5 minute read
CERTIFICaTION
Retailers Benefit from Solution Providers Scholarships
applications due in February
2011is already shaping up to be full of opportunities for retailers to expand their education and loss prevention skills with the Loss Prevention Foundation (LPF). Vector Security recently announced they would increase their LPQualified (LPQ) and LPCertified (LPC) scholarships for retailers from twenty last year to thirty this year. The scholarships include all course and exam certification fees. This increase was primarily due to the overwhelming response and interest they received from retailers about completing their certification through LPF.
Vector Security Increases Scholarships
“When we began our scholarship program three years ago, we did so with two clear intentions in mind,” said Michael T. Grady, executive vice president of Vector Security. “First, we wanted to support an educational process that would create additional value to the LP profession. Second, we wanted to offer LP professionals a funding source to achieve either certification, without the need for the funding to come from them personally or from their employers
“Launching any professional certification program requires a lot of funding, time, and effort,” Grady explained. “Many fail due to lack of sincere continuous support and interest. Knowing the long-term value of this endeavor, we wanted to continue to support the program in any way possible to help guarantee its viability and prove its worth in the eyes of the retail industry.”
“Mike and his team have worked hard to promote and help validate our programs,” said Gene Smith, president of the Loss Prevention Foundation. “They have been there from the start and are a remarkable example of how a solution provider who serves the retail LP industry can make a difference to the people who work within it. Vector gets it. They realize that today’s LP professionals are expected to be sharp, technically savvy business managers, leaders, educators, social scientists, accountants, statisticians, high-level executives, and, of course, investigators.”
by Amber Virgillo
Virgillo is a contributing editor for LossPrevention. She can be reached at 770-335-4891 or via email at AmberV@LPportal.com.
Scholarship Recipients
Several retailers have taken advantage of the scholarships from Vector as well as from other solution provider partners of LPF, including LexisNexis, ADT, eBay, KPMG, IBM, Iverify, InstaKey, Stanley, The Zellman Group, Agilence, Security Resources, Wonderlic, and Palmer, Reifler & Associates.
Jeffrey Levitt, Panera Bread. “I am very impressed when a private organization looks beyond increasing profits and supports an organization like LPF and identifies individuals like myself, who are not even current Vector customers, to assist them in furthering their personal development,” said Jeffrey Levitt, CPP, senior manager, asset protection for Panera Bread/Paradise Bakery. “I believe this has long lasting impact on the industry. While I have not yet completed the LPC, I have communicated within my organization that I received the scholarship and proudly advertise, even on my business card that I am a member of LPF.
Adrian Nowalk, Radio Shack. “Being an LPQ Vector scholarship recipient has greatly helped in my career,” said Adrian Nowalk, CFI, regional LP manager for Radio Shack.
“I am very dedicated to my education. This certification has added to my knowledge base tremendously. I believe that this certification did play a role in acquiring my new position with RadioShack. By showing my dedication to my education, I believe that it has showed my employer my overall dedication to my career. Finally, I truly believe that the LPQ certification has added greatly to me becoming a well rounded business professional.”
Shawn Abernathy, Target. “Today’s retail environment for the asset protection and loss prevention professional is ever-changing and presents new challenges and opportunities,” said Shawn Abernathy, investigations team leader, Group 397, Target. “The LPC program offers enhanced education and skill development for today’s loss prevention personnel. My experience with the LPC scholarship program has been outstanding.
“I was honored to receive a Vector Security LPC scholarship this year,” continued Abernathy. “I am taking full advantage of the in-depth and expert training. The online course allows for self-paced learning and is fantastic for the full-time professional. It has been a great investment of my time and has enhanced my core competencies in my field. Through the course, I have expanded my knowledge of the business and been challenged to consider new perspectives, which have allowed me to be more effective in my current role. By obtaining the LPC certification, I will demonstrate my commitment to further education and understanding that is critical to our profession. This is a great investment in your education and will definitely propel you to greater career opportunities in the future.”
Commitment to the Industry
Other solution providers that are dedicated to the loss prevention industry have been instrumental in the advancement of loss prevention practitioners’ careers, including ADT. “There is no better vehicle for showing a vendors’ commitment to the loss prevention industry than sponsoring a young talented person with a Foundation scholarship,” said Kevin Lynch, executive director at ADT.
“Everyone whose career is tied into retail loss prevention has a stake in increasing the level of professionalism within the industry,” agreed Vector’s Grady. “Better educated people can bring about greater results, create better LP programs, and even better deploy new LP technologies within their organizations. Curbing losses due to shrinkage is the only free money left on retailers’ tables. They don’t need to discount it, promote it, advertise it, or stay open late to create it. Better educated and trained LP departments are the reason why that money can fall right to the bottom line.”
Retailers can apply for Vector’s 2011 scholarship program by visiting Vector’s web site and through the Loss Prevention Foundation. Applications will be accepted throughout February 2011 and the winners will be announced in March. Inquires can also be made directly to Vector Security to Debbie Fisher at 724-779-8810 extension 1206 or by email at dkfisher@vectorsecurity.com.
We Do Retail
And We Do It Well!
In today's difficult economy, finding a partner who provides high quality service with value based pricing is a top priority for all retailers. At Bass Security, we have worked hard to achieve this motto for over 35 years.
Retailers in North America have found that whether they need mechanical security solutions for locks, keys, safes and panic hardware, or electronic security solutions for CCTV, EAS, Alarms, and Biometrics, price and quality are important to them. At Bass Security, we are dedicated to delivering value pricing along with high quality service.
sales@bass-security.com www.bass-security.com
Your Single Source for Mechanical and Electronic Security Services
