In response to the issues of store security, safety and loss prevention becoming more top of mind to retailers, NACS is hosting the first Loss Prevention and Safety Symposium. The event will take place December 3 and 4 in Dallas, Texas.
“The volume of concerns being expressed by our members regarding protecting their people and managing their assets has risen to unprecedented levels, and so over the course of the last year we’ve convened research and an industry working group to understand the key pain points and where solutions and dialogue are needed,” said Lori Buss Stillman, vice president of research and education at NACS. “It’s really an event developed for the industry by the industry, and led by convenience industry loss prevention and asset protection leaders because it’s a topic that they care deeply about.”
Margaret Hardin Mannion, government relations manager at NACS, added that “while there are many other conferences on loss prevention and asset protection, they are often targeted at different sectors of retail. We wanted to fill that void and bring our industry to the table at an event that’s designed specifically for the convenience channel.”
The event will kick off the afternoon of December 3 with an opening session on the growing threat of crime and safety in convenience retail, as well as a reception and networking event. The morning of December 4 will begin with a panel discussion on priorities and strategies for protecting employees and stores, featuring leaders in asset protection from Casey’s General Stores (Mark Stinde), 7-Eleven (Art Lazo) and Parker’s Kitchen (Britt Davidson).
The agenda is divided into three tracks: protecting people, safeguarding against loss and investing in safer communities.
In sessions focused on protecting people, the agenda includes:
- A session on de-escalation tactics and mitigating violence led by Michael Loox, senior manager of store security and loss prevention at Sheetz, and Courtney Trieger, manager of retail asset support at EG America
- A session on addressing internal theft
- A session on addressing vulnerable populations led by Wes Pate, VP of loss prevention and risk management at Refuel Operating Company
“As much as everyone wants to protect their stores from financial loss, it’s first and foremost about keeping their people safe,” said Buss Stillman.
As part of the safeguarding against loss track:
- Wawa’s Bryon Coleman, manager of asset protection and security, will lead a session about protecting against shimmers, skimmers and fuel pump manipulation.
- Glenn Master, head of asset protection, security and crisis management at McLane will speak on safeguarding the supply chain against loss.
- Casey’s Mark Stinde will lead a conversation on managing stores from a total loss prevention perspective.
To help retailers invest in safer communities:
- Parker’s Britt Davidson will discuss how to use technology to address threats.
- Buss Stillman will join with the Loss Prevention Council to lead a session on capturing data to support awareness, advocacy and action.
- Michael Junk, manager of public affairs and government at QuikTrip, and NACS’ Hardin Mannion will discuss how retailers can build partnerships with local government, law enforcement and other retailers to strengthen their approach to combating retail crime.
Following sessions in the three tracks, attendees will gather to discuss the importance of cybersecurity in a deep dive into strategies necessary to protect sensitive data, mitigate risks, and maintain customer trust in today’s digital economy. The symposium will conclude with a session about navigating store safety and loss prevention priorities under a new administration as a new president takes office and a new congressional session begins.
To learn more and register for the event, visit convenience.org/lossprevention.