The LP Magazine Founders’ Awards offer a means to celebrate industry accomplishments on an ongoing basis, recognizing the loss prevention professionals, teams, solution providers, law enforcement partners, and others who demonstrate a stellar contribution to the profession.
The ability to influence change is a product of drive, creativity, and determination, but it also requires a unique ability to create a shared vision that others will understand, respect, support, and pursue. Each of the following recipients reflects that standard of excellence, representing the quality and spirit of leadership that makes a difference in our lives, people, and programs. Please join us in celebrating the accomplishments of our latest honorees.
“Be who you say you are, and do what you promise to do,” says Wicklander-Zulawski & Associates David Thompson, CFI. “A reliable partner is not just someone who completes tasks on time but is consistent and transparent in who they are and what they stand for. It can be easy in a fast-paced, competitive environment to lose your purpose and focus, but the strongest partners are those who are reliable in their character and their commitment to their peers and guided by their passion.”
Thompson’s passion for professional development is something he sees as a pillar of leadership. “Never stop learning and challenging yourself to grow,” he says. “True leaders are humble and vulnerable enough to know their opportunities but dedicated enough to work through them. They take accountability for their own development and learn to gain comfort in uncomfortable situations. If you always feel comfortable in your current role, are you really challenging yourself?
“A ‘leadership role’ is not defined by a title, but rather by our influence on others. Today’s colleagues are the leaders of tomorrow. Our industry is always evolving, and aspiring leaders must be proactive in driving their teams forward. The obstacles we deal with today are different from twenty years ago and will continue to change. True leaders recognize the opportunity for growth and take on those challenges with a proactive mindset.
“Seize the opportunity and accept encouragement as a gift. Over a decade ago, I was serving on a committee that needed a volunteer to speak at a conference. Without a plan, I enthusiastically raised my hand and said, ‘I’ll do it!’ The conference was Elite Training Days, and it led me to a job interview a few weeks later. Today, I have this unbelievable opportunity to lead our organization—all because I took a chance and had a supporting cast of incredible people who were there for me every step of the way.”