Schedule & Agenda

Walter is an industry insider and advocate with over 40 years of experience in asset protection, operations, inventory control, and strategic consulting. He works with top retailers, academics, asset protection practitioners, and industry associations in the US and around the world to advance our profession, examine key trends and issues, and support their key goals and objectives. He is a co-founder of LP Magazine, has been an invited speaker at more than 120 conferences around the globe, and has authored over 60 articles for industry and mainstream media. He currently serves as Senior Advisor for CAP Index, the leader in crime risk forecasting.

Jen Thomason is Vice President of Stores Protection at Gap Inc., where she leads the field/stores AP strategy across Old Navy, Gap, Banana Republic, and Athleta globally. She is responsible for safeguarding people, products, and experiences while advancing modern, risk-based protection strategies across a complex, multi-brand footprint. With more than two decades of experience, Jen brings deep expertise in retail Asset Protection, operational risk, and executive leadership. Prior to Gap Inc., she held senior leadership roles at Nike, including Global Senior Director of Loss Prevention and Risk Operations, and previously served in Asset Protection and risk leadership roles at Dollar General and EZCORP. Her background also includes law enforcement and consulting. Jen is known for building and scaling industry-leading AP capabilities and high-performing teams in complex environments. A strong advocate for talent development and inclusive leadership, she aligns AP strategy with business priorities, and future-focused innovation. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from the University of North Alabama.

Meredith Plaxco is the Vice President of Global Asset Protection and Safety at PetSmart. She serves as Chair of RILA’s Asset Protection Leaders Council and is on the boards of the Loss Prevention Foundation and One Community Arizona and supports the AP program at the University of South Carolina College of Retailing. With over 24 years at PetSmart, her experience spans various leadership roles, including operations, corporate PR/communications, finance and enterprise asset protection and safety. Her education and experience outside of PetSmart includes a background in finance and communications, veterinary M&A and operations, mass and specialty retail, and she maintains her Loss Prevention Certification (LPC) from the Loss Prevention Foundation.

In 2013, Attorney General Sunday was appointed by the United States Department of Justice as a Special Assistant United States Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, where he assisted in the prosecution of gang, illegal gun, and drug cases in Federal Court. It was during this time period that he led the prosecution of Operation Sunrise, which was a large scale multi-jurisdictional arrest and prosecution of over 100 members and/or affiliates of the “Latin Kings,” a violent criminal gang operating in York County. As an elected District Attorney, he led York County’s fight against the opioid epidemic, fought to protect seniors through his role on the Elder Abuse Task Force, helped to forge partnerships with healthcare systems and the courts to deal with the increasing challenges surrounding mental health, and personally tried approximately 50 felony jury trials to verdict including the successful prosecution of more than 10 of the most high profile York County murder trials in recent memory. In addition to homicides, Attorney General Sunday has successfully prosecuted Murder Conspiracies, the Attempted Murder of a Police Officer, multiple Murders for Hire, Felony Narcotics Deliveries, Aggravated Assaults, Burglaries, Armed Robberies, Bank Robberies, Insurance Fraud Cases, Thefts and Elder Fraud Scams to name a few. Beyond trial work, Attorney General Sunday previously served as President of the York County Bar Association, Chair of the York Opioid Collaborative, Chair of the Education and Training Committee of the Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association (PDAA), was appointed to the Pennsylvania Commission on Sentencing by Speaker of the House Mike Turzai in 2020, and was selected to serve on behalf of the PDAA on the Pennsylvania Commission for Crime and Delinquency’s (PCCD) statewide Mental Health and Justice Advisory Committee.

Keely Hogan is a fraud strategy leader at Target, focused on protecting digital and in-store commerce from fraud, scams, and organized retail crime. She operates at the intersection of cybersecurity, fraud and abuse, and product management, driving enterprise strategies to address evolving threats across retail environments. Over the past several years, Keely has led high-impact initiatives spanning gift card fraud, account protection, and threat detection. She partners across cybersecurity, analytics, engineering, and business teams to deliver scalable controls and strengthen fraud prevention outcomes. Her work emphasizes cross-functional collaboration, data-driven decision making, and building durable solutions that enhance both security and customer experience. Keely is actively engaged in industry collaboration to address emerging fraud trends and advance collective defense strategies across the retail sector.

Leana Maxwell is the Director of Fraud & Abuse Investigations within the Cyber Defense team at Target, where she leads strategic efforts to identify and disrupt complex fraud schemes. Since founding the Internal Fraud & Abuse Investigations team in 2021, Leana has expanded the investigation scope to include Threat Actor Investigations and triage incident response operations, focusing on everything from account takeovers and payment fraud to gift card scams, return abuse, and broader digital fraud crimes.  Most recently, her team played a key role in the creation of the Gift Card Fraud Prevention Alliance, now under the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA).  With more than 14 years at Target, Leana brings deep expertise in fraud analytics, cyber fraud investigations, and operational risk management. She is passionate about protecting both the company and its guests through innovative technology and collaborative defense strategies. Leana holds a bachelor’s degree from the College of Saint Benedict.

Brad is a seasoned professional with over 30 years of comprehensive experience in the retail industry, specializing in Asset Protection, Inventory Management, and Process Optimization. Over the course of his career, Brad has demonstrated a strong aptitude for enhancing operational efficiency and mitigating risks within retail environments. In the past 15 years, Brad has transitioned his focus to safety management, where he has excelled in ensuring compliance with safety regulations, process development and implementing best practices. His proficiency in safety compliance, coupled with his adeptness in data process management, has been instrumental in streamlining safety procedures and minimizing workplace accidents.

Eric J. Conn is a founding partner and Chair of the national OSHA • Workplace Safety Practice at the law firm Conn Maciel Carey LLP, where his practice has focused exclusively on all aspects of occupational safety and health law for 26 years.  Mr. Conn began his career practicing more than a decade alongside the former first General Counsel of the OSH Review Commission.  Eric represents employers in inspections, investigations and enforcement actions involving OSHA, state OSHA programs, the Chemical Safety Board, and other state and local safety-related agencies.  He also handles all aspects of OSHA litigation, from contests and appeals of citations to criminal prosecutions. From 2022 - present, CMC’s OSHA Practice has been recognized by Chambers USA as 1 of only 2 “Band 1” rated OSHA law firms nationally, and Eric was personally recognized as 1 of only 7 "Band 1" rated OSHA legal practitioners. He writes and speaks extensively on safety and health law issues, including as author of multiple OSHA law chapters in treatises and as Chief Editor of the award-winning “OSHA Defense Report” blog.

Justin Voss, is a leader in retail asset protection and operational strategy, currently serving as Sr. Manager of LP Operations: Strategy & Solutions at DICK’S Sporting Goods. In this role, he leverages nearly two decades of operational, investigative, and loss prevention expertise to drive enterprise‑level programs, strengthen organizational resiliency, and advance innovation across the business. He holds an MBA from the University of Pittsburgh Katz Graduate School of Business, a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from the State University of New York at Albany, and is a Certified Forensic Interviewer (CFI).

Allison Perdue is a finance leader with 15+ years of experience at Dick’s Sporting Goods, driving enterprise value through cross-functional partnerships, analytics, and strategic planning. As a Manager of Financial Planning and Analysis, she partners across operations, HR, and other functions to translate data into actionable insights to improve performance at scale. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from Virginia Tech and is pursuing her MBA at the College of William & Mary, further strengthening her focus on strategy, business analytics and leadership.

Kyle Wondrash is a Director on the Asset Protection team at Walmart with deep experience driving enterprise strategies across shrink reduction, inventory integrity, merchandise protection, and operational risk. He is known for turning complex, cross‑functional challenges into practical, scalable solutions that protect product while preserving the customer experience. Kyle’s work focuses on modernizing asset protection through data‑driven decision making, thoughtful technology deployment, and close alignment with store operations and merchandising. A people‑first leader and trusted advisor, he brings a practitioner’s perspective shaped by years in both field and home office roles.

Rikki Twyford is the Director of Security and Loss Prevention for Costco Wholesale, overseeing a team that protects her Company’s assets, from merchandise to employees. She started in the Costco food court after high school, and by the time she graduated college, was in love with Costco. As she transferred through several locations in various states, she filled different manager positions, including Assistant General Manager in Lancaster, PA - home of the only warehouse with Amish horse and buggy parking. Her love for training attracted to her a job as an Operations Auditor and then her growing family drew her to a non-traveling position as an Assistant Buyer. Perfect timing brought the opportunity to join the Security/Loss Prevention team and (finally!) use her Criminal Justice degree. A promotion to Director then took her whole family from West Virginia back to Washington.  Rikki is a long time advocate of Children’s Miracle Network, serving as chair of the Northeast Charity Golf Classic for 7 years - raising almost $12M. She also served 2 terms as a City Councilwoman before also being elected Vice President of her County Board of Education. Her passion for community involvement also led to serving on the Board of Directors for the Old Opera House and as the Vice President of her American Legion Auxiliary.  She is a graduate of several prestigious leadership programs. 

Senior Director of Loss Prevention with responsibilities leading all Dick’s Sporting Goods LP functions, to include Supply Chain, Digital LP, Corp. Security, Crisis Management, Executive Protection, Profit Protection, Investigations, LP Operations, and Field LP. Responsibilities centered around development and execution of LP strategies across the organization, building synergy across multiple stakeholders, and ensuring field teams have adequate resources and understanding to effectively mitigate loss and enhance profits through people development, training, investigations, partnership and inventory integrity. Focus is not only on shrink but total loss and how this impacts in stock availability, athlete experience, shrink and sales in both brick and mortar and online environments.

Brandon is a Senior Asset Protection & Safety Leader currently leading the Corporate Asset Protection & Safety Teams at Dollar General. He has proven experience with profit impacting results in both Field & Corporate Asset Protection roles.

Mueller spent the past 11 years in the physical security industry, building experience across manufacturers, integrators, startups, and manufacturer representative firms. That diverse background has given him a well-rounded perspective on how security solutions are developed, positioned, deployed, and scaled in real-world environments. Throughout his career, Mueller worked across both physical and electronic security, including guarding services, video surveillance, analytics, and AI-driven technologies. Mueller operate at the intersection of technology, operations, sales, and marketing, focused on connecting innovative solutions with real-world security challenges. His experience spans solution design, channel development, revenue leadership, and go-to-market strategy, helping organizations implement security programs that are both effective and scalable. Mueller committed to continuous growth and to elevating the industry through education, strategic insight, and practical knowledge sharing. His goal is to help security professionals adapt, improve, and lead in an evolving market, while helping organizations across every vertical build stronger, smarter, and more resilient security programs.

Graduated from LaSalle University in 1994 and The Dickinson School of Law in 1997. Worked as an Insurance Defense Civil Attorney at Wilbraham, Lawler and Buba from 1998 to 2000, and then Hecker, Brown, Sherry and Johnson from 2000 to 2001. In 2001, left Civil Defense Law to become a Prosecutor at the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office working in the Major Trials Unit for 2 years. In 2003, moved back to Philadelphia and joined the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office working in the Municipal Court, Pre-Trial, Juvenile, Felony Waivers, Majors, and Economic and Cyber Crime Units, as well as being briefly assigned as acting Director of the IT Department. Currently assigned as the Supervisor of the Economic Crimes Division, which is comprised of the Financial Crimes Unit, the Insurance Fraud Unit, the Elder Justice Unit, the Unemployment Compensation/Welfare Fraud Unit, the Labor Crimes Enforcement Unit, the Organized Retail Theft and Deed Theft Task Force, the Carjacking Enforcement Unit, the Auto Theft Unit and the Cleaner Greener Enforcement Unit. Member of the Philadelphia Bar Association’s Fraudulent Conveyance Task Force, Philadelphia Consumer Financial Protection Advisory Group, PA Auto Crimes Investigators Association, Delaware Valley International Association of Special Investigation Units, International Association of Financial Crimes Investigators, and the Delaware Valley Financial Security Officers Group. Participant in our local Organized Retail Theft Task force with the Philadelphia Police Department as well as the newly formed collaboration between NDAA/RILA on Organized Retail Theft and a member of that Retail Theft Criminal Advisory Board.

Matthew McCray is an Assistant Attorney General at the Arizona Attorney General’s Office. He received his undergraduate degree from Northern Arizona University and his JD from the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law. He graduated in 2014 and started at the Pima County Attorney’s Office before moving to the Attorney General’s Office in 2019. In his current position, Matthew is responsible for prosecuting Organized Retail Crimes, including Organized Retail Theft and Cargo Theft, throughout Arizona as part of the Arizona Attorney General’s Organized Retail Theft Task Force

Chance Lee is Investigations Counsel at T-Mobile, where he supports organized retail crime, security, and fraud investigations, advising on case development and law enforcement engagement nationwide. He previously served as Director of Intelligence at the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office, where he led intelligence-driven investigations and partnered with local, state, and federal law enforcement on complex criminal matters primarily focused on gun violence and organized retail crime.

Alan Stevens has served as a federal prosecutor with the United States Department of Justice since 2006. He investigates and prosecutes cases involving fraud, financial crime, and money laundering. Prior to joining the Department of Justice, Stevens worked for 6 years at King & Spalding, a large, international law firm based in Atlanta, Georgia. Stevens graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Emory University School of Law.

Missy Bertrand has been with Best Buy for 36 years and currently serves as Director of Enterprise Safety. In this position she provides leadership, professional knowledge and expertise in the development, implementation and execution of corporate wide safety and compliance program strategies for all of Best Buy US operations. She oversees, supports and manages the development of the Enterprise Safety Team and mitigates risks and drives results through effective implementation of training, reporting, written programs and assessments.

Dr. VanDerlyke has 30 years of experience in workers’ health and safety.  He has worked with companies in the chemical, retail and food manufacturing sectors.  Currently, he is Corporate Sr. Director of EHS and WC with Harbor Freight Tools, responsible for the health and safety of 28,000 associates at several different processing and live facilities.  He was also an Adjunct Professor at Mansfield University, where he taught safety classes for students looking to receive their Associates or Bachelor’s degree in safety.  He is a certified safety professional (CSP) who received his PhD in safety science from Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP); his MS in EHS Management from Rochester Institute of Technology; and his BS in biology from Mansfield University.

Brian Wedoff is an accomplished security and loss prevention leader with nearly three decades of experience spanning law enforcement and corporate retail sectors. He has served as the Vice President of Loss Prevention Operations at Kohl’s and prior to that led as the Senior Director of Corporate Security & Loss Prevention Operations at Ulta Beauty.  His extensive background also includes leadership positions at Target, Mattel, and AT&T.  Brian holds a Master of Arts in the Administration and Management of Criminal Justice from Loyola University Chicago and a Bachelor of Science from Truman State University.Brian has served as an Adjunct Professor at the College of DuPage, instructing corporate and law enforcement leadership on emerging security trends.

I am currently the Sr. Director, Asset Protection & Safety – Strategy, Compliance & Business Support. I oversee the AP & Safety operational aspects, i.e., Policy/Procedures, strategic forecasting, regulatory compliance, as well as overseeing the safety programs in our distribution centers. I have been with PetSmart for 18 years, with previous roles in store leadership, Store Operations, and Internal Audit.

Melanie Millaway is Senior Director of Asset Protection Investigations & Enterprise Security at PetSmart, where she leads enterprise-wide strategies to safeguard company assets, mitigate fraud, and reduce financial risk across stores and eCommerce operations. Melanie began her career with PetSmart in 2007 and has held a variety of leadership roles within Asset Protection since 2012, including Field Asset Protection Business Partner, Area Director, and Enterprise Physical Security Director. She currently leads and develops high-performing teams across internal and external investigations, eCommerce fraud prevention, and enterprise physical security, ensuring comprehensive protection of the company’s people, assets, and brand. She spearheaded the development of PetSmart’s Omni-Channel Loss Reduction Strategy and 5-Year Long-Range Plan, driving $30M in loss reduction. Most recently, her team avoided $25M in eCommerce fraud while achieving an industry-leading .19 chargeback rate. Under Melanie's leadership, her team developed a stratified asset protection solution framework leveraging data-driven methodologies to optimize security placement and risk mitigation strategies that resulted in a 54% shrink reduction in select high-risk locations. In addition to overseeing $30M+ in security spend, she drives cost-savings initiatives and leads high-impact financial loss prevention projects, including compliance modernization, new investigative reporting platforms, counterfeit detection testing, and the creation of an Emergency Operations Center framework to manage high-risk incidents. Melanie is known for building strong cross-functional partnerships across HR, Legal, IT, Digital, and executive leadership teams, and for designing investigative frameworks that ensure legal compliance, policy adherence, and operational excellence. She is passionate about leveraging intelligence, data, and collaboration to stay ahead of evolving retail threats.

Corey Merritt currently oversees Enterprise Physical Security Operations at PetSmart supporting 1700 retail locations across North America, Puerto Rico, and Canada as well as seven distribution centers and corporate offices in Phoenix, AZ, Ontario, CAN, Shanghai, China, and San Juan, Costa Rica. Additionally, Corey has a depth and breadth background in investigations and executive protection, having supported large financial, healthcare, and real estate companies prior to PetSmart.

Mark Stinde is Vice President of Asset Protection at Casey’s General Stores, leading the organization in total retail loss, safety, and security strategies. He previously held senior asset protection and loss prevention leadership roles with Kroger, JCPenney, 7‑Eleven, Circuit City, and The Home Depot, overseeing complex, multi‑region operations. Mark is Chairman of the Board for the Loss Prevention Foundation, serves on the editorial board for LP Magazine, and serves on the RILA APLC. Mark holds an MBA from Southern Methodist University.

Appointed as Senior Vice President of Loss Prevention at Ulta Beauty in January 2025, Dan brings more than 23 years of dedicated service and leadership within the organization. His career reflects a steady ascent through key roles in both loss prevention and human resources, positioning him as a versatile and forward-thinking executive. Prior to his current role, Dan served as Vice President of People Success, where he led talent and organizational development strategies for Ulta Beauty’s national Supply Chain Network, encompassing seven distribution centers across the United States. He began his journey with the company as a Regional Loss Prevention Manager and progressed through critical leadership positions, including Manager of Loss Prevention Security Systems and Technology, Senior Human Resources Manager, and Director of Human Resources for both retail stores and distribution operations. Dan is widely recognized for his innovative mindset, cross-functional leadership, and unwavering commitment to continuous improvement. His ability to navigate and lead through change has driven impactful transformation across a range of business functions. In 2026, Dan led the evolution of Ulta Beauty’s Loss Prevention function into Asset Protection, strengthening enterprise partnership and positioning the team to support continued growth and international expansion. As SVP of Asset Protection, Dan is focused on delivering comprehensive enterprise security risk management through the strategic integration of technology, process innovation, risk intelligence, and operational optimization to drive profitability. His leadership philosophy centers on people empowerment, team performance, and stakeholder engagement – ensuring Ulta Beauty’s asset protection efforts are as dynamic and future-ready as the company itself.

Erin Knight has 20 years of experience on CVS's Asset Protection team, responsible for various functions. In her current role, she is responsible for their High Risk Merchandise Strategy and Innovation. Erin is an experienced leader responsible for designing and delivering best-in-class front store and category specific profitability strategies, leveraging data analytics to proactively identify and mitigate front store shrink risk across all retail locations.

Graduated from LaSalle University in 1994 and The Dickinson School of Law in 1997. Worked as an Insurance Defense Civil Attorney at Wilbraham, Lawler and Buba from 1998 to 2000, and then Hecker, Brown, Sherry and Johnson from 2000 to 2001. In 2001, left Civil Defense Law to become a Prosecutor at the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office working in the Major Trials Unit for 2 years. In 2003, moved back to Philadelphia and joined the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office working in the Municipal Court, Pre-Trial, Juvenile, Felony Waivers, Majors, and Economic and Cyber Crime Units, as well as being briefly assigned as acting Director of the IT Department. Currently assigned as the Supervisor of the Economic Crimes Division, which is comprised of the Financial Crimes Unit, the Insurance Fraud Unit, the Elder Justice Unit, the Unemployment Compensation/Welfare Fraud Unit, the Labor Crimes Enforcement Unit, the Organized Retail Theft and Deed Theft Task Force, the Carjacking Enforcement Unit, the Auto Theft Unit and the Cleaner Greener Enforcement Unit. Member of the Philadelphia Bar Association’s Fraudulent Conveyance Task Force, Philadelphia Consumer Financial Protection Advisory Group, PA Auto Crimes Investigators Association, Delaware Valley International Association of Special Investigation Units, International Association of Financial Crimes Investigators, and the Delaware Valley Financial Security Officers Group. Participant in our local Organized Retail Theft Task force with the Philadelphia Police Department as well as the newly formed collaboration between NDAA/RILA on Organized Retail Theft and a member of that Retail Theft Criminal Advisory Board.

Gregg Smith is a veteran Asset Protection and Retail Operations leader with over 30 years of experience driving profit protection strategies for top retail brands. As Vice President of Asset Protection at Five Below, he oversees safety and shrink initiatives across 2,000+ stores nationwide. Gregg’s career includes senior roles at The Children’s Place, Donna Karan/DKNY, Bloomingdale’s, and The Home Depot. He holds a bachelor’s in Criminology Pre-Law from Indiana University of Pennsylvania recently earned his MBA from LSU. He is LPC and CFI-certified and actively contributes to the industry as a member of RILA’s Asset Protection Leaders Council, the Loss Prevention Foundation, and the Loss Prevention Research Council.

Ed is a seasoned retail executive with more than 27 years of experience across operations and asset protection in complex, high-volume retail environments. He currently serves as Vice President of Asset Protection at CVS Health, where he brings a strong operational mindset, deep field leadership experience, and a people-first philosophy to protecting people, product, and brand. Ed has spent the past 10 years with CVS Health, including two years leading Asset Protection. Prior to his current role, he led store operations for the CVS Long Island and New York City markets, overseeing large, diverse teams and driving operational excellence across one of the company’s most demanding regions. Before joining CVS Health, Ed spent over 17 years at Macy’s, where he built his career entirely within Operations, most recently serving in field management roles. His background provides him with a comprehensive understanding of store operations, frontline realities, and the connection between strong leadership, engaged teams, and sustainable results.

Senior executive with 30+ years of global leadership experience across Asset Protection, Internal Audit, and Compliance. Currently serving as VP of Internal Audit and Retail/DTC Asset Protection (CAE), leading enterprise risk, audit, and loss prevention strategies across multinational operations. Proven track record of driving business performance, strengthening controls, and delivering measurable financial impact through fraud reduction, operational efficiency, and risk mitigation.

Peter Menakis is a Manager in Accenture’s Retail Strategy practice, specializing in Total Retail Loss and Store Operations Transformation. He helps retailers develop strategies to mitigate loss and redesign store processes to improve customer and associate experience, while enabling technology-driven transformation within the store, and across the enterprise. Peter brings an operator perspective shaped by more than 10 years of store, field, and home office experience in retail prior to joining Accenture, where he held roles across loss prevention and store operations. Today, he works with leading retailers to reduce shrink, improve safety, and drive store productivity through process transformation and the application of technologies.

Retired U.S. Army Lieutenant General with 35 years of public service. Led modernization, education, and leader development initiatives that transformed organizations and influenced more than 1 million people worldwide. Proven track record in strategic planning, institutional reform, and crisis leadership reflects a career defined by impact and excellence

Phil is co-founder and CEO of global Retail Crime Intelligence software company, Auror. Since it was founded in 2012, Phil has been focused on building Auror into a trusted company with a global outlook and helping retailers and law enforcement work together through technology to address the large scale of retail crime impacting our communities. Auror is now used by more than 85,000 retail stores and in 3,500 law enforcement agencies across North America, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand. Phil is passionate about modernizing public safety by digitally enabling communities to better collaborate. Alongside his co-founders, he was named New Zealand’s EY Entrepreneur of the Year in 2022. Prior to founding Auror, Phil was a commercial privacy and intellectual property lawyer.

Brian Friedman is a seasoned retail security executive and the Divisional Vice President of Asset Protection & Risk Management at REI Co-op. With a career spanning frontline operations to enterprise risk strategy, Brian brings a pragmatic and forward-thinking lens to loss prevention, blending traditional methods with emerging technologies. He’s passionate about bridging the gap between innovation and execution—especially when it comes to leveraging technology and data to keep retail environments safe, welcoming, and resilient.

Experienced Detective Sergeant with 28+ years with the Gainesville Police Department. A demonstrated history of investigating a variety of felony crimes and more recently, significant financial crimes committed by Organized Groups. Skilled in Criminal Intelligence, Facial Recognition identification, open and closed source intelligence search tools, SWAT, fraud prevention, criminal investigations, counterfeiting, identity theft and credit card fraud. A driven industry leader who strives to improve himself and his team each day. An education foundation built on a Bachelor of Science (BS) focused in Criminology from University of Florida, and numerous continuing education courses throughout a 28+ year career. Many consider me a nationwide expert in the field of Facial Recognition/Matching with several thousand leads generated to date.

Appointed as Senior Vice President of Loss Prevention at Ulta Beauty in January 2025, Dan brings more than 23 years of dedicated service and leadership within the organization. His career reflects a steady ascent through key roles in both loss prevention and human resources, positioning him as a versatile and forward-thinking executive. Prior to his current role, Dan served as Vice President of People Success, where he led talent and organizational development strategies for Ulta Beauty’s national Supply Chain Network, encompassing seven distribution centers across the United States. He began his journey with the company as a Regional Loss Prevention Manager and progressed through critical leadership positions, including Manager of Loss Prevention Security Systems and Technology, Senior Human Resources Manager, and Director of Human Resources for both retail stores and distribution operations. Dan is widely recognized for his innovative mindset, cross-functional leadership, and unwavering commitment to continuous improvement. His ability to navigate and lead through change has driven impactful transformation across a range of business functions. In 2026, Dan led the evolution of Ulta Beauty’s Loss Prevention function into Asset Protection, strengthening enterprise partnership and positioning the team to support continued growth and international expansion. As SVP of Asset Protection, Dan is focused on delivering comprehensive enterprise security risk management through the strategic integration of technology, process innovation, risk intelligence, and operational optimization to drive profitability. His leadership philosophy centers on people empowerment, team performance, and stakeholder engagement – ensuring Ulta Beauty’s asset protection efforts are as dynamic and future-ready as the company itself.

As the Director of Organized Retail Crime for Ulta Beauty, Rory Stallard is a thirty-one year veteran of loss prevention who has specialized in combating ORC for nearly three decades. His career is distinguished by his foundational role in creating or expanding the ORC programs at four major national retailers: Ulta Beauty, The Home Depot, Toys R Us, and Target. A recognized authority in the field, Rory has shaped public policy by testifying before state senate hearings in CA, GA, and WA on the need for ORC legislation. His leadership, recognized with honors like the GRAORCA Partnership of the Year Award, the LP Hall Award, and Distinguished Criminial Justice Professional Award from East Tennessee State University, is demonstrated through his board position with CALORCA and his work co-founding the Georgia Retailers ORCA, cementing his role as a key architect of key partnerships that protect retailers and communities.

Brian started his professional working life as a bagger at Safeway and worked through many jobs in the store.  He has also helped entrepreneurs in both the retail and service industry build their businesses.  He has been employed as a police officer with the Anchorage Police Department since 2007.  He has held many positions in the department as he moved up the ranks to the current position of Deputy Chief of Operations.  In that role he stood up the Retail Crime Unit which has been tremendously successful at addressing shoplifting and trespassing at local retailers in Anchorage.  He holds a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Alaska Anchorage and is a graduate of the 279th session of the FBI National Academy.  

Jon Briegel brings a unique perspective forged on both sides of the retail asset protection landscape. As Senior Retail Partnerships Manager for North America at Auror, he partners with many of the world’s largest retailers to help solve their biggest challenges with ORC and violence. This role is built upon a strong foundation from his nearly 10-year career in the Asset Protection department at Target, giving him firsthand knowledge of the problems his partners face every day. His strategic expertise lies in bridging the gap between traditional loss prevention methods and the power of data-driven insights. Drawing from his own frontline experience, Jon is dedicated to stopping retail crime for good by empowering AP/LP teams with insights to create safer stores and communities.

With over 25 years in Loss Prevention, Jonathan is currently the Director of Loss Prevention at H&M covering the US, Canada, and Puerto Rico responsible for shrink results, internal/external investigations, analytics and works directly with their SOC. Previous to his 9 years at H&M, Jonathan gained experience from 28 years at Rite Aid Pharmacy where he started his career on the sales side as a multi-unit Sales Manager and then moved over to the Loss Prevention side of the business.   Jonathan has also held roles as North America Security Manager and Country Compliance Manager and Regional Director of Asset Protection.

I am a Master of Science in Business Analytics student at the University of Texas at Austin, where I focus on bridging business strategy and data-driven decision making. Previously, I worked for three years as a Data Engineer at US Foods, building and maintaining data pipelines to support analytics and operations. I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Data Science and Statistics from Purdue University.

I am currently a Master’s candidate in Business Analytics at the McCombs School of Business at The University of Texas at Austin. I recently graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Marketing and a Bachelor of Arts in Statistics. My academic and professional interests lie at the intersection of data analytics, retail strategy, and consumer behavior. Through my capstone project in partnership with Lululemon, I worked closely with their team to analyze retail shrink and develop analytics-driven approaches to better understand and mitigate loss. I look forward to presenting our work at the RILA conference and sharing insights on how data-driven analysis can support more effective loss prevention and operational decision-making in retail.

My name is Stephanie Coutts and I am currently a graduate student studying Business Analytics at the University of Texas at Austin. Prior, I graduated from Texas Tech University in 2025 where I studied supply chain. 

I am a Master’s student in Business Analytics at The University of Texas at Austin. My experience spans retail and operational data, including RFID-based analysis at Lululemon, along with prior roles as a Business Analyst at Searce and a CRM Data Analyst intern, where I built dashboards and data-driven solutions to improve performance. Outside of work, I enjoy watching sports and movies, and I’m always curious about how data connects to real-world behaviour.

Franco Salinas (FRAHN-koh sah-LEE-nahs) is a Senior Analyst specializing in statistical modeling and data-driven decision support. His work focuses on analyzing time-series and panel data, developing feature engineering frameworks, and applying Bayesian statistical models to uncover complex relationships in large datasets. With a background in economics and statistics, he applies rigorous quantitative methods to business and marketing analytics problems. Franco is particularly interested in translating advanced analytical techniques into practical insights that inform strategic decision-making.

Niladri Nath is a student at The University of Texas at Austin holding a BBA in Management Information Systems and pursuing a Master of Science in Business Analytics. His academic work focuses on data analytics, inventory systems, and applying data-driven insights to real-world business problems. As part of a capstone project with lululemon, Niladri is analyzing RFID and inventory data to better understand patterns of retail shrink and operational loss. He is interested in how data and technology can improve decision-making and operational efficiency in retail environments. Niladri previously worked as a Data Analyst Intern at USAA, where he built SQL-based monitoring systems and automation workflows using Snowflake. He is particularly interested in how data infrastructure and analytics can improve decision-making in large-scale retail and logistics operations.

Joel Gurley is a senior leader in global Asset Protection at Lululemon, where he guides the strategy, technology enablement, and data‑driven capabilities. He oversees key AP technology portfolios, identifies emerging risks and opportunities, builds long‑range roadmaps, and drives initiatives that enhance profitability and operational resilience. He also manages financial planning for the AP organization. Joel brings over 20 years of Retail Asset Protection experience, including key roles supporting North American Supply Chain Security and Retail. His background spans complex risk environments, cross‑functional program leadership, and large‑scale operational transformation. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Georgia State University.

Ed Tonkon is President of Zebra Retail Solutions, a subsidiary of Zebra Technologies, a $5B NASDAQ listed publicly traded technology company. Ed has over 25 years of senior executive leadership experience in the publicly traded and private equity corporate environments of retail and business-to-business outsourcing, with a substantial logistics component. Ed was formerly CEO of Hart Systems, LLC which was acquired in December, 2013 by Zebra. Previously, Ed was CEO of Noble Logistics a leading national provider of time critical logistics services to the wholesale automotive parts industry. Tonkon earned a Bachelors of Business Administration degree in Finance from the University of Texas at Austin. Ed serves on the University of Texas System's Chancellor's Council Executive Committee, the McCombs School of Business Masters of Science in Business Analytics Advisory Board, the Hicks, Muse, Tate and Furst Center for Private Equity Finance Advisory Board and served on The University of Texas McCombs School of Business BBA/MPA Alumni Advisory Board where he was Chairman from 2012-2104.

Brittany Gallagher is the Senior Director of Supply Chain Asset Protection and Safety at Lowe’s, where she leads enterprise programs supporting more than 130 supply chain locations and over $100 billion in annual product flow. She is known for modernizing asset protection through advanced surveillance, analytics, and innovative security solutions, while also strengthening safety performance through strong people-focused leadership. A passionate advocate for her team, Brittany is committed to developing future leaders and driving results through collaboration and innovation, earning her recognition as The Hall’s 2025 LP Leader of the Year for her impact and leadership.

Adam Stokes is Senior Director Loss Prevention, Supply Chain, Ops, Enterprise Security at Ulta Beauty and has more than 22 years of experience in the retail loss prevention industry leading loss prevention efforts for large box, discount, and specialty retailers. During this tenure he has helped lead successful loss prevention programs to train associates on shrink mitigation, safety, ORC and defining the importance of those programs to drive operational excellence and bottom-line results. Six years ago, Adam successfully transitioned from the Field to Supply Chain Loss Prevention to further expand his functional expertise. Under his leadership, Adam and his team have produced world class results through a balanced physical security program that prioritizes his company’s culture, the safety of associates/guests, defined effective risk mitigation tactics, and developed innovative shrink programs that span transportation, supply chain buildings, and retail.

Luis is a U.S. Marine Corp veteran and an experienced leader in asset protection, safety, and risk management.  He serves as Director of Business Protection and Safety at Sprouts Farmers Market, where he oversees safety and the asset protection operations for more than 480 stores across 25 states.  In this role, he leads cross-funtional teams and coordinates the company's Crisis Management Team, helping to ensure a secure, resilient, and efficient environment for team members, customer, and overall business operations.

Forest LaBruzzo is a seasoned corporate security executive with expertise in risk mitigation, crisis management, and safeguarding organizational assets. As Senior Vice President at First Citizens Bank, he leads strategic initiatives to enhance security programs and protect operations nationwide. A Certified Protection Professional (CPP), Forest has held leadership roles at BBVA and Regions Bank, driving innovative solutions and fostering a culture of safety and operational excellence. 

Brent Boekestein, based in Silicon Valley, leads OpenEye’s Enterprise team. Prior to that, he co-founded Vintra, an AI-powered video analytics company that was used by multiple Fortune 100 companies and the US Government prior to its acquisition by OpenEye and Alarm.com in April of 2023.   Brent has delivered over two dozen talks globally on the Internet of Things and artificial intelligence, most recently at GSX. He holds an MSc from the University of Manchester and is a co-author of two patents in the field of computer vision. 

Michael Suppe, LPC, is a recognized leader in retail asset protection with more than 25 years of experience, including 17 years in the convenience store industry. As Director of Asset Protection at Casey’s, he oversees strategies that reduce Total Retail Loss, enhance safety, and protect organizational assets across a growing network of stores. Prior to his retail career, Michael served 10 years in law enforcement, specializing in investigations and risk mitigation—experience that laid the foundation for his expertise in security and compliance. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and Criminal Justice and maintains his Loss Prevention Certified (LPC) credential. Michael is passionate about leveraging analytics, operational efficiencies, and cross-functional collaboration to align safety and profitability. He actively contributes to industry advancement through his roles on the RILA Asset Protection Advisory Board and the LPRC Operational Excellence Working Group, helping shape best practices and innovation in the asset protection field.

Rick has been with At Home over 12 years and has seen the company grow from 58 to over 222 stores. He leads the Loss Prevention, Safety and Business Continuity/Crisis Management functions for the organization. Rick is a member of the Loss Prevention Research Council (LPRC) Board of Advisors and Fellow, is active on the Axis Communications Retail advisory Board and the LP Magazine Editorial Board. Additionally, Rick participates on the RILA AP leaders’ group and Board of Advsors. He has over 25 years of loss prevention and risk management experience.

Jeremy Roberson is the Regional Investigation Manager for Lowe’s , where he supports more than 100 Lowe’s locations across Kentucky and Tennessee. In this role, he leads regional efforts focused on internal theft and organized retail crime, overseeing case identification, investigative strategy, and case resolution. Jeremy brings more than 25 years of retail experience, having joined Lowe’s in 2001. Throughout his tenure, he has held several leadership positions across store operations and asset protection, including Store Manager, District Asset Protection Manager, and Investigator. These roles have provided him with a broad operational perspective and deep expertise in retail investigations. 

Tony Paixão is a seasoned investigative strategist with experience across local and federal law enforcement, corporate asset protection, and behavioral threat assessment. He currently serves as Vice President of Investigative Platforms at Verensics, where he applies evidence-based methodologies and psychological frameworks to help develop human intelligence collection technologies. Tony has led major curriculum overhauls in the investigative interviewing space, developed investigative interview training for global agencies/organizations, and regularly speaks on the intersection of human behavior, decision-making, and intelligence collection. Tony earned his masters degree in forensic psychology through Arizona State University, and is currently pursuing his doctorate in clinical psychology at Midwestern University.

Shaili Jain, M.D., is a psychiatrist, PTSD specialist, and Adjunct Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University School of Medicine. A Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association, her work focuses on the science and lived experience of trauma, and on expanding compassionate, evidence-based care for those affected by it. Drawing on over two decades of clinical work with trauma survivors, Dr. Jain brings a rare blend of scientific insight and deeply human storytelling to her writing and speaking. She is the author of The Unspeakable Mind: Stories of Trauma and Healing from the Frontlines of PTSD Science, a powerful exploration of how trauma shapes the brain, body, and spirit, and how healing becomes possible. Her work illuminates the complexity of trauma while offering hope, understanding, and a path toward recovery.

Vic Jacinto currently works as the IKEA U.S. Safety & Security Manager. He has worked in the Retail Loss Prevention Industry since 1991 and has been with IKEA for 25 years. Before joining IKEA, he worked in Loss Prevention at Neiman Marcus and Macy’s. Before that, Vic worked in sales and support positions at other small retailers. IKEA is a global retailer with U.S. sales of over $5 Billion, over 60 million store visitors per year to 70 retail locations, over 450 million online visits, and 16,000 U.S. co-workers. His responsibilities at IKEA include all things related to occupational & workplace safety or physical security, and his team supports 85 U.S. Units (Retail Stores, Plan & Order Points, Distribution Centers, Offices) in their efforts to reduce risk as part of the Business Risk & Compliance team. He’s a San Francisco native and has spent almost all his time in California, currently living in the Sacramento area.

Sharjeel (Serge) Ahmad, serves as the Head of Global Asset Protection, Safety, and Security Operations at Wayfair, where he leads enterprise strategies focused on protecting people, assets, and brand integrity across retail and corporate environments. He is recognized for elevating asset protection into a strategic business function, building high-performing teams, and driving disciplined risk management through strong cross-functional alignment. Serge is regarded as a forward-thinking industry leader who brings clarity, discipline, and strategic insight to complex, high-growth environments.

Matthew McCray is an Assistant Attorney General at the Arizona Attorney General’s Office. He received his undergraduate degree from Northern Arizona University and his JD from the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law. He graduated in 2014 and started at the Pima County Attorney’s Office before moving to the Attorney General’s Office in 2019. In his current position, Matthew is responsible for prosecuting Organized Retail Crimes, including Organized Retail Theft and Cargo Theft, throughout Arizona as part of the Arizona Attorney General’s Organized Retail Theft Task Force

Debbie Ho is a senior investigations leader with over 20 years of experience combating organized retail crime.  As Senior Manager of Global Investigations at Walmart Inc., she leads complex ORC investigations throughout California and partners closely with law enforcement and industry stakeholders.  Debbie also serves on the boards of Los Angeles Retail Crime Association (LAORCA) and San Diego Organized Retail Crime Alliance (SDORCA), contributing to collaborative, intelligence‑driven approaches to retail crime prevention.

Steve Fahey leads Retail Strategy for Motorola Solutions, bringing over 25 years of experience in retail leadership across Asset Protection, Store Operations, Supply Chain and Real Estate. Formerly VP of Asset Protection at Nordstrom and Bloomingdale’s, also serving in SVP roles for both Bebe Stores and New York & Company, Steve now helps retailers implement integrated, tech-driven solutions to enhance safety, security, and efficiency. He also has served on advisory boards for the RILA, LPRC NRF and LP Magazine.

Scott Cornell, CRO, Transportation, Crime & Theft Specialist, Logistiq, has been in the Transportation Insurance Industry for 25yrs recently being named to the “Top 100 Insurance Executives” list for 2025. Prior to Logistiq Scott lead the Transportation Division at Travelers Insurance where he worked 25yrs building an innovative and industry recognized brand of quality and customer service that brought new standards to the industry. Scott led the effort in creating the first ever fully dedicated cargo theft unit housed within an insurance carrier in [2005], known as the Special Investigations Group (SIG). He is also the lead and co-inventor of multiple patented processes for methods and systems that provide customized risk mitigation and recovery solutions to insurance customers. He has more than 30 years’ experience conducting investigations specializing in cargo theft and transportation, internal theft, embezzlement, and corporate investigations. Scott regularly partners with law enforcement and cargo task forces nationwide and has been invited to the White House Economic Counsel to advise on the issues of cargo theft, supply chain security and its impact on the economy. He has testified for the Congressional Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Supporting Cargo Theft Legislative Efforts and has worked directly with the DOT and FMCSA in their efforts to minimize Criminal Strategic Theft Efforts across the supply chain. Currently Scott serves as the Chairman of the Transported Asset Protection Association, Americas chapter, (TAPA) a nonprofit organization that is the largest global organization dedicated to supply chain security standards and education. He currently also serves on the TIA Cargo Fraud Task Force.

Jared Kosina is a public safety strategist and advisor with deep expertise in real-time crime center operations, security technology, and multi-agency coordination. He serves as an Advisor to the National Real-Time Crime Center Association (NRTCCA), supporting agencies and private sector partners in building collaborative, intelligence-driven security frameworks. With a background that spans municipal law enforcement technology programs and private security innovation, Jared focuses on bridging the gap between public safety and enterprise stakeholders. His work emphasizes ethical data sharing, situational awareness, and the operational design of next-generation crime prevention infrastructure.

Captain Ian White of the Campbell Police Department is a 23-year law enforcement executive and graduate of the FBI National Academy. He currently leads the Specialized Enforcement Division, overseeing investigations, traffic enforcement, and enterprise-level technology initiatives including the Real-Time Crime Center (RTCC), Drone as First Responder, and public safety camera systems. Captain White has led major modernization efforts including RMS implementation, body-worn camera deployment, mobile connectivity upgrades, fleet video systems, and multiple initiatives focused on transforming paper-based workflows into fully digitized, optimized processes. In 2025, his agency was recognized by the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) for leadership in public-private cooperation based on its innovative RTCC partnerships. He was also the recipient of the 2025 FBINAA Science and Innovation Award. His work centers on responsible AI integration, strong data governance, and scalable modernization strategies that enhance operational effectiveness while reinforcing transparency and community trust.

Vic Jacinto currently works as the IKEA U.S. Safety & Security Manager. He has worked in the Retail Loss Prevention Industry since 1991 and has been with IKEA for 25 years. Before joining IKEA, he worked in Loss Prevention at Neiman Marcus and Macy’s. Before that, Vic worked in sales and support positions at other small retailers. IKEA is a global retailer with U.S. sales of over $5 Billion, over 60 million store visitors per year to 70 retail locations, over 450 million online visits, and 16,000 U.S. co-workers. His responsibilities at IKEA include all things related to occupational & workplace safety or physical security, and his team supports 85 U.S. Units (Retail Stores, Plan & Order Points, Distribution Centers, Offices) in their efforts to reduce risk as part of the Business Risk & Compliance team. He’s a San Francisco native and has spent almost all his time in California, currently living in the Sacramento area.

Amy Barnes is a leadership advisor and former executive with over 30 years of experience leading teams in fast-paced, high-pressure environments through numerous acquisitions. She is effective in helping leaders turn good intentions into clear, actionable leadership commitments that build trust, accountability, and stronger team performance. Amy’s HEART-Based leadership approach emphasizes empathy, consistency, and ownership - equipping professionals to lead with clarity and purpose, especially during times of change and challenge. She has led teams through complex global operational disruptions including COVID and multiple natural disasters while staying focused on the people behind the work. Today, Amy works with organizations and emerging leaders to strengthen leadership effectiveness, align teams, and create cultures where people take ownership and ultimately thrive.

David Lund is the Executive Director of the International Association of Interviewers and a staff instructor with Wicklander-Zulawski & Associates, LLC. In the second act of his career, he is committed to developing professionals, championing ethical practices, and advancing excellence in investigative interviewing. Over nearly 35 years in retail, David built a distinguished career in leadership, security, and investigations with organizations including Macy’s, Inc., Ralph Lauren, and DICK’S Sporting Goods. He retired from DICK’S in 2024 after 18 years, most recently serving as Vice President of Loss Prevention. From his early days as a store detective to leading enterprise-level security and investigative functions, David has overseen executive protection, global investigations, and strategic asset protection initiatives spanning North America, Europe, and Asia. A respected voice in the profession, David has contributed his expertise through service with RILA’s Asset Protection Leaders Council and the National Retail Federation Loss Prevention Council. He continues to support the industry through board service with the Loss Prevention Foundation, the Loss Prevention Research Council, Loss Prevention Magazine, and Goodwill of Southwestern Pennsylvania.

Brett L. Ward, CFI - Senior Vice President, Instructor, Consultant for Wicklander - Zulawski & Assoc. Brett currently runs both the Public and Private Sector Divisions for WZ, managing 280+ clients for the organization. During his 28-year career with WZ, Brett has led over 950 seminars on Interview and Interrogation Techniques for private, law enforcement and government entities. Brett graduated from the University of Central Oklahoma in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and received a BS degree in Finance - Business Administration, and currently lives in Cypress, Texas.