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 categories highlight that work: the Legacy Awards and the SOAP Awards. 

The Legacy Awards represent the highest honors within the network, recognizing owners who are building lasting success while strengthening the Signal brand. The SOAP Awards—Sales, Operations, Administration, and Promise—recognize excellence in the areas that shape how every Signal franchise operates and grows.  

We are proud to celebrate this year’s winners.

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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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.