What to do this October in Philadelphia? Visit the Liberty Bell and see the crack in the bell. Visit the Museum of Art and run up the Rocky steps. Stand where a nation gave birth to Independence. Order up a Philly cheesesteak. And attend the LP Magazine annual meeting at the Warwick Hotel, October 10-12.
There will be over 125 attendees including the industry’s leading asset protection executives, board members of the Loss Prevention Foundation, members of the Retail Industry Leaders Association’s Asset Protection Leaders Council, and the top solution providers in retail. There will be lots of conversation (some meaningful, some not so much), multiple learnings, plenty of food and drink, and tons of laughs. That is the way it was last year in Nashville, and more of the same is expected this year in the city of the NFL champion Eagles.
Memorable Interviews
In the past year the magazine has distinguished itself with memorable executive interviews. Here are a few excerpts from those interviews. If you haven’t read the entire interviews, check them out at LossPreventionMedia.com.
Scott Myers of Hibbett Sports—“I liked [LP because] there was a different challenge every day. It was never boring….We have several goals that the company wants us to achieve. Some of it obviously is shrink related, but a lot of it is to [improve] profit and margin. We have a lot of conversation about total retail loss.”
Kevin Valentine of Signet Jewelers—”I am a strong supporter of education and continuing education for team members. A number of department team members have taken advantage of tuition reimbursement and received either a bachelor’s or master’s degree…[or] their LPC or CFI certifications.”
Mike Grady, LPC, of Vector Security, Rex Gillette of ADT/Protection 1, and Kevin Lynch, LPC, of Tyco Retail Solutions—Grady: “I most respect [LP executives’] ability to develop teams that are cross-functional and engaged in multiple aspects of the business….They are exceptional head coaches and team managers.” Lynch: “The best LP executives aren’t afraid to step out and try new things….I want the LP executive to know that I have his or her back.” Gillette: “Our LP executives come from within the industry. Most started out in store-level positions and have worked their way up to executives based on their track record, experience, and knowledge. I respect and admire that attribute in our industry.”
Dan Faketty of Southeastern Grocers—“There have been a lot of conversations over the past few years about loss prevention programs being downgraded or even eliminated, based on changes in retail. I don’t believe that will be the case at all. If I could recommend anything to anyone in our business, it would be to look for nontraditional ways you or your department can enhance your company’s profitability, even if that means taking on what you may feel is not in your job description.”
Paul Jones, LPC, of CKE, the home of Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s—“[As a founding member of the Loss Prevention Foundation,] I am proud that we have never strayed from our mission. It isn’t about making money or prestige. It’s about taking care of this profession and making sure that it continually grows, that it’s professional, and that it’s taking on new challenges.”
So I hope we meet in Philadelphia in October. Like the executives above, we are not here just to fill space or be in the background in someone else’s life. Nothing would be the same if you did not exist. Everybody you have had a relationship with and every place you have been would have been different without you.
Some believe that “things happen for a reason,” that there is some mysterious energy that causes an action or creates a result. Maybe there is, maybe not. But for sure each of us has had an effect on others because of what we have done.
So in the words of Elton John, “Oh Philadelphia freedom, shine on me.”
