The LP Magazine “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 reflect 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 Partnerships, Telly Knetter, Major Crimes Investigations Manager, Walgreens
“To be a true leader in the industry, helping other people must be part of your makeup—it’s that simple,” says Knetter. “I’ve worked for some incredible leaders in this industry and while they had different strengths and attributes, the one thing they all did very well was help others to be successful. Sometimes that takes a lot of strength, depending on the person you may be dealing with. We were all given an opportunity and supported by others to get where we are. True leaders understand it is people that make the difference.”
With more than twenty-five years in the asset protection industry, Knetter has spent much of his career trying to mitigate organized retail crime in high-risk areas and experienced first-hand how critical relationships are to the process. After joining the newly created Walgreens Major Crimes team, he decided to focus these efforts working with other ORC investigators in the Wisconsin market, becoming cofounder and president of the board for the Wisconsin Organized Retail Crime Association (WIORCA).
Working together with a dedicated team, the board was able to establish the non-profit organization, creating a strategy and infrastructure, planning their first conference, and carrying out fundraising to support the program.
“Getting through the first year was challenging,” he says. “Each step was a learning experience, but our efforts have paid off. We were able to build our ORCA to more than 350 members the first year, with direct investigative impacts. The relationships built between LP, law enforcement, and prosecutors are being leveraged collectively and creating momentum for everyone. Every member of WIORCA has contributed to our success. I’m very excited about our organization and what’s coming down the road.”
“Leaders are made from the courage to act when they’re not sure what action to take, so put yourself out there. And focus on building relationships—that’s where opportunities emerge.”