North American retailers experienced the highest average shrinkage – unexpected losses due to crime, administrative reporting, and exceptions to standard operating practice – in three decades as reported by the National Retail Federation in 2020. The need to collaborate in a non-competitive manner has become increasingly more important to retailers. The Loss Prevention Research Council (LPRC) continues to provide science-based programs and systems that have a positive effect on controlling these unnecessary expenses, and the heightened interest from the retail community has been overwhelming.

Dr. Read Hayes, University of Florida Research Scientist/Criminologist and LPRC Director, has announced a partnership with Lighthouse Consultants (LHC) to support ongoing efforts to engage with the retail community.

LHC is made up of an industry-leading and experienced group of professionals: Chad McIntosh, former VP LP and Risk Management at Bloomingdales, Stephen O’Keefe, former VP LP and Risk Management at Walmart Canada, Russ Tate, 35+ years of loss prevention and security solution experience, and Jeff Powers, loss prevention and security consultant. LHC will partner with LPRC to help drive membership and awareness of their unique and compelling, science-based, results-driven expertise.

“LPRC is proud and excited to be working with LHC as we focus on the next level expansion of our research and results community,” said Dr. Hayes.

For more information about how to join the LPRC, please contact info@lpresearch.org.

Please give a warm welcome to our newest research team member – Cory Lowe!

Cory will join the LPRC as a Research Scientist to help design and conduct our research projects, facilitate working groups, and add to our growing knowledge base of criminological theory and crime prevention.

Cory Lowe was born and raised in Taylorsville, Georgia. He moved to Gainesville in 2016 to pursue his PhD in Criminology, Law, and Society at the University of Florida. At UF, he specialized in criminological theory, crime prevention, and research methods and plans to defend his dissertation “Moral Communities in Chicago Neighborhoods: Examining the Relationship between Family and Neighborhood Religiosity and Youth Substance Use and Delinquency” in July of 2020. He has published multiple peer-reviewed journal articles, several chapters and entries in edited volumes, and has presented his research at numerous regional and national conferences. Prior to attending the University of Florida, he received his BA in history and political science from Shorter University in Rome, Georgia; and his MA in Sociology and Criminology at Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, GA. Cory vaguely remembers what “free time” is and is looking forward to doing things like tending a garden and spending more time with his wife, dog, and community once he graduates. His grandfather, Clayton Jackson Harris, is his hero.

As a response to the current pandemic, the LPRC is providing retailers and practitioners with a COVID-19 resources page. This landing page includes:

  • Our most recent webinar, COVID-19: How Retail Offenders Take Advantage of Crisis Situations
  • Our special CrimeScience episode, COVID-19 and Retail’s Forecast
  • Federal and state resources
  • COVID-19 Initiatives Calendar
  • Access to our ongoing projects
  • News and announcements on the current pandemic
  • A contact form for any specific questions for our research team

 

Access the new page by clicking here.

Please welcome Diego Rodriguez to the LPRC team! As S2P Coordinator, Diego is responsible for the breakdown and release of research to members, through channels such as Working Groups and learning modules.

Diego graduated from the University of Florida in 2019 with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, Bachelor of Arts in Criminology, and a minor in Sociology. He graduated with cum laude honors for both degrees. While at the University of Florida he was heavily involved in pre-law programs including Phi Alpha Delta and the Bob Graham Center for Public Service. In 2019 the UF Phi Alpha Delta Pre Law chapter awarded him the inaugural Diego J Rodriguez UF Phi Alpha Delta Outstanding Member Award. He was also recognized by the National chapter for putting together Law in the Swamp, a pre-law conference with over 40 law schools and 20 organizations from across the nation. The event was awarded the National Outstanding Professional Program Award beating out dozens of other nominated programs. In his spare time, he enjoys finding new nature trails to explore and volunteering at the Alachua County Animal Services Center.

Please join us in welcoming Logan Brown to the LPRC team! As the Innovate Project Coordinator, Logan will be facilitating projects within the LPRC Innovate program, and maintaining and evolving our new lab space.

 

Logan graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a minor in Innovation in 2018, with a focus in business. While at UF, his engagement with the Innovation Academy as an ambassador and student fueled his desire for ever-evolving entrepreneurship and capital ventures. Over seven years of experience in retail and real estate has developed an understanding of industry needs and his focus with LPRC will be to create a human-centered lab space to facilitate the innovative process for our members. He has experience in rapid prototyping and business modeling. Logan also spends his free time living an active lifestyle, hiking, and monitoring tech industry news.

Congratulations to our director, Dr. Read Hayes, for receiving the LPM Magpie Award! The LPM Magpie Awards offer a means to celebrate industry accomplishments on an ongoing basis. Learn more about the award, Read, and his accomplishments here.

LPRC’s Working Group Awards are given to leaders and co-leaders who demonstrate strong participation, maintain a positive and interesting call environment, and whose deliverables affect a cross-section of retail formats.​ Their commitment and dedication improves our research and results community, and for that we are grateful. The LPRC is pleased to announce the 2019 Working Group Award Recipients:

 

Retail Fraud Working Group

  • Leader(s): Trish Svebek, Dollar General
  • Co-leader(s): Sean O’Brien, Target / James Kendall, Target

Organized Retail Crime Working Group

  • Leader(s):  Jessica Zwart, Target / Bobby Haskins, Auror
  • Co –Leader(s): Ben Dugan, CVS / Abe Gonzalez, Bloomingdale’s

Product Protection Working Group:

  • Leader(s): Adam Hartway, InComm/ Scott Ziter, Price Chopper
  • Co –Leader(s): Andrea Guthrie, Dick’s/ Jeremy Henderson, TJX

 

The LPRC Fellowship Award is given to those that exceed expectations through high-level performance and dedication on working groups or projects.​ We are proud to recognize these individuals for their participation in the LPRC. Our research and results community is made better by their contributions.

2019 LPRC Fellowship Award Recipients


Krista Monnin

Procter & Gamble


Basia Pietrawska

CAP Index


Tom Arigi

Kroger

The LPRC is proud to announce its newest Board Members. The LPRC’s Board of Advisors champions the longevity of research-based decision-making through collaboration, advice and support to the Loss Prevention Research Council’s Director’s mission. Please join us in congratulating the following individuals:

LPRC Board of Advisors

Peter Chie

Peter Chie is the Operating Vice President of Asset Protection and Risk Management for Bloomingdale’s based in NYC. He is responsible for all physical security, crisis management, business resiliency and investigations for the organization. His experience in the retail loss prevention industry spans over 30 years in field, corporate and distribution positions at several Fortune 500 companies, both big box and specialty. He is a former Chair for the Lehigh Valley Chapter of ASIS, a member of the ASIS Retail Asset Protection Council, and a member of the NRF Loss Prevention Advisory Council.

Tim Hall

Tim Hall is the Director of Asset Protection at 7-Eleven. In his 20 year career at 7-Eleven, Tim has held various leadership roles in Operations and Asset Protection. Tim is a highly experienced Asset Protection professional who has demonstrated the ability to lead diverse teams of professionals in 12 regions across US and Canada. Tim has strong technical and business qualifications with a proven track record of hands-on experience in strategic planning, business unit development, team development and project management. Tim is currently working towards earning his Bachelor degree in Business at the University of Phoenix.

Chris Hackler

Chris Hackler is the Vice President of Global Asset Protection for Signet Jewelers. Chris has over 30 years of experience in Loss Prevention. She has held a variety of positions including Store Manager, Regional Inventory Analyst, Director of Asset Protection, Director of Physical Inventory and Risk Management, Senior Director of Physical Security and Senior Director of Loss Prevention. Chris holds a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree with Minors in Accounting and Psychology.

Tony D’Onofrio

Tony D’Onofrio is currently CEO of TD Insights, a consultancy focused on working with private equity companies, board of directors, public speaking, industry groups, and advanced technologies companies. Previously, Tony was Chief Customer Officer (CCO) at Tyco Retail Solutions (now Sensormatic), part of Johnson Controls. At Sensormatic, he managed global customer relationships, marketing, source tagging, and transitioning key security solutions into “as a service” models. Tony is a graduate of Case Western Reserve University (BA) and Cleveland State University (MBA).

Eric Williams

Eric Williams, CFI, CORCI, is the Senior Manager of Loss Prevention with City Gear.  Based in Memphis, TN, Eric has the responsibility of managing all aspects of Loss Prevention for over 140 stores. He is a Certified Forensic Interviewer (CFI) and a Certified Organized Retail Crime Investigator (CORCI). Eric is also certified in Wicklander-Zulaski and Reid and Associates. He’s been an active member of LPRC since 2016, particularly in the Violent Crime Working Group.

 

Thank you to all of our Board Members!