How Love’s Travel Stops Keeps Their Company Culture Alive — 60 Years and Counting

“Company culture” is one of those buzzwords we all hear… but actually building one that people feel? That’s a whole different game. It’s not about having a mission statement on your website — it’s about showing up for your people in ways that matter.

That’s exactly what Love’s Travel Stops has been doing for over six decades. And at the Ragan Employee Experience Conference in Disneyland this August, their Chief Culture Officer, Jenny Love Meyer, shared how they keep that people-first vibe going strong.

“We’re a family business, and maintaining our culture isn’t optional. It’s who we are,” Jenny told the crowd.

For Love’s, culture isn’t something that lives in a binder or only comes up during HR week. It’s baked into the daily experience — from leadership taking time to truly listen, to videos that share what life is like in their stores with the whole company (and sometimes the whole world).

Culture Starts Before You’re Even Hired

At Love’s, the culture journey starts early — as in, during the interview process. Job postings, recruiting conversations, and onboarding all include intentional language about the company’s values. New hires don’t have to guess what Love’s stands for — they hear it and see it from the start.

Those values are refreshingly clear:

• Always put the customer first.

• Lead with integrity.

• Work hard and follow through.

• Look for new ideas and opportunities.

• Keep going, even when it’s tough.

It’s not just talk. Every store, every role, every employee experiences these values consistently.

A Company Culture That Hits the Road

With more than 600 locations across 42 states, keeping everyone connected takes more than just a company email. That’s where Culture Tours come in — leadership hits the road to visit stores, listen to employees, and get feedback straight from the source.

Jenny calls it:

“Showing up and shutting up. You can’t build culture without listening at scale.”

The internal comms team tags along, cameras in hand, to capture those moments. They share videos so employees in other states can see the visits, hear their peers’ voices, and feel part of the bigger picture.

And these tours aren’t just for show. Feedback leads to real changes — like new recognition programs and the “Idea Station,” where employees can pitch ideas directly to leadership.

Keeping Culture Fresh

Even the best traditions need a little refresh now and then. Love’s gives their internal comms an annual glow-up — new video formats, fresh angles, and content that keeps people paying attention.

And they don’t keep it all behind company walls. Campaigns like “Your Story Matters” share employee stories on YouTube and TikTok — a mix of long and short videos that showcase the real people behind the brand. That public-facing approach is intentional.

“Yes, our employees are the main audience,” Jenny says. “But consumers care about how organizations are run, too.”

Love’s secret? They don’t just say they value their people — they make it visible. They make it consistent. And they make it real.

Sixty years in, their culture isn’t just surviving. It’s thriving. And that’s something worth learning from.

Goodbye Puerto Vallarta

As the end of our 4 weeks abroad, living and working as digital nomads drew to a close, we enjoyed perhaps a perfect work / life balance.

Settled into the routines, we all were thriving, 3 year old 'L' perhaps the most. He was sleeping well, eating well, and his language and abilities were thriving. Being exposed to new sights, sounds and people really pushed him into better conversation, more emotional maturity and really helped him turn from a toddler to a kid. We are coming home with a different child.

We had changed too, left a little weight in Mexico, both physically and emotionally. For me personally the stress of running a household, animals and people was completely different when it was just the three of us. I love my big kids, I love our doggies, cat and tortoise but they need me every day and it was a lovely relief to have just two humans to care for, well three including me.

The ebs and flows of work continued as normal. Using the slower days to network more, cold outreach, organising and filing. Stirring the pot for future leads. The busy days a whirlwind of calls, orders, emails and coffee!

Our original hypothesis We can live and work abroad has been proven and supported.

The intricacies of work logistics, phone, internet, space to work, time zones has proven successful in this part of Mexico and with the right accomodation set ups.

The personal needs such as access to food, and entertainment including swimming and walkability were satisfied immensely well here in Puerto Vallarta. And our amazing nanny was the reason we could do any of this. Three keys to success.

In planning our next abroad adventure, we will be considering each of these three puzzle pieces, Work Logistics, Personal Needs, Child care support.

Meanwhile, the last days of PV and Mexico were filled with - 'this is the last time we do this', 'see that', 'have those'. A bitter sweet feeling to return to the states. We found our groove as a little family unit while here. It was truly a slice of heaven on so many levels. But I missed the big kids and the dogs and the cat and the tortoise. Little 'L' missed his toys (judged by the overwhelmed grasping of his head upon our return to his toy collection), and we missed the connections with friends and family too. It was truly a goodbye to PV, see you again soon.

In conclusion, we had a blast, we proved that it is doable and we are planning the next adventure - Australia for 3 months! Before we left Mexico Regina and I took a day off work to do something super fun. An ATV tour through the jungle complete with lunch by a waterfall and tequilla tasting! Here are a couple pics from that day.

Cheers to the memories and the next grand adventure!

I Want That! The Coolest Gear You Didn’t Know You Needed

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Bestie Bottle

Let’s start with the Asobu Bestie Bottle from Ad N Art, it’s like the cutest little zoo on your desk with its adorable animal head lids. Want to get really extra? Customize those lids with your own brand mascot or favorite character. Plus, it’s BPA-free, vacuum-insulated, sweat-proof, and just fits like a charm in your hand. Hydration, but make it fun.

Regular T Shirt

Eco-friendly fashion is in, but picking the greenest tee can be a hot mess. Enter the Unisex Regular T-Shirt from Organic Tee Star, rocking 100% certified organic, fair trade cotton in 30 fab colors and sizes XS to 4X. It’s comfy, responsibly sourced, and sustainable, basically, your new go-to tee that won’t ghost the planet.

Lite Charger and Recycle Program

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Trucker Hats for Dogs

For the dog parents who do it all, PupLid’s Trucker Hats for Dogs are the ultimate flex. Created by a vet and engineer duo, these sun-shielding hats have been killing the game since 2017. Now, you can brand these hats, and even match with a human version, to snag the hearts of dog lovers everywhere. Talk about puppy love with perks.

Horizon Fleece Jacket

Snuggle up in the Horizon Fleece Jacket from Fossa Apparel, think of it as a warm hug that’s also eco-conscious. Made with 20% recycled polyester, every jacket rescues 12 plastic bottles from landfill doom. Plus, it’s lightweight, cozy, and loaded with zippered pockets for your stuff (or your snacks).

Decanter Set

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Lamp Toolbox

Fix-it emergencies? The Brightworks LED Lamp Toolbox from HPG has your back. It packs a table lamp, tape measure, screwdrivers, screws, and more into a slick molded case. Batteries included. It’s like the Swiss Army knife of toolkits, minus the pocket knife.

Future Fleece Hoodies

Sure, global warming’s making hoodies less necessary, but sustainable hoodies are still winning hearts. The Future Fleece Hoodie from Lane Seven uses 100% regenerated poly-cotton yarn from post-consumer waste and leftover fabric scraps. That means it saves crazy amounts of energy, water, and chemicals. Plus, it’s got that cotton face perfect for your logo, and minimal shrinkage. Hoodie goals.

Acacia Cheese Board

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Link to Original PPAI Article HERE