Certification Column CERTIFICATION
Why We Should Be Thankful T
his is the time of the year that most of us think about giving thanks for our health, our families, and friends and maybe even our 2013 successes and accomplishments. I know I am very grateful for these things. I also know that if it weren’t for having good health, support of my family and friends, I would not have accomplished as much. Not even close. Being thankful requires time for reflection. I recently took the opportunity to do some early year-end reflection after our October board of directors meeting. In that fall board meeting, which is one of two annual meetings that we are required to conduct, we did a year-to-date status review of
Most of you are committed to building a plan for shrinkage reduction or reaching your job performance goals, but often fall short on developing the same type of plan for professional development. what we had accomplished and what is planned for 2014. This was a four-hour meeting where the Loss Prevention Foundation (LPF) staff and committee chairs reported to the board, which is comprised of thirty retail vice presidents and senior executives from several leading solution providers. Four new board members were added to the board, including Tim Gorman, DVP, Loss Prevention, Asset Protection, and Business Continuity, Walgreens, Mike Keenan, CPP, CFI, VP Loss Prevention, Gap Inc., Mark Mellor, DVP, Loss Prevention and Global Business Continuity, Family Dollar, and Mark Stinde, VP Asset Protection, 7-Eleven.
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by Gene Smith, LPC Smith is president of The Loss Prevention Foundation, the not-for-profit organization charged with the responsibility of managing certification. He was formerly president of the industry’s largest executive search and consulting firm. During the past fifteen-plus years, Smith has provided career counseling for thousands of industry professionals nationwide. He can be reached at 704-837-2521 or via email at gene.smith@losspreventionfoundation.org.
2013 Highlights
Many mentioned after the meeting that it was the best ever. That was great to hear, but the celebration was short-lived because we went right back to planning and working diligently to do even better. However, we would be remiss if we didn’t share some of the highlights. The Foundation now has: 6,588 members in our group. 5,000 worldwide locations in 165 counties that offer the LPQ and LPC exams. 1,400 exam locations in the U.S. 1,000 certified professionals. 452 companies have either LPQ or LPC-certified or certification-seeking employees. 279 companies have someone certified. One company has 193 certification participants. 140 companies have LPC credentialed employees. 139 companies have LPQ credentialed employees. 78 vice presidents and directors are LPC certified. 74 companies now hold LPQ or LPC as a preferred requirement for employment. 5 countries have LPC certified individuals. LPC credential holders now hold positions in nine of the top ten U.S. retailers. The LP Memorial Fund distributed two gifts of $2,000 each to surviving families who lost loved ones from the LP industry. New certificates for membership and certification were created. LPF was rebranded with a new website, conference booth displays, and a merchandise store. A fully automated CRM system was implemented. A recertification program for LPC-certified professionals was launched. Academic credit for completing the LPQ or LPC requirements was granted at American Military University, Eastern Kentucky University, Fairleigh Dickinson University, and Mississippi College. The LPF led fundraising efforts to raise enough donations for approximately 100 new bicycles (over $10,000) to students at Devonshire Elementary School in Charlotte, NC. The school was recognized on the Today show for their efforts toward improving
NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2013
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11/27/13 3:10 PM
