Growth
Securing the spirit
How Greg Twardowski has led Whelan Security to fast growth without losing its culture
By Mark Scott
Smart Business St. Louis | October 2008
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It’s not that Greg Twardowski yearns for the time when Whelan
Security was a small security patrol company along the
Mississippi River.
But as his company continues to stretch out from the heart of St.
Louis, it’s very important to him that the company retains as much
of the spirit and character from those early days as possible.
“We no longer have the ability to personally touch the larger
employee population,” says the company’s president. “It’s still very
important to us that everyone understands and feels like they are
still working for a small, family-run entity. We want them to know
that the efforts they put forth individually are meaningful.
“As a leader, you have to constantly engage in dialogue and
debate with your employees. You have to be attentive to their
needs, concerns and recommendations. You have to be responsive
and available. Your door has to be open, and you have to answer
your phone.”
It’s that kind of attentiveness that makes employees feel like
they’re part of the team. It’s also quite a challenge for
Twardowski, who has watched his company grow from 950
employees in 2000 to more than 3,600 employees today while
posting 2007 revenue of $98.8 million.
By staying in touch with his people and the pace of his company’s growth, Twardowski has Whelan Security poised to
continue its success.
