The Gate 15 Interview: RILA Perspective on Organized Retail Crime, plus Mama’s Meatballs, Country Music and Jersey Rock n’ Roll

27 December 2021

Please enjoy this episode of The Gate 15 Interview podcast on Anchor, Spotify, Apple, Google, as well as other locations accessible via the Anchor link or almost anywhere you listen to your favorite podcasts. 

In this episode of The Gate 15 Interview, Andy Jabbour speaks with two leaders from the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA), Ms. Lisa LaBruno, RILA’s Senior Executive Vice President of Retail Operations, and Mr. Michael Hanson, RILA’s Senior Executive Vice President of Public Affairs. The RILA “is the U.S. trade association for leading retailers. RILA partners with leading retailers to meet the challenges of a dynamic economy. Through collaboration and thought leadership, we advance ideas that foster free markets, competition, economic growth, and sustainability.” RILA on Twitter, @RILATweeets.

In the discussion we address:

  • The enduring threat of Organized Retail Crime (ORC)
  • Private sector activity relating to ORC
  • Private-public partnership and legislative action on ORC
  • RILA’s focus for 2022
  • Country music, meatballs, Springsteen, and more!

A few references mentioned in or relevant to our discussion include:

‘What is organized retail crime? Organized retail crime (ORC) refers to professional shoplifting or other theft occurring in retail stores. These criminals are increasingly turning to online marketplaces to quickly and discretely move mass quantities of stolen merchandise. Unfortunately, these criminal rings are growing more brazen and violent, putting the safety of customers and store employees in jeopardy.  Organized rings are often involved in other crimes within the community, including narcotics, money laundering and human trafficking.’ 

Buy Safe America, https://www.buysafeamerica.org/myth-vs-facts

Lisa LaBruno is RILA’s Senior Executive Vice President of Retail Operations.  In this role, LaBruno leads RILA’s efforts in the association’s key retail disciplines including asset protection, store operations, supply chain and e-commerce. She directs all research initiatives, educational programming for the annual LINK and Retail Asset Protection conferences, and executive networking to promote operational excellence within the industry. She has 30 years of relevant experience in both the public and private sector, including as an assistant prosecutor (Hudson County, NJ), in-house attorney at the Archdiocese of Newark and in-house attorney at The Home Depot and serves on the Board of Directors of the Loss Prevention Foundation.

Michael Hanson is RILA’s Senior Executive Vice President of Public Affairs, overseeing the Association’s government affairs and communications arms. Hanson is responsible for identifying the industry’s top public policy challenges and working with both leading retailers and key stakeholders to elevate the industry in Washington, DC and across the country. Hanson most recently served as chief public policy officer at Sabre, a leading travel technology company, where he led legislative and regulatory strategy at the local, state and federal level. Prior to joining Sabre, he served as vice president for government affairs at JCPenney, where he was a leading contributor in shaping RILA’s top public policy priorities.  Earlier in his career, Hanson was a partner with the D.C.-based government consulting firm, C2 Group and also served as chief of staff to U.S. Representative Sam Johnson, Texas.

Please enjoy this episode of The Gate 15 Interview podcast on Anchor, Spotify, Apple, Google, as well as other locations accessible via the Anchor link or almost anywhere you listen to your favorite podcasts. 

The Gate 15 Interview is a monthly interview between Gate 15’s founder and Managing Director, Andy Jabbour and guests from throughout the homeland security risk management community addressing a wide range of all-hazards topics and issues. Read more about Gate 15’s full podcast menu at our Podcast page. You can subscribe and enjoy all the Gate 15 Podcasts on Anchor, Apple, Spotify, Google, as well as other locations accessible from the Anchor link. Week-to-week, you can hear and learn more about our all-hazards threats, risks, mitigation and other issues impacting homeland security risk management from our team as well as our regular and special guests. The full podcast menu includes:

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  • Nerd Out! Security Panel Discussion, moderated by Dave Pounder, focuses on physical security topics including terrorism, extremism, hostile events, and other pertinent topics.
  • The Gate 15 Interview, is a monthly interview between Gate 15’s founder and Managing Director, Andy Jabbour and guests from throughout the homeland security risk management community addressing a wide range of all-hazards topics and issues.

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