Sue Read’s loss prevention career spans twenty-three years, starting as a part-time store detective with Value City department stores while earning her degree at Penn State University. She later joined Lowe’s where she spent fourteen years in a variety of LP and safety positions. She is now the director of environmental health and safety and loss prevention for FleetPride, the largest distributor of truck and trailer parts in the independent heavy-duty aftermarket channel. It operates over 270 retail locations, forty full-service centers, and five distribution centers across forty-six states.
Why did you decide to pursue your LPC certification?
Lowe’s was and is fully invested in the value of the curriculum and quality of the certification and took steps to ensure that all field and corporate level leaders were offered the opportunity to earn the LPC accreditation.
Was the coursework what you expected?
I wasn’t really sure what to expect, but I did go into the process making the assumption that my twenty years of experience would allow me to “fly through” the content fairly easily and that I would not learn much. Needless to say, I was wrong. I learned a lot, and it was more challenging than I believed it would be.
Talk about the process of going through the coursework and taking the exam.
Like most people seeking education while working a full-time job, going through the coursework and preparing for the exam takes commitment and a level of time management. I found myself often trying to review a lot of the material in large segments as opposed to smaller, regular intervals due to the competing business and personal demands. The Gopher notes became critical as I got deeper into the content and completed the courses that covered topics outside of my expertise and experience. The quizzes and practice exam were also very beneficial to preparing for the certification exam.
Looking at your own personal background and knowledge, what information in the course helped you the most?
Going into the process, I really didn’t have depth of experience in the regulatory, pharmacy, and supply-chain content. I picked up a lot of value with these parts of the curriculum.
What was the most eye-opening information that was part of the curriculum?
I was quite surprised about the many layers of content, which expanded well beyond the traditional retail loss prevention framework.
What benefits have you seen from taking the course?
The coursework provided me fundamental knowledge that has benefited me in conversations and collaborations with those in other retail businesses or in other business units within my organization.
If you could offer one key takeaway to someone currently considering getting certified, what would it be?
As a hiring manager and knowing what I invested with my time and what I learned getting the LPC, when I see that LPC designation after someone’s name on a resume, it means something. The LPC will pay dividends if you are looking to expand your knowledge about the loss prevention industry, whether to get your foot in the door or promote within your organization.
How would you compare the foundation certifications to other educational courses that you’ve taken?
I would put it on par with most of the courses I had in college with respect to quality and content. This curriculum was developed by our industry leaders and subject-matter experts. It’s like getting the blueprint to success in the industry from those who have been the most successful.
How has certification changed your expectations of loss prevention as a career, for yourself and for others?
I don’t know if it changed my expectations about loss prevention as a career. I already knew that we had the some of the best and brightest people leading an evolving industry that has imprinted itself into the fabric of the retail business model as a critical component. I believe that the certification has added a level of credibility and professionalism to our industry that has been long overdue.
Would you recommend certification to others?
Without a doubt. As a matter of fact, I received scholarships from AFA Protective Systems for my field team to get certified in 2018. I will be both excited and relieved when they all pass and can put LPC on their signatures.
Newly Certified
Following are individuals who recently earned their certifications.
Recent LPC Recipients
Ryan Adams, LPC, Amazon
Kristel Alamares, LPC, Walmart Stores
Daniel Alexander, LPC, Walmart Stores
Emily Buck, LPC, Walmart Stores
Ryan Collins, LPC, Walmart Stores
Justin Combs, LPC, Walmart Stores
Joshua Daniels, LPC, Walmart Stores
Deanna DeCourcy, LPC, Walmart Stores
Christy Dennis, LPC, Walmart Stores
Paul Dollinger, LPC, Amazon
Joseph Gibney, LPC, Chico’s FAS
Kelly Goracke, LPC, Walmart Stores
John Gosciejew, LPC, Walmart Stores
Mark Hallowich, LPC, Amazon
John Higgs, LPC, Walmart Stores
Alnahl Jones, LPC, Walmart Stores
Sean Kostashuk, LPC, Amazon
Michelle Langford, LPC, Albertsons
James Lapcevic, LPC, Luxottica
Rickey Lash, LPC, Amazon
Kevin Lemons, LPC, Walmart Stores
Daron Lindman, LPC, Sears
Jeffrey Rickey, LPC, Walmart Stores
Carlos Rico, LPC, Walmart Stores
Zachary Ryan, LPC, Amazon
Mark Shorney, LPC, John Lewis plc
Rocky Smith, LPC, Walmart Stores
Casey Smith, LPC, Walmart Stores
Eric Stone, LPC, Amazon
Antonio Van Hise, LPC, Amazon
Maria Vaz, LPC, Walmart Stores
Vincent Vita, LPC, Amazon
Barbara Weaver, LPQ, LPC, Best Buy
Jared Wesselman, LPC, Walmart Stores
Christopher Willis, LPC, Walmart Stores
Jennifer Zervas, LPC, At Home
Recent LPQ Recipients
Theresa Ajayi, LPQ, ORIS Media
Lesley Capron, LPQ, ORIS Media
Jeffrey Cashman, LPQ, TJX
Jeannette Dunlap, LPQ, REI
Tiffany Gray, LPQ, Walmart Stores
Jakob Grun, LPQ, ORIS Media
Ron Houk, LPQ, Mattel American Girl
Abigail Jagger, LPQ, ORIS Media
Donald Lauritsen, LPQ, 7-Eleven
Latoya Long, LPQ, Rite Aid
Dale Markiewicz, LPQ, Walmart Stores
Michael McRoberts, LPQ, Law Enforcement
Lindsay Parker, LPQ, DICK’S Sporting Goods
Elizabeth Pegram, LPQ, Travis Perkins
Kylie Rudy, LPQ, Kennesaw State University
Nicole Salas, LPQ, REI
Mohammadsami Shaikh, LPQ, Bloomingdale’s
Nigel Sutliffe, LPQ, ORIS Media
Zbigniew Trendak, LPQ, Levi Strauss and Company