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The Chicago Journal

Broad International Presence Provides Value to Ballard Partners’ Clients

The Chicago Journal Staff on July 8, 2025

Established by Brian Ballard in Tallahassee, Florida, in 1998, Ballard Partners has grown to become a leading government relations and public affairs firm in the U.S. and abroad. Maintaining offices throughout Florida, as well as in Boston, Sacramento, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C., the firm maintains a team of more than 50 bipartisan professionals providing clients with legislative advocacy, relationship management, and other targeted services related to governmental and public affairs. Many members of the Ballard team are former government staff members, ambassadors, and members of Congress.

In addition to its work within the United States, Ballard Partners also advocates for clients abroad, from offices in Turkey, Israel, Nigeria, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Recently, the firm has expanded its international presence to several other countries by partnering with local firms and organizations. Via the Ballard Global Alliance, the firm’s clients enjoy access to deep local knowledge, relationships, and strategic expertise on the political, regulatory, cultural, and business landscapes in key international markets.    

Brazil

In May 2025, Ballard expanded into Brazil via a partnership with Esfera Brazil, a think tank and civic organization in São Paulo. The partnership will enable Ballard to provide more comprehensive services to its clients, with a focus on cross-border collaboration, insight sharing, market access, development opportunities, and global advocacy efforts. Esfera and Ballard will both strengthen their ability to advocate for clients on issues that affect the entire Western Hemisphere. 

Canada

Earlier, in March 2025, Ballard also expanded into Canada through a partnership with the public affairs and communication firm TACT, based in Quebec. By leveraging the two firms’ extensive networks, the partnership will strengthen their collective expertise on U.S.-Canada relations and issues, and will allow them to more effectively serve clients across North America. In particular, the partnership will emphasize reputation management, business development, market access, and cross-border advocacy.

Argentina

In October 2024, Ballard Partners joined forces with Cefeidas Group in the Argentine Republic. Doing so has greatly expanded Ballard’s foothold in Latin America and provided clients with the added value of a broad network, local knowledge, and expert guidance. The multi-faceted partnership prioritizes international market insights, public affairs management, regulatory affairs analysis, policy advocacy, and crisis/risk management. Cefeidas will also benefit from an expanded presence in Washington D.C. and other key U.S. cities. 

South Korea

Earlier in 2024, Ballard Partners announced its expansion into the Republic of Korea through a partnership with The GR Company in Seoul. Greatly increasing Ballard’s influence and ability to operate in Asia, the partnership is focused on legislative advocacy, the development of public affairs campaigns, rapid crisis management, and deeper insights into local regulations and compliance. The agreement provides Ballard’s clients with expanded access to advocates, policymakers, and government affairs experts, enabling them to develop valuable relationships and gain a clearer understanding of regulatory and political challenges throughout the Republic of Korea. The partnership also provides clients of The GR Company with access to Ballard’s expertise within the United States.

Japan

In August 2024, Ballard Partners firmly established itself in East Asia through an alliance with KyodoPR, a Japanese public relations firm with long-established expertise in domestic public affairs. The collaboration provides Ballard clients with local, experienced counsel related to government relations, as well as effective communications services. While the firms maintain their independence and their own management, they share offices and facilities, in addition to networks, contact, insights, and other value-added assets.

United Kingdom

At the same time as its announcement about the partnership in Japan, Ballard Partners also announced a newly established relationship with SABI Strategy Group in the United Kingdom. A strategic communications company in London, SABI is well-positioned to expand Ballard’s impact in the country, through access to the firm’s research team, local public relations experts, campaign management expertise, and advocacy experience. 

Ballard Partners’ Offices in Nigeria and Saudi Arabia

Prior to the announcements of partnerships with firms in the United Kingdom, Asia, Latin America, and Canada, Ballard Partners established offices in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as well as in Abuja and Lagos, Nigeria. 

Ballard’s Riyadh office is the lynchpin in the firm’s strategic counsel and advocacy services for clients in the greater Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The office is also focused on assisting clients operating in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, especially in the context of Saudi Vision 2030, the government’s long-term economic diversification plan. Meanwhile, Ballard’s offices in Abuja and Lagos marked the firm’s entry into Africa. This presence gives clients unprecedented access to expertise, advocacy, and guidance related to doing business in Nigeria—Africa’s largest economy and its most populous country—and across the continent. 

Through these and other international offices in Turkey and Israel, in addition to the various regional partnerships that make up the Ballard Global Alliance, Ballard Partners provides clients with advocacy, policy development, and relationship management services that are truly global in scale.

Disclaimer: The information provided above regarding Ballard Partners, including its operations, partnerships, and services, is for general informational purposes only

 

John Cerasani Set to Headline 1% Event in Illinois with a Raw, Unfiltered Interview on Entrepreneurship and Breaking the Mold

The Chicago Journal Staff on July 8, 2025

PERU, ILLINOIS – July 2025 — This Saturday, July 12th, the historic Westclox Event Center in Peru, Illinois will open its doors to hundreds of entrepreneurs, visionaries, and community leaders for The 1% Event, a high-energy business and personal development experience focused on unleashing elite performance and ambition. And one of the most anticipated moments of the day will be a live, on-stage interview with Chicago native John Cerasani — a former corporate employee turned multimillionaire entrepreneur, investor, and host of the popular 2000 Percent Raise podcast.

Unlike most events where speakers stick to polished speeches and rehearsed scripts, Cerasani’s session will be different: a candid, sit-down interview where he’ll pull back the curtain on what it really took to walk away from the 9–5 and build a company from scratch — one he later sold for millions. He’ll also speak on his current role as a venture capitalist with Glencrest Global, where he now funds bold founders building the next wave of innovative startups.

For aspiring entrepreneurs, young professionals, or anyone tired of playing small, it promises to be a powerful conversation.

A Venue Built for Reinvention

The setting for the event — the Westclox Event Center — carries its own symbolism. Once a clock factory dating back to the late 1800s, the space has been reimagined as an industrial-chic venue for modern gatherings. With its exposed brick walls, high ceilings, and sprawling open floor plan, it sets the stage for an event that’s all about evolution, grit, and rising to the occasion.

The 1% Event, produced by Project Future First — a nonprofit dedicated to mentoring at-risk youth through entrepreneurial exposure — was intentionally designed to fuse inspiration with execution. Attendees won’t just hear from successful people; they’ll engage with battle-tested builders who’ve walked the path, made the mistakes, and still came out on top.

John Cerasani’s Journey: From Employee to Investor

Cerasani’s rise is a story that resonates with anyone who’s ever felt stuck in a system that didn’t reward their ambition. After years in the corporate world, he left it behind to launch his first business from — quite literally — his kitchen table. That company grew rapidly and was ultimately sold to private equity for a life-changing sum.

But for Cerasani, the exit wasn’t the end — it was the beginning of a new chapter. He went on to launch Glencrest Global, a venture capital firm that now backs promising companies in sectors like tech, consumer goods, and digital media. Alongside that, he launched his podcast 2000 Percent Raise, where he interviews founders, athletes, and public figures on the mindset required to shatter expectations and reinvent oneself.

At the 1% Event, his live interview will explore:

  • How he broke out of the employee mindset
  • The untold story behind building and selling his first company
  • What he looks for when investing in founders today
  • Why most people settle far below their potential
  • And how anyone — regardless of background — can rise into the top 1%

The goal isn’t to inspire through hype, but to equip through truth.

A Free Event With a Powerful Mission

While most conferences of this scale carry steep price tags, The 1% Event is completely free to attend — thanks to generous sponsors and donors who believe in the mission of Project Future First. The organization works year-round to expose at-risk youth to mentors, business education, and opportunities that most never get to see.

Cerasani’s presence underscores that mission. His own background — growing up in the Midwest, rising through corporate ranks, then betting on himself — proves that success isn’t reserved for Silicon Valley tech stars or Ivy League graduates.

The event will also feature speakers from various industries, including real estate, sales, digital branding, content creation, investing, and public speaking. These individuals won’t be handing out theory — they’ll be sharing their real-world playbooks on scaling companies, overcoming doubt, and pushing through resistance to break into the top 1% of their fields.

Who Should Attend?

The 1% Event is designed for:

  • Aspiring entrepreneurs
  • Small business owners
  • Sales professionals
  • Creators and marketers
  • Young adults seeking mentorship
  • Anyone hungry for personal and financial growth

Whether you’re just starting out or already scaling, the event ensures to deliver both actionable strategy and raw insight.

Don’t Miss It

For those in Illinois or surrounding states, this is a rare opportunity to hear from a venture capitalist who’s been in the trenches and made it out with a blueprint. John Cerasani doesn’t hold back — and his live interview is expected to be one of the most memorable moments of the entire event.

And if history is any indicator, attendees will leave not just inspired — but ready to execute.

Event Details:

  • What: The 1% Event — A free, one-day business and mindset experience
  • Who’s Featured: John Cerasani (interview), plus a lineup of top entrepreneurs, investors, and leaders
  • When: Saturday, July 12th, 2025
  • Where: Westclox Event Center, Peru, Illinois
  • Cost: Free with RSVP
  • RSVP Site: www.projectfuturefirst.com/illinois

Whether you’re chasing a business dream, trying to break free from the 9–5, or looking to reset your trajectory entirely, this weekend in Peru might be your spark.

HelloGov: A High-Tech Solution for Couriers Rushing to Keep Up With Passport Demand

The Chicago Journal Staff on July 8, 2025

A bridesmaid panics because she’s about to miss her best friend’s wedding. A father realizes he won’t be able to travel to walk his daughter down the aisle. A guitarist is about to miss his shot at playing on a world tour… 

All these travelers needed passports quickly, and they’re all real situations that faced customers of HelloGov, a new tech startup that’s reimagining how customers get passports in a hurry. They’re also common stories in major international hubs like Chicago. Despite a history of transportation innovation, the Windy City’s process of setting people up for international travel can be almost nineteenth-century. And that’s especially problematic at a time when the post-pandemic surge in travel demand has overloaded passport agencies like the one on Ida B. Wells Drive.

Passport couriers often step into this chaos to streamline the process and help panicked travelers get their passports in the nick of time. Yet many of those couriers struggle to efficiently connect with travelers caught in a pinch. Some rely on word-of-mouth referrals, clunky spreadsheets, and manual paperwork reviews. 

HelloGov aims to improve the experience by developing a user-friendly online marketplace — an AI-powered portal designed for passport couriers. The goal is to make it easier for couriers to assist travelers, similar to how restaurants manage last-minute reservations online. Here’s an overview of their approach.

Building a Marketplace Model for Couriers

Screenshots of the HelloGov UI for passport couriers, showing a list of customer orders, a checklist for AI review, and details for a specific order.

Photo Courtesy: HelloGov
HelloGov’s user-friendly backend gives couriers a clear view of customers seeking rush passport service in Chicago.

The concept for HelloGov draws on co-founder and CEO Adam Boalt’s two decades of experience building similar third-party passport platforms, while also leaning into successful concepts of various user-friendly apps that have taken off in recent years. Like an online restaurant booking or rideshare service, HelloGov is designed to simplify how couriers connect with travelers. 

“After more than 20 years in the passport and visa spaceI’ve noticed that some existing technology solutions can feel a bit outdated and challenging to navigate, especially for small courier businesses that are just getting started,” Boalt says. “We built this platform to modernize the entire industry and level the playing field. It’s like OpenTable for passport couriers: A reliable CRM with an AI assistant that supports secure remote document reviews and provides clear visibility into customer applications to help speed up the process and reduce the risk of suspensions. Many travelers use our platform each month to help with their applications, and we connect these customers with couriers through our open marketplace, making it simpler for couriers to find and assist clients. We’re excited to be welcoming the next cohort of couriers to a fairer, more equitable way to work for everyone involved.”

The platform handles everything from vetting customer applications to collecting and reviewing their documents for processing. It’s all designed so couriers may focus on what they do: collecting customer documents and securely hand-carrying their applications to the passport agency. When couriers can concentrate on their work, it can help more customers receive their expedited passports faster, sometimes within two to four days.

Graphic showing HelloGov’s mobile app scanning a customer photo to confirm it meets passport requirements for neutral expression, white background, and image quality. To the left is a list of features: AI passport image analysis, AI passport data matching, instant AI error and mismatch detection, and AI age and legal compliance checks.

Photo Courtesy: HelloGov The HelloGov app uses AI to quickly analyze all customer documents and photos, flagging issues that need attention to ensure expedited passport renewal in cities like Chicago.

While its clean, accessible user interface may be the first thing couriers notice, what truly sets HelloGov apart is its total integration of AI.

On the customer side, the platform’s specially trained AI agent, Sydney, guides hurried travelers through every step of preparing their application and gathering the required documents. It then thoroughly reviews those documents to confirm the customer has checked all the boxes. After handing off to one of HelloGov’s human agents for verification, the system then presents the customer with all the local couriers who can do the job within their required timeframe.  

Once the customer chooses a courier, the expeditor can review all the documents for final verification, right from their computer, phone or tablet. This multi-layered process helps couriers confirm the customer has everything they need. If the customer needs to make any changes, the courier can see new documents uploaded in real time.

HelloGov provides a CRM platform for couriers, featuring tools to help with secure document verification. It is a centralized place for customer referrals, integrated support, and managing digital manifests, which can be helpful when visiting passport offices. The platform aims to simplify operations for established courier businesses and independent couriers working on a smaller scale.

The straightforward setup has been transformative for Benjie Slack, president of American Visa of D.C., where HelloGov is already working with couriers. 

“The HelloGov marketplace has really streamlined my process for connecting with hand-carry customers,” he says. “As a small business, having a ready-made referral system is huge. It saves me time and helps me focus on setting up appointments and delivering documents.”

A courier reviews orders and records information with a stylus pen on a tablet, next to a graphic of a digital manifest in the HelloGov app.

Photo Courtesy: HelloGov In their HelloGov account, couriers can review the day’s manifest, complete with customer orders, travel dates, and carrier information.

Transforming Last-Mile Logistics

While HelloGov sets out to solve a host of issues for travelers and passport couriers in cities like Chicago, Boalt wants to deliver more than just another passport fix. 

“Really, we want to be the go-to place for all government documents, not just passports,” he says. “We can make the whole process easier, from submitting documents to tracking your application to following up.”

The company is already set to launch similar services for vehicle registration later in 2025, along with immigration offerings. The goal is to digitize last-mile government logistics, starting with busy global cities. HelloGov has already piloted its platform in four major markets with U.S. passport agencies, and Chicago is next on its list.

The benefits won’t only reach travelers or well-established passport couriers, either. While HelloGov’s first priority is to expand the marketplace of registered couriers, the company also has plans to establish training programs and open opportunities for others to provide couriers with customer referrals for expedited passport services in Chicago. That could mean, for instance, more on-demand work for couriers or even gig work for notaries in Chicago. 

Expediting International Travel in the Windy City

When a traveler is faced with a last-minute reality check before an international trip, they’re hit with all sorts of anxious questions. How fast can I get an expedited passport in Chicago? Where do I go? How can I make sure it gets here in time?

Couriers have always stood ready to ease those travelers’ worries and guide them through the process. With HelloGov, they’ll just be able to do it much more effectively. 

For Chicago passport couriers looking for easier ways to help frantic customers, this kind of tech should be a breath of fresh air. It may even bring expedited passport services into the twenty-first century. 

Anyone interested in becoming a passport courier or joining the HelloGov marketplace can learn more or apply at https://www.hellogov.com/join. 

 

Disclaimer: The information presented here is for general informational purposes only. Given the complexity and ongoing changes in government-related services, some details may evolve over time