Restaurants of all types descended on Las Vegas for the Restaurant Loss Prevention & Security Association’s (RLPSA) 38th Annual Conference at the M Resort & Casino July 30–August 2. RLPSA hosted more restaurant companies than ever before and saw increased attendance from last year’s conference in San Antonio.
This year’s theme was “Results: REinvented,” which geared keynote speakers, general sessions, and breakout sessions around ensuring restaurant professionals are ready for the changing industry landscape they are facing. The agenda was created primarily from last year’s feedback and was stocked with more practitioner-led panels than ever before. The breakouts featured a loss prevention, safety, and risk tracks to offer relevant content for numerous roles throughout the restaurant organization.
The keynote speakers presented to a packed room. Eric O’Neill, former FBI operative and subject of the film “Breach”, discussed how to identify the insider threat, while William Espey, brand visionary with Chipotle Mexican Grill, talked about creating an internal culture that can withstand any crisis. Attendees also heard an update on counter-terrorism and how it affects restaurants as soft targets from Shawn VanSlyke, former chief of the behavioral analysis unit for the FBI.
One of the most popular sessions was “Results, Reinvented: A Panel Discussion” that featured panelists Chis McDonald, senior vice president of loss prevention for Compass Group, North America; Anne Sullivan, vice president of asset protection and risk management for CKE Restaurants; Rick Walker, restaurant security consultant for Chick-fil-A; and Mark Stinde, vice president of asset protection for 7-Eleven, Inc. The panel discussed a wide range of topics, including how to manage up/down the internal ladders, how to be ready to articulate your (and your department’s) value, as well as different strategies for tackling the most difficult causes of shrink.
Breakout sessions covered catastrophic property damage, delivery driver safety, active shooter training, risk benchmarking, behavioral safety programs just to name a few. Attendees left Vegas packed full of strategies for reinventing their results throughout their organizations from the content but also from meeting with solution providers during exhibit floor hours.
An RLPSA annual conference wouldn’t be complete without its signature networking event, which did not disappoint in Vegas. Attendees watched the sun set and the infamous Strip light up from the 55th-floor open patio at The Palms Ghost Bar Tuesday evening.
Save the date for RLPSA’s 39th annual conference in Dallas, TX, at the Hyatt Regency August 5–8, 2018. For more wrap-up information including daily video wrap ups from Las Vegas, visit RLPSAannualconference.com.
