Geographic Solutions Founder Paul Toomey on Building the Award-Winning VOS Sapphire AI

Geographic Solutions’ Virtual OneStop Sapphire AI was recently named the Best AI / ML Powered Solution in the 2026 Tech Ascension Awards.

We sat down with Geographic Solutions President and Founder Paul Toomey to discuss the inspiration behind VOS Sapphire AI, the company’s approach to responsible AI, and how the technology could shape the future of workforce development.

Geographic Solutions’ VOS Sapphire AI platform was recently named the 2026 Best Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Software Solution by Tech Ascension. What does this recognition mean to you and the company?

This recognition is a tremendous honor for Geographic Solutions and a meaningful validation of the work our teams have done to bring practical, secure, and scalable AI into the public workforce technology space. Since 1992, we have focused on building solutions that help workforce agencies, employers, job seekers, and communities achieve better outcomes. VOS Sapphire AI represents the next evolution of that mission. Being recognized by an awarding body such as Tech Ascension reinforces that artificial intelligence and machine learning can be applied in ways that are not only innovative, but also responsible, measurable, and deeply aligned with public service.

What inspired the development of VOS Sapphire AI?

The inspiration behind VOS Sapphire AI came from a very real need in the workforce system. Agencies are managing increasingly complex programs, job seekers need more personalized support, and employers need faster, more efficient ways to connect with qualified talent. We saw an opportunity to use AI to reduce friction across the workforce ecosystem. Our goal was not to build AI for the sake of AI, but to apply it where it could create meaningful value. This includes helping staff work more efficiently, giving job seekers better tools, and enabling agencies to make more informed decisions.

How does VOS Sapphire AI support workforce agencies and staff in their day-to-day operations?

VOS Sapphire AI is designed to enhance the work of agency staff, not replace it, or them. The platform helps streamline tasks such as case management, service recommendations, job matching, résumé support, labor market insights, and job seeker engagement. By automating repetitive processes and surfacing relevant information more quickly, staff can spend more time focusing on high-value interactions with job seekers and employers. This allows agencies to improve service delivery while maintaining the human guidance and expertise that is essential to workforce development.

What makes VOS Sapphire AI different from other AI-driven workforce technology solutions?

What sets VOS Sapphire AI apart from other solutions is the depth of its integration within a proven workforce platform. It’s built within the broader VOS Sapphire ecosystem, which already supports many of the critical functions workforce agencies rely on every day. That means the AI is not disconnected from the data, workflows, compliance requirements, or program structures that matter most. It’s purpose-built for workforce development with a focus on security, scalability, accessibility, and practical outcomes. Our approach is grounded in more than 30 years of experience working with state and local workforce agencies. 

How does the platform use AI and machine learning to improve outcomes for job seekers and employers?

For job seekers, VOS Sapphire AI can help deliver more personalized career guidance, improve résumé and cover letter development, recommend relevant job and training opportunities, and identify pathways based on skills, experience, and labor market demand. For employers the platform helps improve job descriptions, candidate matching, talent discovery, and engagement. Machine learning allows the system to better understand patterns and provide more relevant recommendations over time. Ultimately, the goal is to help people find meaningful employment faster while helping employers connect with the talent they need.

With AI becoming more prominent in government and public sector technology, how does Geographic Solutions approach responsible AI?

Responsible AI is central to how we develop and deploy VOS Sapphire AI. In the public workforce system, trust, transparency, security, and fairness are critical. Our approach emphasizes human oversight, data protection, compliance, and explainability. We believe AI should support better decision making, not remove accountability from the process. That means building tools that are useful, secure, and aligned with the needs of agencies and the people they serve. AI must be implemented thoughtfully, especially in systems that impact employment training and public benefits.

Looking ahead, how do you see VOS Sapphire AI shaping the future of workforce development?

We believe VOS Sapphire AI will help workforce agencies move toward a more proactive, personalized, equitable, and data-informed service model. The future of workforce development will require systems that can respond quickly to changing labor market conditions, support diverse populations, and help agencies deliver services more efficiently. AI has the potential to make those systems more adaptive and effective. For Geographic Solutions, the focus will remain on using technology to strengthen the connection between job seekers, employers, educators, and workforce agencies. We do this to help communities build stronger, more resilient labor forces.