Journey Payroll & HR hosts first virtual annual conference

Journey Payroll & HR brought its franchise owners and headquarters team together online in May 2026 for its first virtual annual conference, centered on technology, AI, sales, marketing and workplace culture. The event highlighted new platform features, an internal AI focus group and a website rebuild as the company prepares for continued national growth.

Why it matters: - Journey Payroll & HR is using technology and virtual collaboration to keep its franchise network aligned across the U.S. - The conference showed how the company is trying to support small and mid-sized employers with more consistent payroll and HR tools. - The event also signals that AI is becoming part of the company’s operating strategy, not just a future idea.

What happened: - Journey Payroll & HR hosted its first virtual annual conference in May 2026. - Franchise owners and their teams joined the Fort Collins, Colorado headquarters team in one online setting. - The conference covered technology advancement, sales performance, marketing strategy, workplace wellness and culture. - Kevin Welch, CEO and founder of Journey Payroll & HR, said the virtual format showed what is possible and that the company’s people remain the foundation of the business.

The details: - The virtual format was designed to help a distributed franchise network stay aligned on operations and service standards. - Journey said the format let every owner and team member participate fully, regardless of location. - Technology sessions included updated guidance on the Journey Management System, the company’s internal operations platform for franchise owners. - The conference also introduced new features in Journey Central, the client-facing payroll and HR platform used by employers and employees for payroll, workforce operations and benefits access. - Journey also highlighted an internally created AI focus group based at headquarters. - The group was created to keep the company current with artificial intelligence and guide how AI is implemented across operations. - The company said the AI work is meant to help team members and clients use AI effectively as workflows in payroll and HR change. - A new Journey Payroll & HR website is in development and is expected to launch in the coming months. - The website is intended to reflect the company’s growth, expanded services and evolving franchise network. - The company announced Q1 2026 award recipients during the conference. - Q1 Heart Award recipients were Allie Ford, Adam Trousil, Taylor Wildin, Jaime Anderson and Sue Shirley. - Kirsten Madland received the Q1 MVP Award. - Jaime Anderson placed first in the network sales competition. - Joey Medina finished as runner-up.

Between the lines: - The conference suggests Journey is standardizing operations while trying to preserve the local ownership model that powers its franchise system. - The AI focus group points to a broader push to operationalize AI early, rather than bolt it on later. - The awards and sales competition also show the company using recognition to reinforce internal performance benchmarks.

What's next: - Journey expects to launch its new website in the coming months. - The company is likely to keep expanding its platform capabilities and AI use as it grows its franchise network. - Continued franchise alignment around technology and training appears to be a priority for future company events.

The bottom line: - Journey Payroll & HR used its first virtual annual conference to show that franchise growth, product development and AI adoption are now central to its national expansion strategy.**