As Employco marks its 30-year milestone, its origins, growth, and the moments that shaped it come into focus
Employco was established in 1996 by Bob Wilson along with his two sons, Rob and Scott Wilson. They had a clear, three-prong focus: helping companies reduce workers’ compensation premiums; streamlining payroll processing; and addressing human resource issues. At the time, most companies lacked their own human resources departments. Those responsibilities were usually assigned to someone in accounting or operations who did not have the time or training to handle them adequately.
Employco took on that responsibility.
Thirty years later, the company grew from a startup with sales of just $5,000 in 1996, to one that generated more than $550 million in 2025, and has expanded from its Chicago roots to a national presence spanning all 50 states and Puerto Rico. Along the way, Employco established a defining role in the tradeshow industry, where payroll, workers’ compensation, union fringe reporting, and multi-state compliance requirements created challenges many contractors were eager to simplify.
Building the Foundation
During its inaugural year, the company concentrated on developing internal processes and convincing businesses to entrust their essential administrative tasks to a newly established organization. Employco’s early clients included restaurants, a hardware store, and two tradeshow companies: Continental Exhibits and USA Displays.
From the beginning, Employco tried to set itself apart by asking clients what their biggest headaches were and then developing services around those needs. Employco set itself apart early by offering union fringe reporting in addition to standard payroll and tax services, something its competitors did not provide. That decision proved significant.
Shift to the Show Floor
Although tradeshow work was not part of Employco’s original business plan, it quickly became central to the company’s growth. A major turning point came when Employco handled payroll and workers’ compensation for the International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS) in 1998, and again in 2000. This put Employco on the map and legitimized its credentials.
The increased visibility helped establish Employco as a go-to resource in a niche where the complexities of operating across multiple cities and states, each having different payroll tax requirements, unique insurance complexities, and local union requirements were overwhelming for most general contractors and I&D companies.
Employco structured its model around helping clients navigate those demands more seamlessly. Prior to that, companies often had to coordinate with multiple insurance agents to add coverage in new states, open numerous state unemployment accounts, and work with local unions on collective bargaining agreements—often concurrently across multiple locations. By assuming more of these administrative burdens, Employco enabled clients to operate more efficiently from city to city, and state to state.
The company also leaned into union work at a time when many competitors shied away from it. From the beginning, Employco has maintained strong relationships with unions, grounded in a deep understanding of the industry, union dynamics, and fringe benefits. In turn, unions have come to recognize that companies working with Employco will not encounter any issues with payroll or fringe obligations.
That trust and flexibility became part of the company’s identity. Employco accommodated payroll reports from its clients in a variety of formats—email, fax, website upload, or even photos of timesheets from their phones. Not having to adapt their data format to a new payroll system was a huge benefit because it substantially simplified reporting for them. In an industry built around live deadlines and shifting logistics, that willingness to work around client realities became part of the company’s service model.
Adapting to Disruption
Over the past 30 years, Employco has navigated three major external events that fundamentally reshaped the business: 9/11, the 2009 recession, and the COVID-19 Pandemic—each forcing adaptation and, ultimately, strengthening the company’s long-term trajectory.
In the aftermath of September 11th, the tradeshow industry—then a core driver of Employco’s business—slowed dramatically. With a significant portion of its clients tied to that sector, the impact was immediate and meaningful. The experience exposed a concentration risk that would later inform a more deliberate strategy around diversification and resilience.
The 2009 recession brought a broader and more prolonged challenge, with layoffs and business closures affecting nearly every industry. At the time, approximately 75 percent of Employco’s business was still tied to tradeshows, intensifying the impact. In response, leadership made a strategic decision to expand beyond that sector, gradually moving into janitorial and hospitality. This shift did not happen overnight, but over time it proved pivotal, broadening the company’s client base and creating a more balanced, sustainable business model.
The COVID-19 pandemic presented the most sudden and severe disruption. In the first 45 days alone, Employco’s clients laid off more than 7,000 employees, and company revenue declined by approximately $85 million from 2019 to 2020. Rather than focusing solely on its own recovery, Employco prioritized the survival of its clients, providing guidance on the Paycheck Protection Program, HR support, and practical, real-time advice, all at no charge. The company did not lay off any employees or reduce salaries during this period, aside from reductions among ownership. By positioning itself as a steady, trusted resource during a time of uncertainty, Employco deepened client relationships and reinforced its reputation. By 2021, the company had not only recovered, but achieved a record year of growth.
Strengthening From Within
These periods of disruption reinforced something equally important inside the company: the value of stability, culture, and a strong internal team. While Employco was helping clients navigate uncertainty, it was also strengthening its own foundation, ensuring that knowledge, processes, and service standards could scale alongside growth.
As the business expanded, leadership recognized the need for greater consistency across increasingly customized client work. The addition of a dedicated training manager marked a turning point. What had once been more intuitive and experience-driven evolved into a structured system, complete with detailed manuals, tutorials, and client-specific process outlines. This investment ensured that institutional knowledge was not only preserved, but actively transferred, creating a more disciplined and reliable operation.
Leadership continuity has also played a meaningful role in shaping the company’s long-term direction. When Griffen Wilson joined the business full-time in 2019, it signaled the arrival of the next generation and a continued commitment to evolution. Having literally grown up around the business, even spending time on the show floor as a young child, he brings both historical perspective and a forward-looking mindset, positioning the company for its next phase.
What Evolves and What Endures
Despite decades of change across technology, regulation, and labor administration, some elements of the business remain strikingly consistent. The work on the show floor still reflects the same core demands, even as pay structures and rules have evolved. That continuity has reinforced a simple but enduring operating philosophy: listen closely, solve problems directly, and build solutions around the realities clients face every day.
As Employco celebrates 30 years in business, that philosophy is not just a reflection of its past—it is a clear signal of how it intends to move forward.
Founded in 1996, Employco provides payroll processing, human resources support, workers’ compensation management, and employee benefits administration to businesses across the country. The company says it now operates in all 50 states and Puerto Rico. For more info, visit www.employco.com.
