From The Editor | May 10, 2010

A Lesson In Professional Excellence

By Matt Pillar, Editor In Chief

Of all the meetings I had at last week's RILA LPAS (Loss Prevention, Auditing, and Safety) Conference, I enjoyed none more than the hour I spent with Gene Smith, Executive Director of the LP Foundation.

I've known Gene for seven or eight years, long enough to know him as a high-character, high-energy guy. Last Tuesday, as we discussed the foundation's meteoric path to success, I saw a new vigor in the man. His is a genuinely-earned swagger, for under his auspices the foundation has created a highly-accredited certification program that ought to be the model by which others are measured. As we discussed the merits of The Foundation's certification programs, the irony of that statement was not lost on this career "LP guy." Over the course of his career in retail loss prevention, Smith has recognized that there's not been much in the way of corporate expectations for LP professionals. But recent emphasis on the merits of LP investments for margin and profit protection, driven by the rise in high-tech fraud and organized retail crime, has all but eliminated the "LP as an afterthought" mentality. The Loss Prevention Foundation is well-poised to elevate the stature of the LP professional in this new corporate environment.

Here are some facts about The Foundation that back up my claim that the program is an exemplary model for all retail disciplines:

  • The Foundation is a non-profit entity, founded in 2006. Within 3 years and with the support of the retail and solution provider communities, it offered 2 fully-accredited certification programs.
  • Coursework for the LPQ (Loss Prevention Qualified) and LPC (Loss Prevention Certified) certifications is valued at between 3 and 6 credits in Master's programs at Farleigh Dickinson University, Eastern Kentucky University, and several others. The academic advisory committee comprises leading security scholars from University of Florida, Rutgers, UNC, and many more.
  • The Foundation offers student and professional scholarships, funded by members of the loss prevention solution provider community.
  • Study materials and coursework are available online and volume discounts are available for the program.
  • Since its inception, more than 300 retail LP professionals have achieved certification.

In an upcoming issue of Integrated Solutions For Retailers, we'll publish a Q&A with an LP professional who received certification and a vendor that sponsors the program. Meanwhile, if you're interested in learning more about the great work Smith and the Loss Prevention Foundation are doing, go to www.losspreventionfoundation.org or get in touch with Marketing Coordinator Kelly Durham at kelly.durham@losspreventionfoundation.org.