In the Headlines

Artificial Intelligence is reshaping how public workforce systems connect job seekers, employers, and workforce professionals with services and opportunities.

In a recent Fast Company Impact Council article, Geographic Solutions' President and Founder, Paul Toomey, explored how AI can make workforce services more proactive, personalized, and accessible. AI-powered tools can support job matching, resume development, interview preparation, career pathway recommendations, and around-the-clock assistance, while also helping employers identify qualified candidates more efficiently.

Toomey highlights the growing importance of AI literacy as workers prepare for an evolving labor market. Federal initiatives and partnerships are expanding access to AI training, helping job seekers, workforce staff, and agency leaders build practical skills for using and governing the technology responsibly.

The article points to WorkSource Georgia as an example of AI integrated workforce service delivery. Through AI-enabled tools, job seekers receive tailored employment support, employers streamline recruiting tasks, and workforce professionals reduce administrative workloads.

Toomey emphasizes that AI should complement, not replace, human expertise. With strong governance and oversight, AI can help workforce agencies expand access, improve responsiveness, and create a more connected experience for the people and businesses they serve, while better preparing communities for changing skill needs and economic conditions nationwide.

Read the entire article at Fast Company.

Palm Harbor, FL – September 22, 2026 – Geographic Solutions has been named a finalist in The 2026 A.I. Awards in three categories: Best AI Platform, Best Use of AI in Public Sector or Government Services, and the AI for Good Award. 

Operated by The Cloud Awards, a global awards program recognizing excellence in cloud computing and technology, The A.I. Awards celebrate international leaders driving the next generation of artificial intelligence and machine learning. Now in its third year, the program received entries from organizations around the world, ranging from established technology companies to disruptive startups across North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific region.

The awards recognize transformative advances across the entire AI ecosystem: from core infrastructure and governance to emerging agentic workflows and AI assistants. Special emphasis is placed on practical implementations that deliver measurable value within dedicated operational units and specific vertical markets.
 
“Unveiling the finalists for the 2026 A.I. Awards is a significant moment,” said James Williams, CEO of The Cloud Awards. “With the sheer volume of entry submissions this year, the competition is fierce, and the quality of work on display is extraordinary.” 

“Being named a finalist across three categories in The 2026 A.I. Awards is meaningful recognition of the work our teams are doing to apply artificial intelligence in ways that create real value for our clients,” said Geographic Solutions’ President and Founder, Paul Toomey. “Our focus has always been on building practical, responsible AI solutions that help workforce agencies operate more efficiently while improving the experience for the people and the communities they serve.”
  
The program will now begin its final round of judging, where The Cloud Awards judges will select a winner in each category. A.I. Awards winners will be revealed on October 13.

To view the full list of finalists, please visit: https://www.cloud-awards.com/ai-awards/2026-finalists

Press release first distributed via PR Newswire.

Geographic Solutions President and Founder Paul Toomey was recently featured in Fast Company’s article, “15 Leaders on the Economic Indicators Companies Should Watch,” which explores the data business leaders should monitor to better understand changing economic conditions.

In his contribution, Toomey highlighted the importance of labor force participation rates as a valuable complement to traditional unemployment data. His perspective underscores the value of comprehensive labor market data in helping organizations better understand workforce availability and respond to evolving economic conditions.

Read the full article here.

In the Fast Company article, “25 Leaders on Keeping Teams Aligned During Uncertainty,” executives from across industries share how they help their organizations stay focused and resilient when the path ahead is unclear.

Featuring insights from 25 members of the Fast Company Impact Council, including Geographic Solutions President and Founder Paul Toomey, the article highlights practical strategies for navigating change, maintaining clear communication, and preparing organizations for unexpected challenges. The leaders emphasize adaptability, transparency, thoughtful planning, and keeping teams focused on shared goals during periods of uncertainty.

Read the full article here.

The Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) is a federal hiring incentive administered by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) that encourages employers to hire individuals facing barriers to employment. 

In his latest Forbes Business Council article, Modernizing Work Opportunity Tax Credit Administration to Maximize Workforce Outcomes, Geographic Solutions President and Founder, Paul Toomey, explores how modernizing the administration of WOTC can help strengthen the workforce.

Toomey examines how WOTC helps employers connect with individuals who may face significant barriers to employment while providing businesses with federal tax incentives for eligible hires. He also addresses some of the administrative challenges that can limit the program's effectiveness, including complex eligibility requirements, manual processes, disconnected systems, certification timelines, and employer engagement.

Toomey emphasizes that technology can play an important role in improving WOTC administration by streamlining workflows, supporting more accurate data exchange, and providing greater visibility into program activity. However, he notes that successful modernization requires more than implementing new software. Organizations should also prioritize thoughtful change management, staff training, clearly defined requirements, and processes designed around measurable outcomes.

Ultimately, Toomey outlines how a more modern and connected approach to WOTC administration can reduce burden, strengthen participation, and expand employment opportunities for individuals facing barriers to work.

Read the full article on Forbes: Modernizing Work Opportunity Tax Credit Administration to Maximize Workforce Outcomes

Puerto Rico has modernized its unemployment insurance system with the launch of Desempleo Digital, a new online platform developed by Geographic Solutions for the Puerto Rico Department of Labor and Human Resources (DTRH).

The system is designed to make unemployment services faster, more secure, and more accessible for claimants, employers, and agency staff. Through the platform, individuals can complete a range of unemployment-related transactions online, reducing the need for in-person visits to department offices.

Desempleo Digital also expands electronic communications and supports direct deposit of unemployment benefits. Employers can use a dedicated online portal to manage tasks and interact with the department more efficiently.

The launch marks an important step in Puerto Rico’s broader effort to modernize government services and improve the unemployment insurance experience through secure, streamlined technology.

By replacing legacy processes with a modern digital platform, the department aims to improve accessibility, strengthen service delivery, and provide a more efficient experience for Puerto Rico’s workforce and employers.

Visit Metro Puerto Rico to read the official announcement.  

 

Geographic Solutions is excited to announce shortlist inclusion at The 2026 A.I. Awards for Best AI Platform, AI for Good Award, and Best Use of AI in Public Sector or Government Services categories.

First launched in 2024, and operated by global cloud computing awards body, The Cloud Awards, The A.I. Awards has rapidly grown to become one of the biggest programs in the Cloud Awards annual calendar. Nominees into the 2026 awards include organizations located all over the world, from household names and established technology giants to exciting new startups.

The program recognizes outstanding AI-driven solutions, and excellence in AI platforms and infrastructure. Agentic solutions and AI assistants are new areas celebrated in this year’s program, joining established categories focused on areas including automation, natural language processing, and AI governance. The program also recognizes AI solutions built to support specific business operations (such as HR or cybersecurity), and industry use cases (including retail, finance, or utilities).

"Geographic Solutions are well deserving of their shortlist place, and we wish them luck in the next round of judging," said James Williams, CEO of The Cloud Awards.

The program will now begin its second round of judging, where The Cloud Awards judges will select, and take forwards, a group of finalists in each category. A.I. Awards finalists will be revealed on September 22. Winners will be announced in October.

To view the full shortlist, please visit: https://www.cloud-awards.com/ai-awards/2026-shortlist.

The Guam Department of Labor (GDOL) is exploring how AI could strengthen workforce services through HIREGUAM. VOS Sapphire AI, developed by Geographic Solutions, helps job seekers build résumés, prepare for interviews, discover career opportunities, and connect their skills with in-demand jobs. Employers can also benefit from AI-assisted job descriptions, interview questions, and candidate matching. For GDOL staff, the technology could streamline routine administrative work, creating more time to focus on serving residents and businesses. 

“This is an exciting opportunity to take the workforce system Guam already has and bring it into the next generation, GDOL Director David Dell’Isola said in a release.

“We are putting powerful AI tools directly into the hands of those looking for work or a career and employers. Our vision is simple: make it easier for people to find opportunities, make it easier for businesses to find talent, and give our staff better tools to serve our community,” Dell’Isola added.

As Guam looks to the future of work, initiatives like this could help open more doors for job seekers, give employers better tools to find the right talent, and make workforce services more responsive to the community. The opportunity is bigger than simply adopting new technology. It’s about using innovation thoughtfully to connect more people with meaningful careers and help build stronger, more resilient workforce for Guam.

Parts of this article first appeared at The Guam Daily Post.
 

The California Employment Development Department (EDD) has selected Geographic Solutions to help develop the next generation of CalJOBS, a platform used annually by more than 1.1 million Californians, as well as employers, training providers, workforce professionals, and EDD staff.

The modernization effort will create a more reliable, accessible, and customer-focused experience, making it easier for job seekers to find employment and training, employers to connect with qualified candidates, and workforce partners to deliver services.

Designed with customers in mind, the updated CalJOBS platform will offer simpler navigation, improved accessibility across devices and assistive technologies, stronger connections to workforce programs, and greater flexibility to meet California’s evolving workforce needs.

Read the original press release here. News provided by the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency.

Geographic Solutions is pleased to announce that Max Schelkopf has joined the company as Business Development Executive for the Midwestern Region. He will lead business development efforts across the Midwest, helping workforce agencies use innovative technology to improve service delivery and workforce outcomes.

Schelkopf will work closely with workforce agencies to expand adoption of Geographic Solutions' workforce development platform. His focus will include identifying opportunities to streamline operations, increase access to services, and improve outcomes for job seekers, employers, and workforce professionals.

Schelkopf brings extensive experience in workforce technology and public sector consulting. Before joining Geographic Solutions, he served as a Senior Consultant at Engage by Cell, helping workforce organizations implement communication and engagement technologies that strengthened outreach, increased program participation, and improved communication between case managers and clients. 

Throughout his career, Schelkopf has worked with workforce agencies across more than 30 states and territories to deliver technology solutions that drive measurable results. He has also presented at state workforce development conferences on using technology to increase participation and improve program outcomes.