Meet the Contestants

Where are you from?

I'm from Austin, Texas.

When did you start working for the company?

I started working for Signal 88 a year and a half ago.

What are the best parts of your job? Why do you love it?

I like that I don't have a typical desk job. I get to go out and knock on doors every day and figure out ways to get past the gatekeepers, people who don't want to see me initially.

I do a lot of creative things [when meeting with potential clients}. I'll bring them unique breakfast items (not your typical donuts). I've even brought flowers and posed as a delivery guy if I've had a really difficult person that just won't talk to a salesperson. I have an educational soft sale approach instead of the ram it down your throat approach, which works in Austin which is a laid back kind of town. I have a service they need to use and I just need to educate them about why they need to use me and not someone else. When you come across as sincere, people respond to that.

What's the best experience you've had on the job?

When you get that call or that contract, and you see the names and the signatures that feels great! I'll get the goosebumps feeling, because I negotiated that contract, I got it to close, I won that customer over. That's truly the first part of the thrill. The second part is after they've been using the service and a manager says, "I love how your guys are interacting with the tenants. I love your reporting system." That makes me feel good. That's where all the pieces of the puzzle come together and I know that they see the true value of what I was bringing to the table from the first day I walked through the door.

What do you like to do for fun?

After I've wrapped up my day, my favorite stress reliever is to go to the gym. That's my time, when I don't have to think and I can just throw on my head phones, cut loose, and blow off steam.

What did you learn about yourself from the experience?

There were a lot of times that I questioned my ability, but this promotion solidifies that you need to believe in yourself! You know that you are doing the right thing if you are walking against the grain and you get knocked down but you keep getting up and going back to the drawing board. Eventually persistence and consistency wins the day.

What was the toughest part of the process for you?

When Reed was going over the stadium challenge and [noted] what I missed, it was hard. I lost and it's never fun to lose. But when you lose, you get the ability to look at what you did wrong and what you did right, and then train and prepare for the next opportunity so that you don't allow those same things to happen twice.

How has being on the show changed your life and your family's life?

There's a lot of redemption in this promotion. My daughter has seen her dad cry and struggle, and this shows her that no matter what you shouldn't give up the fight. It's going to allow me to do some things for my family that I haven't been able to do. Now that we have more financial backing, if someone else in my family wants to follow their dream, I will get to be that person in their corner.

How has your work life changed? How do you like your new opportunity?

I'm excited and motivated. I'm going to be promoting a brand on a much grander scale, so I'm ready to get to work and sink my teeth into this. This promotion improves my career and adds a new notch on my belt. I can say that I went from promoting something locally to promoting it to a national market. That said, they are saying national and I'm already thinking global. People like me, who want something bigger and better, that's how our brains tick. I think it's only a matter of time before that opportunity presents itself, and I'm going to do everything I can to put us in the position to go global.

Would you have done anything different during the competition?

During the stadium challenge I could have done a better job at setting my team up for success by preparing them better for how and what to look for. But when I lose I try not to get down on myself because if you get lost in the emotion of losing, you can't look at what you did wrong and figure out how it won't happen again on your watch.

Where are you from?

I grew up in Roswell, New Mexico, and left right after high school to move to Texas.

When did you start working for the company?

I originally started working for Signal 88 in February of 2010 as a dedicated site officer.

What are the best parts of your job? Why do you love it?

The best part of my job has to be the ability to re-educate the public on the field of security. In general, what a security company does or the work it entails has been taken into a grey area, and working for a company like Signal 88 gives me the ability to un-blur that line and give the public information that is key for this industry.

What's the best experience you've had on the job?

The best experience I've had on the job is the job itself. I get to work with good people and help employ some of the best and brightest graduates from local colleges who are interested in the Criminal Justice field and provide them with some of the necessary training they will need to follow their career paths.

What do you like to do for fun in your spare time?

In my spare time, I have various interests from reading, to horror movies, to music. I like the ability to change things up regularly.

What did you learn about yourself from the experience?

The experience taught me a lot. In the security industry, there are things that are encountered that are not necessarily part of the job, but personnel must have the ability to deal with. It has given me new insight to how we train our officers and deal with the public daily.

What was the toughest part of the process for you?

Going over the side of that building! With an immense fear of heights and water, there are some challenges you hope you never have to deal with. This was a brief glimpse into the abilities people have to overcome and adapt when the situation dictates you must.

How has being on the show changed your life and your family's life?

Being on the show has given me and my family the opportunity to bring our company to the forefront and demonstrate what our technology and brand can do to re-define the security industry.

How has your work life changed? How do you like your new opportunity?

It has changed immensely in some areas and stayed the same in others. People sometimes do not adapt to changes well and this experience has taught me that even the closest of people can work together and not know the real people involved. Opportunities can present themselves at inopportune times for some, but the adaptability of all is key. When presented with an opportunity of this magnitude, one can only give thanks and do the best they can. That's what I intend to do with mine.

Would you have done anything different during the competition?

I performed to the best of my abilities and wouldn't necessarily change anything I did in response. Additional training of key personnel is warranted and the competition brought that to light.