Blogs

Hero of the Year 2023: Natalie Cabral

At Signal, there are thousands of officers who go above and beyond every day to provide peace of mind to communities across the country and around the world. Our Hero of the Year for 2023 embodies the essence of a true hero; an individual with remarkable talents and a passion for serving her community. Natalie Cabral, from Signal of Banning, CA, serves as an inspiration to all her fellow officers and the rest of the Signal Network for her courage and willingness to go above and beyond for her community. 

Last year, Cabral demonstrated all the qualities of a true hero. Cabral was on patrol at a local Walmart when she noticed a 9-year-old girl accompanied by two adult males. The situation didn’t sit right with her, and she engaged with the young girl, who bravely spoke up and told Cabral neither of the men were her father. 

Our Hero’s instincts kicked in and she was able to thwart the attempted abduction, stopping the tragedy and reuniting her with her family. Cabral’s quick thinking and dedication turned a potentially devastating day back into a happy one. 

Our Hero of the Year is not just a beacon of hope once a year, she is an exemplary officer and human being every day. She brings a positive spirit to Signal of Banning every time she clocks in. She’s integrated herself into the team and is a source of inspiration, embodying the perfect balance of professionalism, toughness and compassion on the job. When not patrolling Walmart, Cabral has another job she takes pride in; being a wonderful parent to her daughters. 

“My journey with Signal has been amazing,” she said. “Before Signal I wasn’t motivated and confident. Signal has had a huge impact on me. I love coming to work. We have a wonderful team that treats you like family. I’m so excited to see what the future brings for me here. I want to grow with this company and see positive effects in my life from it.” 

As an energized and purposeful officer with a proven track record of excellence, Natalie Cabral is the perfect representative of what it means to be part of the Signal brand. Her compassion and professionalism make her a beacon of hope in what might otherwise be dire situations. We’re so proud to recognize her and award her with Signal’s Hero of the Year and hope to see more greatness as her career progresses. 

Franchise of the Year: Wes and Weston Smith
Signal of Montana, Signal of North Dakota, Signal of South Dakota, and Signal of Wyoming  

 The Franchise of the Year Award represents the highest level of excellence within the Signal network, recognizing owners who demonstrate outstanding growth, leadership, and commitment to the Signal brand. 

This year’s winners, Wes and Weston Smith, achieved 26 percent year-over-year growth through strong operations and a relentless “can-do” attitude. They are known for being highly responsive, always making themselves and their teams available to support both their employees and the Home Office. 

Just as importantly, the Smiths are deeply connected to their people. They build lasting relationships with their teams and clients through humility, professionalism, and genuine leadership. Their commitment to supporting their officers and maintaining high brand standards is reflected in the culture they have built across their franchises. 

Together, Wes and Weston continue to set the standard for what it means to lead a successful Signal franchise. 

 

New Franchise of the Year: Brandon Long and Patti Long
Signal of Bakersfield, CA 

The New Franchise of the Year Award honors a franchise launched within the last 18 months that has already demonstrated exceptional performance. 

Brandon and Patti Long have made an immediate impact in Bakersfield, California. Stepping into a challenging market situation, they quickly implemented the strategies and leadership necessary to turn the operation around. 

In a short time, they have demonstrated what is possible when strong leadership, focus, and commitment to the Signal model come together. 

New Franchise of the Year: Brandon Long and Patti Long
Signal of Bakersfield, CA 

The New Franchise of the Year Award honors a franchise launched within the last 18 months that has already demonstrated exceptional performance. 

Brandon and Patti Long have made an immediate impact in Bakersfield, California. Stepping into a challenging market situation, they quickly implemented the strategies and leadership necessary to turn the operation around. 

In a short time, they have demonstrated what is possible when strong leadership, focus, and commitment to the Signal model come together. 

Most Improved Franchise of the Year: Rob Livingston
Signal of Savannah, GA 

The Most Improved Franchise of the Year Award recognizes a market that has made meaningful strides in strengthening its operations and organizational structure. 

Rob Livingston’s Savannah franchise is known for its steady, practical approach to business. The team operates with strong discipline and reliability, consistently following through on commitments and strengthening relationships with clients. 

Managing an extensive Walmart portfolio, the franchise regularly meets performance KPIs and ranks among the network’s top performers. 

Through consistent focus and operational improvements, Rob and his team have strengthened every area of the business while representing the Signal brand with professionalism. 

Market Transition of the Year: Frik Snyman
Signal of Edmonton, Alberta 

The Market Transition of the Year Award recognizes a franchise that has undergone a change in ownership and demonstrated significant improvement across the business. 

After assuming leadership of the Edmonton market, Frik Snyman quickly focused on three critical priorities: culture, customer relationships, and profitability. 

By restructuring roles and strengthening accountability, he built a cohesive team that streamlined operations and improved performance. Careful analysis of overhead and operational processes led to a significant financial turnaround, improving gross margins by more than 10 percent and net margins by 15 to 20 percent. 

Alongside these improvements, Frik has renegotiated key contracts and developed a strong pipeline of future growth, setting a promising path forward for the franchise. 

Market Transition of the Year: Frik Snyman
Signal of Edmonton, Alberta 

The Market Transition of the Year Award recognizes a franchise that has undergone a change in ownership and demonstrated significant improvement across the business. 

After assuming leadership of the Edmonton market, Frik Snyman quickly focused on three critical priorities: culture, customer relationships, and profitability. 

By restructuring roles and strengthening accountability, he built a cohesive team that streamlined operations and improved performance. Careful analysis of overhead and operational processes led to a significant financial turnaround, improving gross margins by more than 10 percent and net margins by 15 to 20 percent. 

Alongside these improvements, Frik has renegotiated key contracts and developed a strong pipeline of future growth, setting a promising path forward for the franchise. 

Sales Champion: Mike Daly
Signal of Tampa Bay  

The Sales Champion Award recognizes an owner who exemplifies the strength of the Signal sales process while driving consistent revenue growth. 

For more than fifteen years, Mike Daly has demonstrated what disciplined, strategic growth looks like. By consistently following the Signal sales process and scaling his market intentionally, he has built a strong and sustainable business. 

This year, that commitment paid off in a major way when he secured a significant municipal contract—an achievement that reflects both persistence and long-term strategy. 

Beyond his own success, Mike is known throughout the network as someone who develops people and willingly shares his ideas with fellow owners. He is a leader others regularly turn to for insight and support. 

Operations Champion: Jesse Acree
Signal of Portland, OR, Signal of Salem, OR, Signal of Medford, OR, Signal of Central Oregon, Signal of Seattle, WA, Signal of King County, WA, and Signal of Greater San Diego, CA 

The Operations Champion Award recognizes an owner who leads a high-performing team, maintains operational efficiency, and consistently exceeds customer expectations. 

As a multi-market owner, Jesse Acree has built a reputation for thriving in complex environments. His resourceful approach allows him to quickly identify when something needs to change and take decisive action to improve operations. 

Jesse understands that strong teams are the foundation of operational success. By investing in his leadership structure, he has created an organization that allows him to focus on strategic growth while empowering others to lead. 

He is also known across the network for his willingness to connect with other owners—whether checking in, sharing ideas, or challenging processes in ways that ultimately strengthen the entire organization. 

Operations Champion: Jesse Acree
Signal of Portland, OR, Signal of Salem, OR, Signal of Medford, OR, Signal of Central Oregon, Signal of Seattle, WA, Signal of King County, WA, and Signal of Greater San Diego, CA 

The Operations Champion Award recognizes an owner who leads a high-performing team, maintains operational efficiency, and consistently exceeds customer expectations. 

As a multi-market owner, Jesse Acree has built a reputation for thriving in complex environments. His resourceful approach allows him to quickly identify when something needs to change and take decisive action to improve operations. 

Jesse understands that strong teams are the foundation of operational success. By investing in his leadership structure, he has created an organization that allows him to focus on strategic growth while empowering others to lead. 

He is also known across the network for his willingness to connect with other owners—whether checking in, sharing ideas, or challenging processes in ways that ultimately strengthen the entire organization. 

Admin Champion: Joe and Holly Marshall 
Signal of Ohio 

The Admin Champion Award recognizes owners who maintain exceptional organization and financial awareness while managing the details that keep a business running strong. 

Joe and Holly Marshall exemplify this balance. They remain deeply engaged in the financial health and daily operations of their franchise, maintaining a clear focus on gross profit, collections, and operational discipline. 

What truly sets them apart, however, is their leadership style. Their commitment to their team is evident in their prioritization of people and recognition that a focused, supported staff drives strong financial performance. 

Their passion, attention to detail, and consistent engagement continue to strengthen their organization and position it for long-term success. 

Promise Champion: Bill Kotowski 
Signal of Eastern PA and Signal of Western PA 

The Promise Champion Award recognizes an owner who has created a culture that fosters both loyal employees and loyal customers. 

Bill Kotowski is known as a leader of leaders—someone who lives out the Signal values in everything he does. His passion for the business and dedication to his team are evident in the strong culture he has built within his franchise. 

Bill is often the first to step forward to support new initiatives that benefit the broader network, and his willingness to serve others has helped strengthen both his team and the organization as a whole. 

His commitment to his people is the foundation of the loyal team and client relationships that define his franchise. 

Promise Champion: Bill Kotowski 
Signal of Eastern PA and Signal of Western PA 

The Promise Champion Award recognizes an owner who has created a culture that fosters both loyal employees and loyal customers. 

Bill Kotowski is known as a leader of leaders—someone who lives out the Signal values in everything he does. His passion for the business and dedication to his team are evident in the strong culture he has built within his franchise. 

Bill is often the first to step forward to support new initiatives that benefit the broader network, and his willingness to serve others has helped strengthen both his team and the organization as a whole. 

His commitment to his people is the foundation of the loyal team and client relationships that define his franchise. 

Recognizing the Best of the Network 

Each of these awards represents a different area of excellence—from sales and operations to culture and leadership. Together, they highlight the many ways franchise owners across the network are strengthening their businesses and serving their communities. 

Congratulations to all of this year’s SOAP and Legacy Award winners for the leadership, dedication, and impact they continue to bring to Signal. 

More Articles

Celebrating Our Convention Legacy and SOAP Award Winners

Celebrating Our Convention Legacy and SOAP Award Winners

March 11, 26 |

Each year at Convention, we recognize franchise owners who are raising the bar for excellence across the Signal network. While our Core Values define who we are, the way those values come to life is through the work our franchise owners do every day.  Two key award...

Celebrating Our Convention Core Award Winners

Celebrating Our Convention Core Award Winners

March 04, 26 |

At Signal, our Core Values are more than just words – they shape our culture and define how we provide peace of mind to the communities we serve. They are action statements rooted in a fundamental code of conduct that help us meet challenges, make decisions, and lead...