Signal 88 Security's corporate team consists of the following key individuals. Each member of the Signal 88 team has been selected specifically for the individual skill set, vision, and experience to ultimately drive our collective goal to Re-Engineer the security industry, and most importantly to ensure our clients' experience is exceptional.
Reed Nyffeler, Chief Executive Officer
Reed Nyffeler oversees the overall direction and vision of Signal 88 as well as all new services, research & development, administrative duties, sales and marketing strategies, and general operations. Reed and Shea Degan met in 2007 and schemed to put together the transformation of Shea’s local Omaha security company into a successful franchise concept. In 2007, Signal 88 Franchise Group, Inc. was born and Reed was charged with developing strategies to exponentially expand the Signal 88 Security footprint nationally in all aspects of the business. Reed received a B.A. from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in Communications. He then went on to be the Regional Sales Manager at Black & Decker in the Midwest. Taking his experiences, he became the National Sales Executive for a prominent holiday lighting distributor and developed the distributorship program, before moving on to Signal 88.
Shea Degan, Founder
Shea Degan and his wife, Janet Degan, founded Signal 88 Security in Omaha, Nebraska in July 2003. Between 1998 and 2008 Shea was working within the Road Patrol and K9 Interdiction Units as a deputy sheriff for the Douglas County Sheriff's Office. After nearly 10-years of service with the Sheriff's Office he resigned in order to focus solely on growing Signal 88 Security. During his time with the Sheriff's Office, Shea had the opportunity to witness crime and loitering on private commercial properties, which led him to offer consulting to the property managers and owners. These clients, with some persuading, contracted Shea and some of his fellow off-duty officers to cover their properties at night during vulnerable times. These clients began asking for civilian security services, so Shea immediately recognized the importance of establishing a civilian-based security service, however not before reengineering it to the necessary standard. This led to a fresh, new depiction of the security industry and to the creation of the technology & foundation of Signal 88 as it is today. With a desire to begin franchising the Signal 88 Security concept, Shea was introduced to Reed Nyffeler in 2007. In 2008 the two established Signal 88 Franchise Group as business partners.
Developing proprietary software is also among the list of Shea’s accomplishments, all designed specifically to provide value to previously under-serviced clients. Shea’s experience provides valuable tactical direction for the team and the entire Signal 88 network. Shea currently has ownership in Signal 88 Franchise Group, Signal 88 Omaha, Scottsdale and Tempe locations, Sage 5, 88 Tactical, and Lyconic.
Tim Conahan, Chief Operations Officer
Tim Conahan is a 26 year veteran of the Omaha Police Department. After retiring at the rank of Lieutenant in Jan. 2007 he then became the Corporate Security Director for an international data organization, infogroup (formerly infoUSA). Infogroup is an Omaha, NE based company with over 3500 employees, and over 50 offices worldwide. Over the last 4 years at infogroup Tim was tasked with creating a Security Department from scratch. Development of SOP’s, implementation of an IP Security Camera System along with establishing a 24/7 Security Operations Center to monitor all of infogroups properties. While on the Omaha Police Department Tim held numerous assignments including, Defensive Tactics Instructor, Firearms Instructor, Training Unit Commander, and SWAT & Bomb Team Commander. Tim also has had the opportunity to teach for the U.S. State Department both in the U.S. and abroad on a variety of Law Enforcement topics.
Tim Stewart, Chief Financial Officer
Tim Stewart joined the Franchise Group in February 2010 as Controller and Chief Financial Officer. Tim is responsible for all financial activities of the Franchise Group, including the accounting, auditing, budgeting, and treasury functions. Tim graduated with a B.S. in Accounting from the University of Wyoming in 1998 and spent 12 years in various roles within the Finance Department of a Fortune 200 company. Tim and his wife, Kimberly, are active in their church and in raising their four boys.
Josh Minturn, Vice President of Franchise Development
Josh Minturn joined the Signal 88 team in 2009 providing on-going sales training, sales & marketing research & development, national contract procurement & vision, and supplying various knowledge based tools and marketing products to existing Signal 88 Security franchisees. Josh graduated from Creighton University with a B.S.B.A. of Marketing. He then worked as an account executive for a national media group and then moved on to be the National Sales Manager, then National Director of Sales for a prominent holiday lighting distributor prior to joining the Signal 88 Franchise Group, Inc. team.
Laura Vodvarka, Vice President of Administration
Laura joined Signal 88 in 2007 and oversee’s the administrative department, including all new & existing technology, communications & marketing projects, franchise training, billing and payroll. Laura graduated from Creighton University with a B.S. in both Marketing and Spanish. Throughout her career, she worked for a marketing research firm and then moved onto marketing and auditing at a prominent holiday lighting distributor. Laura was hired by Signal 88 in its early stages to help administer the Signal 88 Omaha location in order to learn the concept and in turn to help develop the Franchise Group model and supporting documents.