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Franchise Owner’s Success at Signal: Nov. ’22 Franchise of the Month

Since joining Signal in late 2019, Jesse Acree, owner of Franchise #257, Portland, OR, has seen exponential growth. He grew from one market to six and saw triple-digit growth in several of those markets.

Acree is a tremendous ambassador of the Signal brand and passionate about the growth of both his franchise and his team members. For these reasons, Signal of Portland, was our November 2022 Franchise of the Month.

Acree came to Signal in 2019 after hearing about a franchise for sale online.

“I reached out to the franchise owner who was ready to move on,” Acree said, “I did not go through the normal channels on how they typically bring someone on. I reached out to the Chief Development Officer (CDO) directly. He was surprised, he didn’t know how I got his number.”

The day he spoke with the CDO he also spoke with Reed Nyffeler, CEO of Signal. Acree said he saw similarities between his own values and those of Signal.

“It was immediately obvious that we’re similar,” he said, “I asked to come out the next weekend. When I flew to Omaha, I met some of the leadership team and had about four to five hours of rapid-fire meetings. At the end of the day, I looked at them and basically said, ‘I’m in.’ That was September and 45 days later I was running the franchise.”

The quick transition into franchise ownership came with challenges, Acree shared.

“I had an idea of what I was stepping into,” Acree said, “When someone’s selling there’s usually a reason. The franchise was a mess. There was a windshield shattered and a full set of route keys were stolen from a vehicle on day one, minute one.”

Acree and his team hit the ground running and made changes that have allowed him to grow tremendously in Portland and purchase several other markets on the West Coast. Acree reorganized the franchise right away and focused on developing the staff. He gave significant pay increases in the first 30 days he was in charge.

“These changes were big,” he said, “We made a significant profit in the first 90 days. And I’d made a pretty big investment, but I saw an ROI in the first 6 months.”

But changes didn’t stop at staffing. Acree changed the criteria for his clients too.

“We don’t take every client,” Acree said, “And over 75% of people turn us down because we’re too expensive. If you want the value leader, we’re not it. If you want someone who’s buttoned up and will do the patrols and dedicated shifts the right way, we can do that. The only time we have an issue with a client is when we don’t have good communication. If my client doesn’t work well with me, I’ll fire you, you won’t be in my portfolio.”

Along with his high expectations for clients, Acree also holds his staff to a high standard. He said he couldn’t be as successful as he is without them.

“It’s 100% the team,” he said, “I don’t care about winning Franchise of the Month or the Year personally. On the flip side, I care about winning those for my team, they deserve it. They work hard. They’re growing and doing everything in their power to make Signal better and make the community safe and secure and make their lives better. Dan Reynolds, the Director of Sales, is indispensable, his maturity, especially for a young man, and his eagerness to take on challenges and learn is above anyone else.”

Acree didn’t have any security experience prior to getting started with Signal. His advice for other owners is to remember the importance of customer service.

“Security isn’t just security,” he said, “It’s about service. If you don’t get that you shouldn’t be in with us. It’s following post orders and ensuring your client is being served correctly.”

For Barb Alekna and Greg Pencosky, building Signal of West Virginia has always been about more than growing a security business. It’s about creating an organization where people can build meaningful careers, develop into leaders, and make a lasting impact in the communities they serve.

Since launching Signal of West Virginia in September 2024, that vision has guided the team’s approach to growth. From earning their first client to developing their first leaders, Barb and Greg have focused on building the business one relationship, one employee, and one client at a time.

That commitment to people, consistency, and continuous improvement is helping Signal of West Virginia establish a reputation for professionalism and dependable service across the state.

Building a Culture People Can Grow In

When Barb and Greg reflect on what makes them most proud, their answer comes back to their team. From the beginning, they wanted to create more than a successful security company. They wanted to build a career culture where employees could grow, take pride in their work, and become leaders.

“We strive to create an environment where each security officer and team member understands they’re not simply filling a security post,” they explain. “They’re protecting people, building relationships, solving problems, and representing the Signal brand with professionalism and integrity.”

That philosophy shapes how the team approaches every client and every assignment. Whether supporting apartment communities, healthcare facilities, major retailers, or special events, officers are expected to bring more than security expertise to the job.

Professionalism, reliability, communication, and dedication are all part of the standard.

For Barb and Greg, some of the most rewarding moments come from watching that culture take shape: seeing a new hire gain confidence, an officer advance into a leadership role, or a client recognize a team member for going above and beyond.

Earning Growth One Relationship at a Time

Launching a new franchise comes with challenges, but building Signal of West Virginia meant starting almost entirely from scratch.

Before the first contract, the organization had no established presence in the state, no existing clients, no employees, and no revenue. Barb and Greg had experience leading successful Signal operations, but they understood that success in another market wouldn’t automatically translate to West Virginia.

Instead, they relied on proven Signal processes while taking the time to understand the local market and build credibility from the ground up.

“Everything we’ve built since then has been earned one relationship, one employee, and one client at a time.”

That approach required humility, adaptability, and a willingness to learn. Not every proposal became a contract, and not every challenge had an immediate solution, but each experience became an opportunity to improve.

From securing their first client and hiring their first employee to celebrating their first promotion and major contract, each milestone represented another step toward building a reputation in West Virginia.

Continuous Improvement Drives the Team

For the Signal of West Virginia team, showing up at their best starts with a mindset of continuous improvement.

“We never want to become complacent or assume we know everything,” they explain. “Every conversation with a client, every interaction with an employee, every success, failure, and every challenge give us an opportunity to learn, improve, and become better than we were yesterday.”

That mindset extends beyond individual performance. Barb and Greg see clear communication as one of their most important responsibilities as leaders.

By staying connected with clients, supporting their team, and being proactive instead of reactive, they work to build trust and strengthen relationships.

For them, long-term growth isn’t something to chase. It’s something to earn through consistent effort, strong relationships, and exceptional service.

Redefining Professional Security

As Signal of West Virginia continues to grow, Barb and Greg want the community to see private security as more than simply placing officers at a post.

Their goal is to build long-term partnerships, invest in the communities they serve, and create a career culture where employees are empowered to make a positive difference.

“We’re here for the long-term, and we genuinely care about making West Virginia a safer place to live, work, and do business.”

That commitment is supported by the combination of Signal’s global resources and local, owner-led leadership.

The team benefits from Signal’s technology, innovation, experienced leadership, and proven operating model while maintaining a local presence built around responsiveness, accountability, and lasting relationships.

For Signal of West Virginia, that means officers aren’t simply providing security. They’re becoming an extension of their clients’ teams—protecting people, safeguarding property, assisting employees and visitors, and representing both the client and Signal with professionalism.

The goal is to become a trusted partner that helps reduce risk, strengthen operations, and provide lasting peace of mind.

Developing People and Leaders

For Barb and Greg, one of the most rewarding parts of ownership is watching people grow.

Whether it’s mentoring an officer into a leadership role, helping an employee build a long-term career, or developing a client relationship into a trusted partnership, those moments represent the impact they hope to create.

They also recognize that growth doesn’t happen in isolation.

The Signal network has provided opportunities to learn from experienced security leaders, including Paul Alekna and the team at Signal of Canton-Youngstown. Their mentorship and willingness to share experiences have played an important role in the growth of Signal of West Virginia.

That collaboration reflects another strength of the Signal network: franchises supporting one another and sharing knowledge to help each other succeed.

Building What Comes Next

For Barb and Greg, the most exciting part of the journey is knowing they’re still building.

“Every new team member we develop, every client relationship we earn, and every opportunity to strengthen our team is another chance to make a lasting impact.”

Their focus remains straightforward: invest in their people, serve clients with excellence, and build an organization that employees, clients, and the community can be proud of.

Being named Franchise of the Month for May 2026 is an important milestone, but the recognition is viewed as motivation rather than a finish line.

Barb and Greg credit their entire team for the franchise’s success and remain focused on creating a career culture where great people can grow, delivering exceptional service, and making a lasting impact throughout West Virginia.

Congratulations to Barb Alekna, Greg Pencosky, and the entire Signal of West Virginia team on being named May Franchise of the Month in 2026. Their commitment to developing people, serving their communities, and growing with purpose is a powerful example of what’s possible across the Signal network.

 

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