Welcome again from beautiful Sanibel Island, Florida for the LPF/LPM/RILA APLC Annual Meeting! Day one of the event featured several outstanding sessions bringing together retail loss prevention leaders and our solution provider partners to review several prominent issues facing the industry today, while also providing insights into some of the biggest issues that should be the focus of our attention as we move forward into 2024.
With so many factors influencing the mental health and well-being of retail associates in so many ways, having an effective strategy to deal with the disruptive issues impacting our retail teams is central to the operation of the stores and the vitality of the business. The meeting kicked off with an interactive presentation with Dr. Jay Sandys, PhD, LCSW, who offered critical thoughts on workplace mental health and trauma mitigation and how we can effectively deal with the stress and trauma that has become such a common concern across the retail industry.
The LP Magazine Vendor Advisory Board meeting provided an opportunity to discuss the role of our solution provider community in contributing to the overall success of the magazine and the exceptional content that we bring to you every day. Following encouraging presentations on the current performance of both our print and digital offerings, events attended, events hosted, and readership trends, roundtable discussions were held to discuss ways LP Magazine can continue to grow and thrive with the support of our readers.
An amazing keynote session was held after lunch, with Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody and Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul providing inspiring presentations reviewing the prominent roles they have taken in their own states to confront organized retail crime, how attorneys general offices across the country are working together to actively address ORC, and the many programs and initiatives these critical partners are taking to represent the retail community.
Having a hand on the pulse of the industry cannot be legitimate without the direct influence of the subject matter experts that drive the content that you see in the magazine every day. An afternoon session asking the audience for insights on potential topics for the upcoming year also provided a firsthand opportunity to focus on what practitioners at every level of the loss prevention industry are looking for as we move into the new year. Feedback is a gift, and even more meaningful when it comes directly from those with their boots on the ground.
The final general session of the day featured Kroger’s Frank Patercity, who gave a terrific presentation, “Fundamentals of Threat Assessment and Management: Preventing Targeted Violence.” This discussion offered an in-depth look at behavioral threat assessment and management that focuses on an individual’s patterns of thinking and behavior while determining whether and to what extent the individual may be moving toward an aggressive act on an identifiable target. Patercity also offered an interactive example on how one threat was identified, red flags that were missed, concerns that went unreported, and how the issue was addressed and ultimately resolved.
The day ended with a dinner conversation featuring motivational speaker Mike Robbins. Robbins blends storytelling from his own life, his background as a professional baseball player, and his experience working with some of the top companies across the country and around the world, to inspire leaders and teams to build high-performing cultures and authentic connections both internally and externally.
All in all, the tremendous presentations from day one left retail leaders, solution providers, and several special guests wondering what could possibly follow on day two of the event. Stay tuned to find out!
