The Time Is Now! By Gene Smith, VP of The Loss Prevention Foundation

For years, many of us have dreamed about what is currently happening in our industry. Never before in the history of retail loss prevention has any organization ever attempted to develop an industry-wide certification program and a professional membership organization. It takes a tremendous amount of time, money, determination and involvement from retailers and vendors to successfully accomplish such a feat.

We are proud to announce that the retail loss prevention industry finally has its own membership organization, developed by retail loss prevention professionals for retail loss prevention professionals. What is also special about our organization is that it falls under the "not for profit" umbrella, governed by a board of directors that is comprised of leaders from the retail loss prevention industry. The Loss Prevention Foundation (LPF) is truly an organization for you, the retail loss prevention professional! It is one of the few times in our history when retail competitors have sat across from each other, put aside their differences and focused on what is truly important — elevating the educational level of this industry.

About Gene Smith
Smith is president of The Loss Prevention Foundation, a newly formed not-for-profit organization charged with the responsibility of building a certification and membership program. Smith was formerly president of the industry's largest executive search & consulting firm specializing in providing Human Resource solutions for the retail Loss Prevention, Safety and Audit industries. During the past fifteen-plus years, Smith 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.