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Family Success in Northern Nevada: Franchise of the Month June 2023

Amidst the majestic Sierra Nevada mountain range, Reno, NV is known as the ‘Biggest Little City in the World,’ and is home to breathtaking natural beauty, glitzy casinos and bustling entertainment. It’s also home to Signal of Northern Nevada, owned by Steve O’Neil, Sean Van Dort and Annette Woollard. In early 2021 the trio, made up of mother Annette, stepfather Steve and son Sean, were looking for the next steps as Steve’s retirement approached.

“We were looking for a business we could run as a family,” Steve said. “When we researched Signal, we found that the core values and mission statement all kind of related to our past military experience and really just how we run our lives.”

When doing their research, the trio also spoke to current owners to get more perspective on the company.

“We asked about their successes,” Steve said.  “But they told us about the challenges and struggles too. We had some long meetings and were pretty sold on it afterward. I was really like, where do I sign?”

Since launching in September 2021, the team has seen tremendous growth and success in the Reno/Sparks area of Nevada. The franchise is currently ranked #33 out of 166 Franchises overall for the Signal Network’s Key Performance Indicators, including 4th in Days Sales Outstanding and 7th in Patrol Completion. For their fantastic operational performance and dedication to the values of the Signal brand, the team is our Signal Franchise of the Month.

Today, the trio has separated the day-to-day running of the franchise into areas that play to each of their strengths. Annette handles most of the administrative work, including billings, collections and HR. Steve works with the Home Office on expansions, vehicles and larger projects like last year’s rebranding. Sean handles most of the operations and sales. He says that having someone with a physical presence in the community is vital to the success of their business.

“I meet with customers and clients and let them know who we are,” Sean said. “It’s not just a phone call or an email or something. We want to be a friendly face. Somebody that accounts can communicate with. It’s not like you have to contact this person to reach this person to then finally get ahold of you. They can call me directly and work with them.”

Developing those relationships has proved to be essential not only to their current success but for future contracts. The team says that many of the contracts they have come to them via word of mouth from current clients.

“One of our biggest recent successes is our contract at Summit Mall,” Steve said. “The person that runs Summit actually lives at one of the apartments that we patrol. So, she liked our services at the apartments, and she contacted us when they sold the mall because she knew they were going to take new bids. We were not the lowest bid, but she really went to bat for us, and we got the contract.”

Of course, every journey comes with challenges. Like many other owners, the team says that finding the right employees has been a challenge.

“We run a really tight ship and have high standards and a zero-tolerance policy for a lot of things,” said Steve. “Unaccountable time, no calls, no shows. But the employees we have now seem to be keepers.”

The team understands that relationships are key to keeping both employees and clients happy,

“We’re not perfect,” Steve said. “We have guards screw up, there are miscommunications with clients. But they have a direct line to Sean and we’re able to fix mistakes right away. They see improvement right away.”

That same improvement-based mindset also applies to their guards. The team sets an example by completing any training they have their guards do themselves. They’ve also recently promoted key employee Dylan Parrish to supervise training and help guards grow in their roles.

“Everybody here has done the same training I’ve asked them to do,” Steve said. “If a guard is having issues with making routes on time or report writing, we send one of our stars out there to ride with them and help them. However, they learn we’re trying to embrace that. Dylan has been a big part of our training program. We try to find everybody’s weaknesses and make them stronger.”

The team also has a close relationship with other owners in the network and the team at the Home Office. Steve’s biggest advice for other owners is to build those relationships and ask for help.

“You have to network with owners,” Steve said. “I think my biggest learning curve was that you can’t reinvent the wheel. Someone’s already figured out how to do this. You’ve just got to find the right person. Find out who the successful people in the network are and ask. What worked for you, what didn’t work.”

As Annette, Sean and Steve approach their two-year anniversary, they’re looking forward to what the future holds for Signal of Northern Nevada.

“Our goal for 2023 is to make the $1 million club and I think we’re on track to do that. There’s just so many opportunities here. It’s not just multi-family. We have industrial, we have shopping centers. It just branches out and it seems like every different area that you go in throughout Reno, and we’re still learning it, there’s more. There are so many more opportunities here.

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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