The LPM Magpie 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 that 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, our people, and our programs. Please join us in celebrating the accomplishments of our latest honorees.
Excellence in Leadership
Shannon Hunter, Vice President of Loss Prevention and Sustainability, Office Depot
“I believe that as a leader it’s important to build and cultivate an atmosphere of respect where our internal customers want us to be a part of the planning process, knowing we can contribute at a high level, help them problem solve, and deliver results,” said Hunter. “Everyone on the loss prevention team should be a business owner. They should understand the company, have high business acumen, and help our partners achieve their goals.”
Reflecting on his own career, Hunter points to a pivotal moment that he feels helped shape his future. “When I joined OfficeMax as a [district loss prevention manager], I believe I found a home. It was the first company I was part of where development was a priority—building on both my technical and leadership skills. I was encouraged to work on different projects and never shied away from learning more, getting involved, and contributing. When Office Depot and OfficeMax merged, I continued to take on roles with an expanded scope, eventually being promoted to my current position in 2018.”
Hunter believes that there is a clear path toward professional development. “To be a true leader in the industry, you have to embrace an attitude of continuous learning, and that attitude must expand beyond yourself,” he said. “You must provide a safe environment for people to excel. You have to offer feedback and ask for feedback from the team. Your team should know you’re working as hard as they are to improve. You must show humility, put the team first, and continuously build credibility. Sometimes you’re going to make mistakes, but don’t be afraid to admit those mistakes, apologize, learn from them, and move on. That’s how you get better.”
When asked what advice he would offer to young leaders, Hunter stayed on message. “Stretch yourself because that’s the best way to learn. Work with integrity and character, and always be genuine. Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone. Find someone you trust and learn from them. Always prepare, prioritizing the most important things first. Listen first and then speak—which isn’t always easy to do. Recognize the people who’ve had an influence on you because none of us can do it alone. It’s all about the team.”
Excellence in Partnerships
Stuart Rosenthal, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Checkpoint Systems
“Since I started my career as a store detective for Rich’s Department Stores while obtaining my business degree in economics, I found I loved the loss prevention industry and decided to build my career within it,” said Rosenthal. “As my career grew into district, regional, and director of loss prevention positions, I continued to learn as much as I could about loss prevention and the retail business in general. When I then made the decision to move to the vendor side of the business, I was committed to never forgetting where I came from and how I wanted to support the industry. I love what I do, who I do it for, and the customers—many of whom are friends.”
When building business partnerships, Rosenthal feels the most important trait that a solution provider can hold is being a good listener. “When I moved into the vendor world, I reflected back on all the sales reps that called on me,” he said. “I wrote down what I liked and what I didn’t as I evaluated the kind of solution provider I wanted to be. I believe in listening to the customer, truly understanding their needs, and presenting solutions that achieve the best results. It’s important to me to never be a salesman, but a partner that makes the sale through consulting. There is a big difference, and it starts with listening. Find the right solution for the problem—be honest and help the customer make an informed decision. The best business partnerships occur when both parties feel great about doing business together.”
Rosenthal also has some advice for young leaders working their way up the career ladder. “Be a sponge—listen and learn as much as you can from every positive and negative interaction,” he said. “Be willing to step outside your comfort zone. Retail is ever-changing, and it’s critically important to grow with the times. Ask questions and take it all in. If you do, you’ll earn respect much quicker, and your ability to be successful grows tenfold.”
Nominate Your Peers
We want this to be your program. Those of you working as LP practitioners witness these exceptional performances on a regular and ongoing basis, and we strongly encourage you to provide us with nominees for each of the award categories. We encourage creative nominations and want the program to cast a positive light on the many tremendous contributions of the loss prevention community. Nominations can be submitted via email to excellence [at] LPportal.com.
