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As hiring processes increasingly depend on digital screening tools and applicant pools become more competitive, using a resume maker in 2026 could help job seekers create tailored, professional, and ATS-friendly resumes more efficiently. However, choosing the right platform depends on personal needs, career stage, and industry.

In recent years, artificial intelligence (AI) has become increasingly integrated into industries worldwide. Not only has this served to accelerate technical innovation across many such infrastructures, but it has also automated some of the most mundane and paperwork-intensive roles in these fields. To this end, a commonly automated process in modern business is that of hiring. Fielding dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of applications for potential hires, sorting through them, and deciding which of these unique candidates best fit a given role can be a complicated process. As such, using AI to sort through submitted applications via an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) can be a quick way to outsource this labor and find someone whose credentials seem best suited to the role in question. 

However, as with much of AI integration, this comes with potential drawbacks. For one, on the business side, AI systems do not have the same kind of hands-on experience and discerning eye that a human hirer brings to the table. Instead, the system is simply going to elevate applications and resumes that best fit the criteria it has been assigned to look for, in a very statistical and methodical way. 

This shift has changed how applicants approach resume writing and formatting. In the past, a resume was written primarily for a human reader. Today, its first purpose is often to pass an automated review by including relevant keywords and maintaining a structure that ATS software can read correctly. Resume makers, including platforms such as resume.co, are designed to help applicants adapt to this reality by providing structured templates that align with how automated systems evaluate resumes.

The role of AI in hiring

The reality is that AI has fundamentally transformed the core operations of many industries. Although there was initial skepticism and resistance when AI was introduced to the public in 2022, large corporations recognized its potential value. AI systems can perform repetitive tasks quickly and efficiently and can have significant time savings and reduced labor costs, ultimately saving money. 

The modern job market has changed significantly since 2022. AI can efficiently sort and streamline tasks. Consequently, the quality, content, and presentation of your resume are more important than ever. If these elements are not well-crafted, there’s a risk your resume will never be reviewed by a human. To this end, using a resume builder to tailor your resume to each job application is now an important part of obtaining a position.

How resume makers can help 

Customizing your resume to fit each job description is crucial, but doing it manually can be time-consuming. A resume maker streamlines the process by helping you structure your content clearly, incorporate role-relevant keywords, and format your resume in a way that works well with applicant tracking systems. Many platforms also include resume examples that can help you sharpen your phrasing and highlight the accomplishments most relevant to a specific role.

In practice, a resume maker can help applicants meet common ATS expectations while leaving room for personal detail. Tools like resume.co focus on clear structure and keyword placement so resumes are more likely to pass an initial screen. This can give job seekers more time to focus on aspects that matter to human reviewers, such as clarity, relevance, and accuracy.

Other resume-making platforms job seekers often use

While resume.co is one option, many job seekers compare multiple resume builders based on their goals, budget, and the level of guidance they want. Common alternatives include:

LinkedIn Resume Builder: This is useful if you already have an up-to-date LinkedIn profile because it can quickly turn that information into a resume. People often use it to save time and ensure consistency, especially when they want their resume to closely match their public profile.

Indeed Resume: Many people who are actively applying through Indeed use it because it keeps their resume information linked to their job search activity. When you want an easy-to-update “single source” version of your work history, this can be a good option.

Zety: Users can quickly assemble sections such as summaries, bullet points, and skills using this platform’s well-known guided, step-by-step prompts. For people who want more than just a template, this is helpful.

Resume Genius: This is a popular choice because it provides prewritten content suggestions and examples of resume sections. Many applicants choose this option to get started, then adjust the wording to reflect their own experiences.

The goal of any job seeker is the same, no matter what tool they use: to make a clear, accurate resume that shows real experience, uses role-relevant keywords naturally, and is easy for both an ATS and a human to read.

How resume makers can help you elsewhere

Beyond resume writing, these tools can help job seekers stay organized throughout the hiring process. Keeping applications, follow-ups, and interview notes in one place reduces stress and lowers the chance of missing deadlines or opportunities. You can focus on creating better applications and preparing for interviews more effectively if you have more structure and less busywork.

Have you ever been walking down a set of stairs while out shopping and had intrusive thoughts of slipping and falling? Or when you’re at dinner with friends and you narrowly avoid slipping on someone’s spilled cocktail? Intrusive thoughts or not, accidents happen, and when they do, understanding what happens next may surprise you and even bring some peace of mind. 

Accidents are often unavoidable, but a few minutes of pain is only part of the stress for many people. In the aftermath of a slipping accident, questions begin to swirl around medical costs, liability and missed work. 

A commonly held belief is that only injuries involving surgery lead to meaningful compensation. This idea is not only a misconception but also leads people to step away before they understand their options after an accident. 

How a Slip and Fall Injury is Evaluated 

“The value of a slip and fall claim depends far more on documentation than the type of medical treatment received for the injury,” Daniel Kim, founding partner of DK Law, says. “The focus should be on proving that a business was negligent. Everything from sprains and strains to concussions or fractures that heal with a cast are real injuries that may require financial compensation. These cases shouldn’t be overlooked or dismissed just because they don’t involve a surgical intervention.” 

When evaluating a retail injury case, a few key factors determine the payout. These include objective evidence, treatment consistency, lost wages and medical costs. MRIs, X-rays or any other diagnostic imaging that clearly shows an injury count as objective evidence. Additionally, ensuring that doctor appointments, physical therapy or specialist visits are attended highlights consistency of treatment. Insurance companies typically use a multiplier to determine pain-and-suffering compensation. This formula multiplies economic damages from medical bills and lost wages by an assigned number to determine the real cost of an injury. 

“Settlements for these non-surgical injuries commonly fall in the $15,000 to $100,000 range, with clear liability cases sometimes reaching even higher amounts,” Kim says. “While it’s tough to give an exact average because every case is different, case value is a mix of your specific injury and the facts about what the business did wrong.” 

Steps to Take After a Slip and Fall Accident

Understanding what to do after an accident can be overwhelming, but it often shapes how the situation will be reviewed later. You don’t need legal expertise to begin practical steps that will provide a clear record of what happened. 

• Report the incident to a store employee to begin the documentation process and to ensure there’s an initial record. 
• Seek a medical evaluation as soon as possible, because that will begin the documentation of injuries. 
• Keep basic records: everything from dates and locations to missed work and even pain journaling can help provide objective evidence.

How the Process Works and What to Watch Out For

Slip and fall accidents are common, and because of this, most major retailers have a standard process for reviewing claims. They might have an internal team, but often they rely on third-party administrators for claim reviews. 

Once an accident is reported, you might receive a request for information or even a request to record a statement from a retailer or their legal representation. It’s helpful to keep in mind that these requests may be influenced by the retailer’s interest in managing and potentially reducing the amount they are required to pay. Additionally, these cases are typically managed through a systematic process, which means they often last for long periods of time. 

“The timeline is usually determined by how long it takes you to reach maximum medical improvement (MMI),” Kim says. “MMI is generally the point at which your condition has stabilized, and additional treatment is not expected to result in significant improvement. Your doctor makes this determination. It is usually not advisable to consider settlement before reaching MMI, as doing so could limit your ability to seek additional compensation later. Waiting until MMI helps ensure you have a clearer understanding of your long-term medical needs, so you are less likely to be responsible for unexpected or ongoing treatment costs out of pocket.”

When it’s Time to Seek Legal Guidance

Kim explains that, despite the misconception, slip and fall accidents are serious. And the good news is that the law agrees. While the idea of seeking legal help may seem like adding yet another layer of complication to a situation, it’s often the opposite. 

“An attorney can help organize records, track timelines and handle requests for information,” Kim says. “This support can be helpful when recovery lasts longer than expected or progress feels uncertain. The goal is to reduce the administrative burden and allow recovery to stay the priority. Legal guidance can also help with timing. Resolving a claim before recovery stabilization can leave future care uncovered if symptoms continue.” 

A sudden fall can shake everything up. But knowing surgery is not the line that determines whether an injury is serious should bring some comfort. This knowledge can provide confidence and clarity when determining next steps after an accident. 

The information provided in this article is for general informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended as legal, financial, medical, or professional advice. Readers should not rely solely on the content of this article and are encouraged to seek professional advice tailored to their specific circumstances. We disclaim any liability for any loss or damage arising directly or indirectly from the use of, or reliance on, the information presented.

Robotic lawn mowers have promised hands-off convenience for years, but many have fallen short when confronted with the realities of everyday backyards. With the launch of the Sunseeker S4, Sunseeker is taking a different approach: one rooted less in perfect demo lawns and more in the messy, uneven spaces people live with every day.

The Sunseeker S4 is a wire-free robotic lawnmower that can handle home lawns up to 1,000 square meters (approximately a quarter acre) and slopes up to 42 percent. It was debuted following CES 2026. This robot mower is built for yards with a lot of obstacles and uneven ground, which is hard for many other robot mowers to handle. Instead of employing boundary wires or random navigation, the S4 uses LiDAR and AI Vision to see its surroundings, map them in three dimensions, and make changes in real time. So, the design brief includes hills, trees, toys, kids, pets, and things that get in the way in everyday scenarios.

Image credit: Sunseeker

The result is a robotic mower that behaves like a purpose-built autonomous machine, capable of handling complex yards without constant supervision.

Why LiDAR and AI Vision Matter More Than Ever

A multi-sensor navigation system that draws inspiration from self-driving technology is at the core of the S4. While AI Vision assists the mower in interpreting what it sees, including differentiating between stationary barriers, moving objects, and edges like stairs or drop-offs, LiDAR offers accurate depth and distance readings.

This combo allows the S4 to do more than just evade obstacles. Instead of reacting to bumps and turns, the S4 plots structured mowing courses and dynamically reroutes itself when children, pets, or yard debris enter the scene. As conditions change, the mower adjusts its mowing routes depending on its continuous knowledge of the lawn.

Image credit: Sunseeker

Equally important is what the S4 doesn’t require. There are no perimeter wires to install and no external antennas to mount. Setup is designed to be as simple as placing the mower on the lawn, connecting it to Wi-Fi, and letting it map the yard automatically.

That ease of use reflects Sunseeker’s nearly 15 years of experience in lawn and garden equipment, a background that distinguishes it from consumer electronics brands entering the category from the outside.

Features and Uses That Make the S4 Practical

Rather than chasing extreme specs, the Sunseeker S4 focuses on features that translate directly into everyday usefulness:

• Wire-free operation with no boundary cables or antenna stations
• LiDAR + AI Vision navigation for real-time 3D mapping and obstacle avoidance
• Self-driving-level path planning for consistent, structured mowing patterns
• Support for complex yards, including slopes, trees, toys, pets, and uneven terrain
• App-based control for zone management, no-go areas, and scheduling
• Automatic docking and recharging when the battery runs low
• Automatic rain detection that sends the S4 back to its dock when precipitation begins, helping protect both the lawn and the machine without requiring user intervention
• Rain detection and safety sensors for reliable, unattended operation
• Low-noise performance designed for residential neighborhoods

The Sunseeker S4 is expected to launch on March 3rd with a suggested retail price of $1,599. At $1,599, the pitch is less about extreme specs and more about reducing setup friction and delivering reliable, hands-off mowing in real-world yards. It will be available through Sunseeker’s direct-to-consumer channels, including Amazon and its official website at www.shopsunseekertech.com.

Prices and availability are accurate as of the time of publication and are subject to change without notice. Please check the retailer’s website for the most up-to-date pricing information.

Exploring new approaches to how people connect online in Western markets, creates and cashes in online, Bebuzee fuses social media, messaging, payments, commerce and content into one seamless powerhouse platform – positioning itself as Positioning itself as an alternative to established technology platforms, and which the company says offers creators a potentially higher revenue share than many traditional platforms.

Image Credit: Bebuzee 

When he was eight years old, Joseph Onyero decided to build a helicopter out of wood. “I had that mentality to create something,” he states. “It flew a bit, then fell to the ground, and was ultimately unsuccessful. But it’s not about being successful, it’s about having a vision and seeing it through.” 

In early February 2026, Onyero’s newest vision came to life as his company Bebuzee was an early attempt to introduce a ‘superapp’ model in Western markets, combining social networking, payments, commerce, content, and services into a single ecosystem.

Hyped as “contributing to ongoing changes in digital platforms,” Bebuzee is the amalgamation of social media, video, messaging, business tools, and content discovery into one unified experience, eliminating the need for multiple apps and fragmented platforms. For example, WeChat in Asia started out as a messaging service and eventually grew into a “superapp.” 

But that was in Asia only. 

Bebuzee is aiming to develop a super-app model for Western markets. “Bebuzee was born in 2012,” Onyero shares, “and is a result of a sense of remorse after my first venture failed to materialize in 2004. I never anticipated it’d take this long to become a reality. That’s why we’re so delighted that the ‘superapp’ was completed in the back end of 2023 … it’s a huge achievement.” 

Fostering community and collaboration beyond functionality, Bebuzee has photo and video features akin to those found on today’s most popular social networking and content-sharing platforms, allowing users to create, discover, and engage with visual stories in real time. “A lot of our functions don’t exist anywhere else,” shares Onyero. “For example, we have a feature called ‘Real Estate Newsfeed.’ This covers real estate news globally, not just in North America.” Where Bebuzee separates itself from other platforms is a 50-50 revenue-sharing model for content creators that the company says differs from the structures commonly used on many social media platforms. “We see content creators as having made certain social media platforms relevant. Therefore, we want to reward them. Without content, platforms don’t hold much value.” 

Another notable aspect of Bebuzee’s development is the protection of personal data that Onyero says, “is owned by the user, not us. We encourage free speech for our users, while exercising caution and respect.” Whereas other platforms originally began as social networking sites that morphed into multifunctional digital ecosystems, Bebuzee is able to pivot with regard to what and how they add content, as it doesn’t have to break from its existing business model. “That’s how those platforms generate their revenue,” Onyero continues, “regardless of how much capital they have. So we’re going into this venture not overly concerned with how much the big boys have to play with.” 

It’s this confidence and reassurance that Onyero says allows him to think big with regard to how big a global reach Bebuzee will eventually have. While the initial goal is to conquer North America and Europe, Onyero will look to saturate the African market with his concept, as it would be a proud achievement to dominate his native continent. In a world lacking data sharing, user trust, ecosystem fragmentation, and platform fatigue, Onyero aims to provide an environment built on respect and freedom of expression. “The ‘superapp’ is arguably the toughest project I’ve ever worked on in my life,” Onyero says. “If I’d known it’d have taken this long, I’d have thought twice. But then again, much like the helicopter story in my childhood, I love challenges.”

ABOUT BEBUZEE INC. 

Bebuzee Inc. is a social media and digital entertainment platform dedicated to providing innovative and engaging experiences for its users. With a focus on community-driven content and seamless integration of diverse digital services, Bebuzee is part of a new generation of social media platforms. 

For more information, visit Bebuzee’s website.

Forget whatever you thought you knew about the time it takes to take a business from idea to startup. With AI, would-be entrepreneurs have a tool that can quickly turn their professional expertise or side gigs into full-time income streams.

This is yet another of the many applications for AI that few anticipated, least of all the hobbyists who were brought up to believe that launching a brand was expensive and time-consuming. And now could be just the right moment for this new AI use.

These days, many workers are hesitant to rely on traditional employment as a sole source of personal revenue, especially in a labor market with flat hiring and limited prospects. This has naturally given way to a gig economy where DIY job opportunities thrive. However, the self-sufficiency mindset has also led many down the founder path, with business applications rising 7.2% between December 2025 and January 2026.

For many professionals, a single source of income no longer feels sufficient. This has prompted more workers to pursue side ventures or business ideas alongside traditional employment. As a result, some of those workers are taking a chance on themselves by going the entrepreneurial route — and plenty are leaning on AI as a tool to assist their efforts.

How AI can speed up the business launch process

Since the unveiling of artificial intelligence, the world has been introduced regularly to the full breadth of AI’s capabilities. And make no mistake: AI goes far beyond writing a succinct letter or delivering 50 headline variations in a few seconds. Now, AI can reduce the technical skills that frequently limit how quickly entrepreneurs can bring their businesses to fruition.

This isn’t to suggest that AI can take the place of human inventiveness or intuition. Founders are still integral to the success or failure of their operations, whether or not they use AI tools. However, AI can bring more equality and nimbleness to what’s usually an arduous and complex process. With AI, an entrepreneur has an automatic, 24/7 assistant capable of navigating all the ins and outs involved with introducing a new business.

A use case for a speedy idea-to-launch journey

To illustrate how rapidly someone can get a business “out there”, let’s take a look at one company that used the Durable AI-driven business builder platform. 

Durable encourages and rewards experimentation by enabling fast, branded business launches that help focus on getting income streams flowing. Because the AI does all the coding, the business owner (e.g., the entrepreneur) only needs to supply the platform with basic information. From there, the platform can construct a brand, logo, a well-mapped website and even an invoicing infrastructure that’s written to the client’s tone.

The Durable client in question wanted to maximize his company’s presence in the mobile bartending space in a crowded urban center. The founder possessed the right mixology skills and was already operating on a hobby level. But he lacked the online branding and marketing expertise he needed to enter (and hopefully dominate) the market in a way that would allow him to be a full-time entrepreneur. Using Durable, he crafted a brand, launched his website and was able to create a business that reflected his preferred aesthetic. 

Benefits of an AI-assisted launch

The aforementioned use case highlights three advantages of using AI, starting with savings.

Many people who want to become entrepreneurs are held back because they don’t have access to funding. Indeed, lack of capital remains one of the top reasons for reluctance among those who say they are dreaming of owning their own business. AI-run systems can take away some upfront costs because they can perform tasks like creating ecommerce-enabled websites, generating logos and constructing the framework of a comprehensive business plan.

Another benefit to using AI as an entrepreneurial assistant is that it can help distill the language of complicated documents. First-time business owners are often perplexed by the documents they’re asked to sign. An AI tool can summarize an agreement into layman’s terms, making it accessible to most individuals.

Finally, AI can make marketing suggestions based on real-time trends and competitive maneuvers. An AI product can be trained to scour the Internet and social media for hidden opportunities, such as popular hashtags (or even online challenges) or rising influencer messaging. And it can all happen without the entrepreneur hiring an outside marketing agency or bringing on an employee.

Founding a business can be one of the most rewarding experiences, but it’s been one that’s seemed out of reach for countless dreamers — until now. With AI, entrepreneurs can limit the need for hefty startup costs and move into moneymaking stages of their businesses faster.

The information provided in this article is for general informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended as legal, financial, or professional advice. Readers should not rely solely on the content of this article and are encouraged to seek professional advice tailored to their specific circumstances. We disclaim any liability for any loss or damage arising directly or indirectly from the use of, or reliance on, the information presented.

New York City is considered a cultural giant in the fine-dining scene, and the greater New York area boasts a number of up-and-coming restaurants that more than hold their own.  Across the state, in towns like Albany and Troy, new restaurants are popping up regularly, featuring bold layouts, stunning visuals, and impeccable design that offer guests a memorable night out.

One design firm is building a notable footprint in the New York restaurant scene with its unique design strategy.  Dunne Kozlowski is an architecture, interior design, branding, and project delivery firm that operates around a single core belief: that meaningful experiences are built on more than design alone.  Led by founders Corey Dunne and Paul Kozlowski, the firm designs around how people actually live, not how spaces are traditionally categorized or how they are supposed to function.

Photo Credit: Dunne Kozlowski

“Many restaurants are designed to look good, but fail operationally,” says Corey Dunne, co-founder. “We start in a different place.  We listen first, spending time understanding how our clients move through the day.  Design decisions come after that, not before.”

The team at Dunne Kozlowski considers the brand’s initial vision, how the space will actually be used, and the experience they want to create for their guests.  Then they work with them to design a restaurant that serves its guests not just visually, but practically.

“We don’t design for ego or for a pretty picture in a magazine,” says Paul Kozlowski, co-founder.  “Hospitality is about more than just getting a meal.  It takes into account many things, from how the customer feels to the quality of their experience and the seamless flow of operations.”

The other part of the equation that helps define Dunne Kozlowski is its holistic approach to restaurant design. Whereas traditional architectural firms draw up architectural plans before handing them off to outside vendors, Dunne Kozlowski handles every part of the process from concept through completion.  

The firm offers services including architecture, interior design, concepting, branding, project management, procurement, and construction administration.  Its strategy of consolidating everything under one roof came as a natural evolution of years spent watching clients deal with friction, costly delays, and vendor miscommunications.

“We brought interior design services in-house to reduce friction for our clients,” says Dunne.  “From there, we’ve continued to evolve by identifying the services in a project that can cause the most problems for our clients and integrating them into our business—allowing operators to stay focused on running theirs.”

Photo Credit: Dunne Kozlowski

Take, for example, the firm’s work designing MOSU in Albany, NY.  As a modern Asian restaurant with hibachi-style cooking, the logistical requirements could have been a design disaster.  Hibachi grills require exposed exhaust ductwork and mechanical infrastructure along the ceiling, a notorious eyesore most designers would try to distract from.  The space was also long and narrow, which presented a challenge for the owners’ goal of creating a flexible, community-oriented space.

Rather than pushing seating to the perimeter, Dunne Kozlowski introduced a central bar, creating a strong social anchor and focal point for guests.  They also introduced a hanging rope installation along the ceiling, softening the presence of infrastructure and bringing attention back to the dining experience.

“Design must respond honestly to real constraints and real human behavior,” says Dunne.  “You can’t ignore or hide operational requirements.  If you address them directly, however, then you can turn them into assets that enhance the overall experience.”

After the success of MOSU, Dunne Kozlowski also led the architectural and interior design for a second location in Henrietta, New York, set to open in the near future.  The firm has also designed several recently opened restaurants in the greater Albany area, including Sea Smoke Waterfront Grill, the Mexican restaurant Toro Cantina, and The Scene.

Photo Credit: Dunne Kozlowski

“With MOSU, we were able not only to help elevate a brand from 800 miles away, but to help elevate an entire city’s restaurant scene,” says Dunne.  “We became a leading designer in Albany, leading to projects like Toro Cantina, Sea Smoke Waterfront Grill, and The Scene.  Whether in Chicago or beyond, we’re able to elevate brands to the same level of quality, demonstrating success on a nationwide scale.”

The firm has expanded its presence into other cities and industries, from the modern Adalina Prime steakhouse in Chicago to the Hotel Julian in San Francisco.  With every project, Dunne Kozlowski is refining its design-led, design-build approach to set restaurants and businesses up for long-term success.

“In today’s marketplace, it’s not enough to have a beautiful design,” says Kozlowski.  “To create memorable experiences that elevate a brand, design must be rooted in function—flow of operations, budget, and schedule.  You may hesitate to part with your current firm, but it’s worth asking: Do they truly understand your business?  Can they deliver a space that’s not only beautiful, but operationally sound and genuinely memorable?”

Jami McGuairt-Salazar blew through Manhattan this weekend with the kind of high-gloss glamour that has turned her into a closely followed ItGirl and prominent socialite on social media. The Texas-born beauty treated New York City like her own private playground, floating from penthouse sunsets to courtside seats, from the city’s most impossible book dining rooms to late-night hotspots where only the boldfaced names get waved in.

Her weekend began high above the skyline, where she shared a sunset view from her NoMad penthouse, a silhouette framed against a Manhattan horizon streaked in pink and gold. From there, she slipped into a weekend that read like a socialite’s private diary. McGuairt-Salazar secured a table at Crane Club, the reservation everyone wants and almost no one gets, before heading to The Plaza for high tea, where she blended into the old-NewYork elegance as if she’d been raised on it. The socialite capped her nights with after-hours festivities at Marquee and Pergola, where the city’s celebrity and socialite circles converge.

McGuairt-Salazar wasn’t alone in her Manhattan jaunt. Her husband, Dallas C. Salazar, a commodities venture capitalist whose empire spans oil, gas, and now trucking, was in town making a run on Wall Street. Salazar’s latest acquisition, a major trucking company, adds another jewel to the couple’s growing industrial portfolio. Together, they’ve quietly become a visible couple with influence, visibility, and reach growing in tandem with their wealth. McGuairt-Salazar’s rise in New York’s social and fashion circles is closely connected to the business ventures they’re building together, a modern blend of Texas oil grit and Manhattan polish.

But the crown jewel of her weekend was Saturday night at Madison Square Garden. A diehard Knicks fan, Jami returned to her signature courtside seats for the Knicks-Suns matchup on January 17. Dressed in a chic blue dress that embellished her waist, cinched belt, and fur coat, she turned the front row into a runway. Cameras caught her laughing, cheering, and chatting with other VIPs, the kind of effortless courtside glam that has become her calling card.

Whether she’s sipping tea at The Plaza, whispering over champagne about her husband’s next big takeover, or cheering courtside in fur, Jami McGuairt-Salazar continues to deliver the aspirational escapism her audience can’t get enough of.

Passport concierge services—sometimes called passport expediting—have long been a quiet part of the American travel industry, typically discovered through word of mouth or a frantic Google search when a trip is already in jeopardy.

That’s now changing. With major retail and travel brands embedding passport services into their customer journeys, Miami-based startup HelloGov is helping take the category mainstream.

Expediting — and the broader idea of “white glove passport help” or concierge services — is becoming far easier to access through HelloGov’s partnerships with national retails and travel brands, bringing passport support into all of the places that travelers already use to plan and prepare for a trip.

HelloGov, founded by industry veterans Adam Boalt, Steven Fox and Brian LaBasco, spent two years developing a passport application platform that was intelligent, robust and scalable enough for enterprise partnerships.

“HelloGov is a service-in-a-box,” Boalt says. “Government applications are notoriously complex, so we built a white-glove enterprise platform that lets partners launch passport services at scale instantly—no specialists, no new infrastructure.”

A platform built to handle complex passport applications

Now, customers can go directly to HelloGov and get 24/7 support, assistance and step-by-step guidelines to complete their applications quickly and accurately.

At its core, HelloGov is built for passport applications that aren’t straightforward. The platform guides applicants through the correct forms and supporting documents based on their specific situation, catching common errors that delay approvals.

Each application is reviewed using a combination of automated checks trained on Department of State hand-carry guidelines and a human-in-the-loop review by passport specialists, with 24/7 support available to resolve issues quickly.

HelloGov’s CEO Adam Boalt frames it in practical terms:

“If you have an expensive trip coming up, the last thing you want is to lose vacation days or pay change fees because of an application mistake. That’s when people turn to a white-glove service like ours. We operate a marketplace of registered passport couriers, allowing us to securely hand-carry applications into local passport agencies while staying compliant with government rules.”

“If you’re comfortable doing your own taxes, a passport concierge probably isn’t for you. But if you use an accountant, as the saying goes — when mistakes are expensive, paying to get it right is worth it.”

Last-minute travel is booming

Americans are travelling at record levels — the State Department issued 27.3 million passports in FY2025 and Expedia Group data also points to shorter planning windows, including a 20% quarter-over-quarter increase in trips booked within two weeks of departure.

And with more and more last-minute bookings, demand for expedited, white-glove passport support is only going to continue to climb. (Expedited applications had a record year in 2023.)

Why? Because documentation problems are messy. 

When an issue with a passport happens just before the trip or gets discovered the day of, it turns into disruption inside the whole of the travel industry. Rebooks, counter escalations, support load, and a customer who blames the brand in front of them.

That’s the gap that HelloGov is looking to fill: a way to put passport help where customers already prepare for travel, so problems get caught earlier and travel brands can solve their customers problems, rather than turn them away at the gate.

That’s where HelloGov’s industry experience and security-first platform matter most.

“Our enterprise partners need more than software,” Boalt says. “They need a platform that can securely coordinate real-world operations, including hand-carrying passports into local agencies through a vetted network of registered couriers.”

He points to HelloGov’s compliance roadmap—aligned with frameworks like SOC 2, NIST, ISO 27001, and FedRAMP principles—as evidence the platform was built for real-world use. “We’ve tested and hardened the system across hundreds of thousands of real applications, so even complex cases are handled correctly the first time.”

HelloGov’s partnership approach: embedded distribution without operational lift

HelloGov’s growth strategy is built around meeting the customers earlier in their travel plans.

Many customers still find themselves Googling “passport expediting” in a panic three days before a flight. 

But solving the industry-wide headaches caused by documentation problems requires thinking bigger and being embedded where travellers are already preparing for a trip — with retail and travel partners — so problems get caught before they turn into a day-of crisis.

And for partners, this isn’t just about efficiency. HelloGov’s goal is to give partners an additional revenue stream that solves a customer headache without creating any extra operational burden. 

They don’t need to hire specialists, train support teams, or build a new workflow. They add the service line; HelloGov runs the workflow, customer support, and operations behind it.

Brian LaBasco, HelloGov’s CFO, speaks on the commercial upside for HelloGov’s partners: “There’s huge demand for a plug-and-play model,” he says. “We see our partnerships as symbiotic, giving customers a service they genuinely need and creating meaningful affiliate revenue that goes straight to our partners’ bottom line, all  without adding a new operational team.” 

And if retail and travel memberships were HelloGov’s on-ramp into partnerships, airlines and the travel industry are the logical next step. 

American airlines and travel agents sit closest to the moment when documentation issues become operational issues — missed trips, rebooks, counter escalations — and they have the earliest customer touchpoints to catch problems before travel day. 

There’s also a compliance component, too. The IATA notes that airlines can face fines up to $10,000 per passenger when someone is deemed inadmissible due to missing visas or invalid documents.

Steven Fox, HelloGov’s co-founder and VP of Business Development, frames the opportunity as moving the solution upstream: “Passports and visas might sound like documentation issues” he says. “But for airlines and travel agents, they’re disruptive. Rebooking, dealing with frustrated travellers, hold ups, fines are all headaches for travelers and airlines. But by integrating HelloGov’s services at every step of the customer journey, from the moment a customer books to all pre-flight comm, airlines don’t just reduce the disruption of document issues, they can add an extra revenue stream without needing extra overhead.”

For Boalt, this all ties back to the bigger picture too. “Our goal is to create a solution that catches and helps people before they panic,” he says. “We want to put the services we provide everywhere people already plan and book trips so that  we get a better outcome for travellers and for the travel ecosystem around them.” 

Beyond passports: travel visas in 2026

HelloGov’s vision for the future isn’t limited to passports. 

The company says it plans to launch a global travel visa service in 2026, an adjacent category where customers have the same pain points: realising they need help close to departure, complex guidelines and the stress of not knowing if they’ll make the trip.

Zooming out, HelloGov’s broader ambition is to become a travel-document layer that can be embedded across the travel industry — retailers, memberships, loyalty programs, corporate travel, and airlines — anywhere customers make decisions before departure.

 In fact, HelloGov sees itself as a usability layer that sits in between the travel industry and the government, helping the travel industry reduce documentation bottlenecks and helping customers reduce pre-trip stress. On top of that, by ensuring that every application delivered to the agency is pre-vetted and checked by trained passport staff, HelloGov  argues it effectively increases the government’s bandwidth. 

Boalt’s thesis for HelloGov is simple: “We don’t want to replace the government at all. We just want to make all government document processes easier to navigate, and then partner with enterprise partners to help put the help and peace of mind we bring where customers already go for help: at retail brands, travel brands, airports and more.”

HelloGov’s services are already available in hundreds of retail locations across the U.S. and offered through travel-related memberships that collectively reach tens of millions of Americans. Looking ahead to 2026 and beyond, the company plans to expand partnerships with travel agents, airlines, and travel insurance providers—aiming to reach travelers well before last-minute panic sets in.

To find out more, go to hellogov.com . 

Alisha Lehmann is letting fans see the real her — no filter. The 27-year-old Swiss athlete has jumped on Fanvue, giving her millions of followers a more personal, unfiltered look at her life beyond the pitch and the headlines. 

Her football story is stacked: debuted for Switzerland at 17, 65 caps, FA Cup final with West Ham, became a fan favorite at Aston Villa, lifted the Serie A title with Juventus, had a quick stop at Como, and just recently signed a 2.5-year deal with Leicester City to return to the Women’s Super League.

Off the field, she has built a strong public presence, with 16 million Instagram followers, brand shoots with Tezenis, regular media attention, and a profile that has kept her in the spotlight for years. Now Fanvue is where she’s showing the side people actually want: relaxed, real, and way more personable than the usual social-media highlights.

Her page is loaded with exclusive stuff: pro photoshoots in stylish, confident outfits (classy, no nudes), face-covered poses, training and recovery clips, everyday moments fans rarely see, and football nostalgia — including the viral Ronaldinho crossbar challenge she did for the launch (the one where the ball accidentally nailed the cameraman…a classic).

It’s the kind of behind-the-scenes access that makes fans feel like they’re actually along for the ride instead of just watching from afar. Lehmann is giving people more of who she really is, not just the polished version.

Fanvue Co-Founder Will Monange said:

“Alisha has a strong connection with her fans already. Fanvue lets her share more of her life. More openly, more personally, and completely in her control.”

Subs kick off at $8/month (cheaper if you lock in longer) and deliver that closer, more real look. Fanvue just raised $22 million, but for Lehmann it’s dead simple: more fans getting the authentic her, while she runs the show her way.

From goal scorer to straight-up fan favorite, she’s handing people the keys to her world.

Prices and availability are accurate as of the time of publication and are subject to change without notice. Please check the retailer’s website for the most up-to-date pricing information.

Boards face an increasingly urgent question: how should they engage with cybersecurity risk when it represents the single largest threat to most organizations? The answer, according to Joseph Steinberg, lies in understanding a critical distinction that many boards miss entirely. “Every company really needs somebody on their board today who understands how to oversee the management of cyber risk,” Steinberg explains, “but, while there are many people who know how to manage cyber risk far fewer know how to oversee the management of cyber risk.” 

This distinction between management and oversight defines the fundamental difference between boards that provide effective governance and those that inadvertently undermine their CISOs while creating dangerous gaps in organizational security. 

The Critical Difference Between Cyber Security Consultancy and Board Oversight 

Many players within the cybersecurity consulting industry have conditioned boards to think about cyber risk through the wrong lens. Traditional cyber security consultancy focuses on helping CISOs implement defenses: acquiring, deploying, and configuring security controls, building incident response capabilities, and managing day-to-day security operations. These tasks are components of management—the active work of defending systems and data. Board oversight, by contrast, ensures that CISOs are doing their jobs effectively without the board attempting to do those jobs themselves. 

“The difference is whether you’re actively doing it or making sure someone’s doing it the right way,” Steinberg clarifies. This mirrors how boards approach every other major business function. “It’s the same way that boards don’t manage accounting; they make

sure that the CFO is doing a proper job managing the accounting,” he explains. “It’s not my job to run the company if I’m on the board. The company’s CEO runs it.” 

Yet cybersecurity frequently breaks this pattern. “In many cases, companies don’t have that expertise on their boards,” Steinberg observes. “Either because they don’t have it at all or they’ve brought in people who don’t really understand how to do it. They’re doing management of cyber risk, not oversight of that management.” This confusion stems partly from how boards recruit cybersecurity expertise. Companies often add someone with technical and hands-on-management credentials—a former CISO or security consultant—expecting that technical knowledge and related management experience will easily translate to effective governance. It rarely does. 

Steinberg, author of the “Official (ISC)2 Guide to the CISSP-ISSMP CBK”—an official textbook for chief information security officers—occupies a unique position to address this challenge. He knows what CISOs should be doing because he wrote the book on it. More importantly, he understands what boards should be overseeing because he’s served on both sides of that relationship throughout his career. 

The irony is that what cyber consultants focus on—countermeasure configuration, vulnerability management, security architecture, incident response procedures, etc. —is precisely what boards don’t need to understand in detail. Boards need governance frameworks instead. Steinberg’s teaching experience at Columbia University illustrates this perfectly. He teaches people studying to be C-suite executives about cyber risk management. CEOs, CIOs, and CTOs—executives learning how to ask strategic questions, not technical specialists learning system hardening. 

How Boards Fail at Cyber Governance By Trying to Do the CISO’s Job 

The most common failure pattern in board cyber governance follows a predictable trajectory. Boards review security reports detailing department performance on social engineering simulations, patch management, compliance metrics, or individual incident details. These operational reports may be interesting, but focusing on them gives boards the illusion of proper engagement while distracting them from actual governance questions.

In actuality, effective board cyber oversight requires asking the right strategic questions rather than reviewing technical details. Steinberg’s framework, for example, focuses boards on governance-level inquiries: Is your risk appetite appropriate for your business model? Does management have adequate resources to appropriately and adequately manage cyber risk? Are you asking the right questions to verify effective execution? Do you understand your exposure in business terms that you can govern? Are you fulfilling your fiduciary duties regarding cyber oversight? 

Traditional cyber security consulting service firms either manage operations or sell specific technical implementations: penetration testing, security architecture reviews, compliance audits, incident response planning, and the like. Steinberg’s board advisory begins somewhere completely different—with clarifying whether you’re seeking management help or oversight help. “The chief information security officer needs to make sure that they manage cyber risk— transferring unacceptable risks via insurance or other agreements, and terminating or treating other risks with technical controls—all of which are done to ensure that only a tolerable level of risk remains,” Steinberg explains. 

The board’s role differs fundamentally. Boards verify that management is executing effectively, ensure that acceptable levels of risk are taken on, and hold executives accountable. When boards confuse these roles, they end up micromanaging technical decisions while failing to provide strategic oversight. 

The fiduciary implications are significant. Boards have a duty to oversee cyber risk as “the biggest risk to most companies.” Failing to distinguish oversight from management may constitute a governance failure, particularly when breaches occur that proper oversight might have prevented. 

Steinberg’s observation captures the problem precisely: boards get distracted by things with which they do not need to be involved and missing things in which they do, creating governance gaps while appearing busy and engaged. This micromanagement trap prevents boards from asking the strategic questions that actually determine whether an organization’s approach to cyber risk is sound. 

Steinberg’s multiple perspectives reinforce this observation. He has served as the head of security for other organizations,built products and deployed them all over the world.

He served as an expert witness on dozens of cybersecurity-related cases. He’s seen what works and what fails from every angle: as implementer, advisor, board member, and expert witness. 

His credentials demonstrate the breadth needed for this strategic perspective. Steinberg holds the suite of advanced information security certifications, CISSP, ISSAP, ISSMP, and CSSLP. This combination of technical depth and governance breadth enables him to translate between technical operations and strategic oversight. 

Steinberg himself is selective about board positions, evaluating opportunities based on geography, cultural fit, ability to contribute value, mission alignment, and whether companies are contributing to human society. This selectivity mirrors his approach to expert witness cases—he only accepts engagements where he believes he is on the right side of justice and can add genuine value. 

The ultimate value proposition for boards is straightforward: they don’t need to become technical experts in cybersecurity. They need frameworks for asking the right strategic questions and evaluating whether their CISOs are performing effectively. Steinberg provides those frameworks based on having been both the implementer building security programs and the advisor helping boards govern them. Boards that understand the distinction between oversight and management can fulfill their fiduciary duties regarding cyber risk without attempting to do the CISO’s job.