Whelan Security Climbs in National Rankings As A Result of Continued Expansion Throughout the Central U.S.

St. Louis - Whelan Security Co., headquartered in St. Louis, has announced that it was once again ranked by "Security Letter" (an industry specific newsletter similar to the Kiplinger Letter) and "Security" (an industry specific magazine) as one of the largest contract security companies operating in the United States. Both publications rank the top forty contract security companies operating in the United States (out of an estimated 12,000 companies); and Whelan Security was once again ranked within the top fifteen companies (public and private) based upon total revenues and full-time employees. Although the company declines to disclose annual revenues, Whelan Security currently employs more than 3,750 full-time employees throughout the Central and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States.

From humble beginnings in 1949 as a simple security patrol company providing service along the St. Louis riverfront, Whelan Security, under the direction and leadership of the Twardowski family and Prentice Robertson, has quietly grown to become the largest regional contract security company operating throughout the Central and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. Today, with operations stretching throughout twenty (20) states as well as Washington D.C., Whelan Security currently ranks as one of the top ten privately owned contract security companies operating in the U.S. In addition, and most notably, if the rankings were to omit publicly held companies as well as those funded by private equity firms and venture capital, Whelan Security would rank within the top five truly privately held companies operating in the contract security industry.

In 2008, Whelan Security expanded into two new markets - Wisconsin and Pennsylvania. Similar to previous geographic expansion within the organization, the continued expansion in 2008 was the result of natural extensions of existing multi-regional agreements with current customers and all growth was organic. (The company has yet to make an acquisition.) In addition, as a result of work awarded within the petrochemical vertical market, Whelan also announced a new specialty services division that provides emergency security response services on a national basis in the event of natural disasters (i.e. hurricanes along the Gulf Coast) or catastrophic loss, as well as security staffing services to major corporations involved in labor disputes and strikes.

While many of Whelan Security's national and international competitors continue to consolidate and merge leaving a significant void within the industry, Whelan Security is still owned by the same family and guided by the same principles upon which the company was founded more than sixty (60) years ago. Highlighted by our Warranty and Heritage service delivery programs, an industry leading quality assurance program, and robust training and professional development opportunities for its employees, Whelan Security provides some of the boldest and most innovative outsourced and contract security staffing solutions available within the national industry.

"Through the continued use of our industry leading, performance-metric driven, quality assurance program and multi-regional service delivery model, we have created significant momentum for our brand within the national industry; and we believe this momentum is sustainable for the next several years, if not longer," says Greg Twardowski, President of Whelan Security. "We continue to look at opportunities for additional regional, national, and even international expansion presented to us by our valued customers. We are currently expanding into California at the request of customers and evaluating additional expansion opportunities in Ohio, Florida, Georgia, and even Canada. Needless to say, although 2009 is fraught with continued uncertainty and the economy continues to struggle as a result of the recession, we anticipate another strong year of significant organic growth in 2009."

WHELAN SECURITY: With headquarters in St. Louis, Whelan Security is a privately owned and operated security firm providing contract security services to corporate headquarters, Class A office buildings, financial institutions, educational campuses, industrial facilities, and sensitive government facilities throughout the Central and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. Founded in 1949, Whelan Security currently employs more than 3,750 employees and currently ranks within the top 15 security companies in the country, placing it within the top one half of one percent of the industry. For more information about Whelan Security, please visit www.whelansecurity.com.