losing a major client.

In the article, Toomey explains that an early contract loss became an opportunity to strengthen the company rather than view the experiences as a setback. By seeking direct client feedback, Geographic Solutions was able to refine internal processes, add stronger checkpoints, and improve executive-level communication around lessons learned.

Here's Paul's full quote text:

Early on, losing a major contract felt like a reflection on the company. Instead of treating it as a defeat, I used it as an opportunity to adjust and improve. My team met with the client and asked for candid feedback. We used this feedback to rebuild processes, implement checkpoints, and develop executive communication around what we learned. The loss sharpened our focus. It taught me that relationships have to be earned continuously, not just at the initial contract signing. Since then, we have been dedicated to building long-term partnerships, which has allowed us to maintain ongoing contracts with agencies for more than 10 years.

Toomey's perspective reinforces the importance of continuously earning client trust and building durable partnerships. That commitment has helped Geographic Solutions maintain long-term relationships with government agencies, including contracts that have continued for more than a decade.

Article first appeared at and distributed by Fast Company.

Geographic Solutions' President and Founder, Paul Toomey, was recently featured in Fast Company's article Stand Your Ground or Cave In which highlights how business leaders approach major decisions when faced with disagreement from trusted advisors, investors, and senior team members. 

In the article, Toomey discusses the importance of listening carefully to feedback, while using measurable milestones to validate strategic decisions. Reflecting on Geographic Solutions' continued investment in a comprehensive workforce platform, he noted that constructive disagreement helped strengthen the company's approach by clarifying the decision's purpose, risk, and measures of success.

Here's Paul's full quote text:

"When I believed we needed to keep investing in a more comprehensive workforce platform, some trusted voices urged a safer, narrower path. I listened carefully, pressure-tested the risks, and asked the team to prove the decision through milestones rather than conviction alone. Ultimately, disagreement made the strategy stronger because it forced us to clarify why the decision mattered, and how we would measure success."

Toomey's perspective underscores Geographic Solutions' long-standing commitment to thoughtful innovation, disciplined execution, and building solutions that support the evolving needs of workforce agencies and the communities we serve.

Article first appeared and distributed by Fast Company.

Article first appeared at BriefGlance.com

KOTZEBUE, Alaska and PALM HARBOR, Fla. – May 26, 2026 – A new strategic partnership is set to bring a state-of-the-art digital employment platform to one of America’s most remote regions, aiming to connect over 15,000 Iñupiat shareholders with meaningful career opportunities. NANA Regional Corporation, an Alaska Native-owned corporation, has teamed up with workforce technology leader Geographic Solutions to launch NANA Works, a platform designed to foster economic growth and empower the local workforce across Northwest Alaska.

The initiative leverages Geographic Solutions' advanced VOS Sapphire technology to create a centralized hub for job seekers and employers. Through NANA Works, shareholders can explore job openings, access vital training programs, and utilize tailored resources designed to support their career journeys. The platform represents a significant investment in the region's human capital, addressing long-standing challenges of connecting a dispersed population with sustainable employment.

Bridging the Opportunity Gap in the Last Frontier

Northwest Alaska, a vast and sparsely populated region, presents a unique set of economic and workforce challenges. Like many rural areas, it contends with a limited diversity of industries, an aging workforce, and significant gaps in broadband infrastructure. For the Iñupiat people, who have called this land home for millennia, finding local, well-paying employment is often a critical factor in preserving cultural ties and community cohesion.

NANA Regional Corporation, established under the 1971 Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA), has a mandate to promote the economic and social well-being of its shareholders. The corporation is already a major economic driver, with a family of companies operating in sectors from resource development and construction to professional services. Major projects like the Red Dog Mine, a partnership between NANA and Teck Alaska, provide crucial employment that allows shareholders to work within their home region.

NANA Works is designed to amplify these efforts. By creating a single, accessible online system, the platform aims to break down barriers to employment. It provides a clear pathway for shareholders to find jobs not only within NANA's own companies—which maintain a shareholder preference hiring policy—but also with other employers across the region. The goal is to create a more dynamic and resilient local economy, reducing the need for residents to leave their communities in search of work and potentially encouraging the return of those who have already left.

Technology Tailored for Community Empowerment

At the core of NANA Works is Geographic Solutions' VOS Sapphire platform, a sophisticated system honed over two decades of deployment with government workforce agencies across more than 40 states. The technology is far more than a simple job board. It is an integrated workforce development tool that incorporates modern advancements, including artificial intelligence.

For job-seeking shareholders, the platform’s AI Assist tools can be a powerful asset. These features can help users build professional resumes and cover letters from scratch, generate practice questions for upcoming interviews, and receive intelligent recommendations for jobs that match their skills and aspirations. This level of support is particularly valuable in a region where access to in-person career counseling services may be limited.

Read the entire article by clicking here: BriefGlance.com