Food Industry Conference Focuses On Security, Loss Prevention

The 2024 Mid-Atlantic Loss Prevention Conference and Expo, which was held Oct. 30 at the Forsgate Country Club in Monroe, New Jersey, addressed the most pressing security issues in the food industry.

The annual event – hosted in partnership with the Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association, the New Jersey Food Council, the New Jersey Retail Merchants Association and the Delaware Food Industry Council – brought together top professionals from the food and retail industries to explore the latest strategies, innovations and technologies in loss prevention, emphasizing the importance of collaboration and resilience in an evolving market.

Other topics focused on pertinent loss-prevention issues retailers face, including card skimming, gift card tampering, organized retail crime and potential civil unrest stemming from the Presidential election.

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“This event is the ideal opportunity for the retail loss prevention community to tackle progressive security issues, share information on the latest security trends and network with law enforcement officials and partners,” said NJFC President and CEO Linda Doherty, noting the list of speakers represented the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the New York Police Department Financial Crimes Task Force and the New Jersey State Police.

“We are learning strategies to safeguard businesses and our communities. Now is the time for us to build bridges and ensure a community collaboration that fosters a safer future for Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania residents.”

Ed Rohena of ACME/Albertsons MidAtlantic Division, who chaired the conference for the second year, led the annual presentation of the professional awards. Conference organizers recognized three retail loss-prevention professionals and four law enforcement partners.

The winners are:

• The 2024 New Jersey Food Council Mid-Atlantic Loss Prevention Professional Award went to Laura Lasko of Wakefern Food Corp. She is a corporate retail asset protection manager, bringing more than 16 years of diverse experience in the retail grocery industry. She develops and implements preventative and compliance-based programs to safeguard company assets across Wakefern stores.
• The 2024 Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association’s Loss Prevention Professional Award was given to Wade Hess, asset protection manager for Wegmans Food Markets. His leadership enhances customer and staff safety, and his ability to work with law enforcement, as an ambassador for food retailers, has been invaluable. Hess also helped spearhead the push for Pennsylvania’s organized retail crime law, which went into effect in July.
• The 2024 New Jersey Retail Merchants Association Loss Prevention Professional Award was presented to Carolyn Doran, an organized retail crimes investigations manager for Ulta Beauty. She is known as an effective investigator with the high standards of integrity. She is also a board member for the Metro Organized Retail Crime Alliance.

Conference planners chose to honor four law enforcement officers whose work serves as a blueprint for effective public/private partnerships and the building of relationships with the retail community.

The recipients are:

• Mount Holly Police Sgt. Scott Bayley, who has served the Burlington County community for 25 years, investigated a significant theft of equipment at Albertsons Mid Atlantic Division, affecting operations in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Bayley made an arrest, recovering all stolen equipment.
• Cherry Hill Det. Robert Daniello, a 23-year veteran, has played a role in advancing his department’s retail theft consortium, which facilitates discussions on shared criminal activities and operational challenges related to theft. The detective serves in the Special Investigations Unit, comprising plainclothes and undercover detectives. Since 2023, the unit has also been tasked with organized retail crime cases. Daniello recently conducted a two-day sting that targeted organized retail theft, netting 38 arrests and the recovery of about $10,000.
• West Windsor Police Chief Robert Garofalo, a 35-year police veteran, was honored for his leadership, community service and dedication to public safety. His Operation Lighthouse social media initiative has become a nationally recognized model for real-time information sharing, enhancing public safety far beyond traditional law enforcement.
• Stacy Irving, senior advisor for Homeland Security programs and strategic partnerships at the Delaware Valley Intelligence Center, has contributed to the safety and security of staff and customers across Philadelphia and the surrounding region. She has coordinated such projects as the Philadelphia Police Department’s Retail Theft Initiative, that is being implemented citywide and has resulted in more repeat offenders being arrested and prosecuted for retail theft. She manages hundreds of partnerships with retail stakeholders across Philadelphia, each with their own priorities and concerns.

“Events like the Mid-Atlantic Loss Prevention Conference are essential for bringing together leaders and exchanging ideas,” said Alex Baloga, president and CEO of PFMA.

The 2025 Mid-Atlantic Loss Prevention Conference is scheduled for Oct. 29 at Forsgate Country Club in Monroe Township, New Jersey.