Loss prevention and asset protection professionals study for LPC and LPQ certifications for a variety of reasons. Some are new to retail LP and want to get a base knowledge of the profession. Others are seasoned professionals who have worked in the industry for years and want to ensure they are fully knowledgeable about the retail business and the many subject-matter areas that are needed to advance their careers. Here are the insights from two newly certified individuals as to why they chose to become certified and the experience of studying the certification coursework.
Daniel Jones, LPC
Regional Loss Prevention and Security Manager, Fanatics
LPCertified in May 2021
Daniel Jones, LPC, began his loss prevention career in 2003 as an entry-level protection specialist. Over the years, he has served in several loss prevention and asset protection roles and helped create the Charleston, South Carolina, law enforcement and retail partnership between more than 100 local LP and law enforcement professionals working together against organized retail crime (ORC). Jones has been with Fanatics since 2016, managing loss prevention and security in the e-commerce fulfillment and manufacturing division.
“I’ve worked in the loss prevention industry for almost eighteen years, and even after all that time, I realized that there was still a lot to learn,” said Jones. “Several of my peers had gone through the Loss Prevention Foundation’s LPCertified (LPC) and LPQualified (LPQ) courses and exams. They had great things to say about their experiences, and so I decided it was my turn to step out of my comfort zone and push myself to learn more. Once I began the LPC coursework, I was blown away by the amount of information it covered and how well it was structured. I made a plan, set my goal, and got to work.
“Luckily, several other members of our team were going through the course at the same time. We would often have study sessions and help keep each other on track to meet our goals. Having a team go through this coursework together has so many advantages,” stated Jones. “The LPC course truly helped us see where LP fits in the business as a whole, and how it is imperative that we are able to look past our own department and truly understand how our piece of the puzzle fits. If we only focus on our own department needs and not reach out to our partners within the other departments, we are doing a great disservice to ourselves and the business. Business acumen and strong partnerships are the key to having a truly successful loss prevention program, and as a team, we all have the tools needed for success in our department as well as our own careers.”
Jones offered this recommendation: “If you are looking to increase your loss prevention knowledge base, become a better partner within your organization, and ensure that you are setting yourself up for success within your own personal loss prevention career, I highly recommend putting in the time and effort to complete this certification. Find a mentor and invest in yourself. Immerse yourself in the information the LPC course has to offer and truly see what new lessons you can learn as it relates to loss prevention. Only then will you truly benefit from this program, becoming more well-versed in the process.”
Kyrie Bock, LPQ
Director of Customer Success, ALTO USA
LPQualified in March 2021
More than fourteen years ago, Kyrie Bock, LPQ, began her career in retail. Over the years, she has worked in sales, operations, and management in the retail, nonprofit, and financial services industries. Bock is now using her background in all these areas with ALTO USA. She feels she has come full circle from her beginnings in retail to the new and challenging industry that retail loss prevention has become today.
“Continued education has always been important to me, and I felt the LPQ certification would be a good next step for me since returning to retail in the loss prevention space,” said Bock. “The course was more detailed and informative than I had anticipated and helped me to better understand the loss prevention industry as a whole. Now that I have increased my knowledge and broadened my scope of understanding, I feel better equipped to identify with clients. I believe the LPQ certification has allowed me to create more credibility and commonality even in brief introductions and encounters.”
Bock continued, “If I could offer one key takeaway for those considering the LPQ course it would be to understand your learning style and pace. That way you can prepare and plan properly for studying, learning, and retaining the coursework. This will not only allow for success when taking the exam but will give you the ability to use the information learned for job applicability. A career in loss prevention is complex, and the LPQ course helps to organize all of the industry’s different aspects.
“Take the time to really understand your career goals and be open-minded to the varying and complex opportunities in the industry,” said Bock, when asked about advice for those considering loss prevention certification or careers in the industry. “Getting the LPQ certification is a great way to delve deeper into all that loss prevention and asset protection has to offer.”
Newly Certified
Following are individuals who recently earned their certifications.
Recent LPC Recipients
Ronald Annis, LPQ, LPC, Tire Discounters
Michael Caron, LPC, Dick’s Sporting Goods
Crystal Collins, LPC, Meijer
Jonathan Edelman, LPC, Bealls
Neal Ford, LPC, John Lewis PLC (UK)
Jeff Greene, LPC, Hudson Group
Jason Hamill, LPC, Walmart
Daniel Jones, LPC, Fanatics
Adegbenga William Koko, LPC, SecurityHaus Consulting
Steve Korhummel, LPC, Whole Foods Market
Scott McEntyre, LPC, Whole Foods Market
Thomas Peters, LPQ, LPC, F5 Investigative Solutions
Elmelo Punongbayan, LPC, LPC, PetSmart
Robert Sanchez, LPC, Dollar General
Tara Reed Shoop, LPC, Hibbett Sports
Aaron Winkel, LPC, Zebra Technologies
Recent LPQ Recipients
Ronald Annis, LPQ, Tire Discounters
Lucia Arreguin-Fitz, LPQ, CPhT, Walgreens
Adam Burton, LPQ, Meijer
Cathy Campbell, LPQ, Retail Business Services LLC, an Ahold-Delhaize company
Jacqueline Carmaz, LPQ, ALTO US
Mary Current, LPQ, Meijer
Lahela De Vera, LPQ, Army Air Force Exchange Service
Benedict Donaldson, LPQ, Dyson
Joseph Fortunato, LPQ, Giant Martins
Steve Hernandez, LPQ, Ralph Lauren
Greg Huber, LPQ, Meijer
Benjamin Mertz, LPQ, Giant Martins
Kirsty Milhomens, LPQ, Federated Co-operatives Limited
Oheneba Oppong Nyarko, LPQ, Ralph Lauren
Thomas Peters, LPQ, F5 Investigative Solutions
Jeffrey Pinheiro, LPQ, Ralph Lauren
Tonia Ramos, LPQ, Meijer
Tina Stafford, LPQ, Meijer
James Standley, LPQ, Meijer
Robin Teesdale, LPQ, Dyson
Jessica Uzoho, LPQ, ALTO US
Alyssa Verblaauw, LPQ, Zebra Technologies
Carolyn Warren, LPQ, Ralph Lauren
Jeremiah Wood, LPQ, ALTO US
