Professional Development

This article highlights how retail loss prevention can evolve from reactive to proactive strategies by adopting unified commerce and data systems, integrating loss prevention teams, and leveraging advanced technologies like machine learning and automation to combat theft, fraud, and operational inefficiencies across all channels.

The 2025 Berkshire County Organized Retail and Financial Crimes Workshop in Massachusetts gathered over 200 professionals to discuss regional and national efforts to combat organized retail and financial crimes.

A must-attend every year for those in the industry, RILA’s AP Conference is an opportunity for retailers to come together and explore, share, and learn—ultimately advancing the LP profession and collaboration with key stakeholders, such as DAs and law enforcement.

Please join us in congratulating the following individuals on their recent career moves and promotions.

Blain’s Farm & Fleet, led by Dan Boutelle, exemplifies community impact through decades of support for the American Heart Association—raising over $6.8 million, hosting annual charity events, and implementing lifesaving AED programs that have already saved eight lives in their stores.

Research is a systematic, evidence-based approach to understanding the world that helps us overcome personal biases, adapt to change, broaden our perspectives, support arguments with credible data, and determine what works and why—especially in fields like loss prevention.

Loss prevention professionals face unique mental health challenges due to high-stress, high-risk job environments, and accessible therapy options can help them build resilience and sustain long-term well-being.

The LP Magazine Founders’ Awards honor industry leaders like Joe Laufenberg of Festival Foods, whose authentic, people-focused leadership and commitment to empowering others exemplifies the positive impact loss prevention professionals can have on both business and lives.

In an increasingly unpredictable world, businesses must adopt a dynamic and regularly updated resilience strategy—guided by tools like the PESTEL framework—to proactively manage evolving threats across political, economic, social, technological, environmental, and legal dimensions.

Jacque Brittain, LPC, emphasizes that storytelling is a vital leadership skill—crucial for communication, influence, and credibility—urging loss prevention professionals to master this art to strengthen reports, inspire teams, and drive results.