Blogs

Officer of the Month-September 2022

The Tampa team can’t say enough about Advanced Officer Brent Hilliard.

“He’s just an exceptional person,” said Leslie Roller, Director of Operations, “He’s been someone who’s worked here for a long time, in many different positions and always just done a fantastic job.”

Along with his commitment to the job and positive attitude, Hilliard’s response to a domestic disturbance on one of his patrol’s earned him Officer of the Month for September 2022.

Hilliard was on duty at an apartment complex when he got an alert about a disturbance on one of the floors that may require police involvement.

“I went up there to check it out and there was a young lady,” Hilliard said, “She was shaking, you know she was nervous. I asked if everything was okay and she said ‘no, no its not,’ the guy wouldn’t leave her house. She looked back and there was a guy in the background saying I’m not leaving, I’m not going anywhere, I’m not doing anything.”

Although officers typically aren’t supposed to go inside residences, Hilliard said his gut told him this situation called for him to go into the woman’s apartment. Once inside, Hilliard said doors were torn off the hinges and there was blood on the floor.

“He had hit her, he had beat on her,” Hilliard said, “I could tell by her body language, by her actions and her face, that she was scared, she was terrified.”

Hilliard told the man he needed to leave but the man refused.

“He tried to say ‘I’m not going nowhere, I’m not doing this, I’m not doing that,’” Hilliard said, “Then he tried to go through me, and he was about 110 lbs., I’m about 300 lbs. It was like, ‘Who are you going to move?’ But then he said something to her about coming back to get her.”

Hilliard chased the man down the stairs, and he ran into a nearby park. After the police came, they took the woman’s statement, but Hilliard said they knew the man was going to come back.

“He kept calling her and we knew he was going to come back,” he said, “Within 30 minutes I saw him back downstairs in a garage. I called the police and told them where he was, and they got him.”

Advanced Officer Hilliard joined the Signal team in Tampa in 2019, after working for another security company. He says that, compared to the company he was with before, Signal is a far better place to work.

“This is the best security company I’ve ever worked for,” he said, “I love the staff, I love the people. Coral, Brandon, Leslie. They’re crazy but they work hard, and I love them. I’m here until they kick me out of the front door.”

But Hilliard’s team don’t plan on having him leave any time soon. From the first day he joined the team, Hilliard’s positive attitude and commitment to his job has impressed everyone he’s worked with, Roller says.

“One of the first times I put him in charge of anything,” she said, “We had to throw together this huge team and I told Brent we needed somebody to be the supervisor there. I had people, other officers, call me the next day and tell me how great he was. We didn’t have any orders and I didn’t even know what we were supposed to do there, but he sought somebody out and figured out where everybody was supposed to be and took care of it all. We had not one complaint, client was over the moon and officers told me, hey, I like working for him.”

Not only is Hilliard a great officer, Roller says, he’s a great person to work with in general.

“He’s always nice,” Roller said, “He always wants to help. Always. If he hears about something going on he’ll call and say, ‘I heard these people need extra service, what needs to happen, is there something I can do?’ He instinctively knows how to talk to people, he’s kind but can be stern still. I’m so glad he’s getting the opportunity to be recognized for the exceptional officer and man that he is. It’s about time everybody knew what he’s done here.”

Even though his team is singing his praises, Hilliard says that his reaction to the incident is something everyone would have and should have done.

“I just put myself in her shoes,” he said, “I don’t like violence, but if you see it you have to do something. You can’t just talk about it and watch it, I had to step up.”

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.

 

More Articles