NRF PROTECT Awards

Celebrating retail security excellence

The NRF PROTECT Awards stand as the pinnacle of recognition for those who champion retail safety in loss prevention, asset protection and cybersecurity. It's not just an honor; it's a celebration of exceptional dedication and unparalleled contributions to the industry.

Help us celebrate our successes and recognize the hard work and talent within our ranks.

Awards will be presented at the event on June 24 at 5:15 p.m. If you have any questions, please contact programs@nrf.com.

Read the press release about the 2025 honorees and take a look back at the 2024 honorees.

The NRF Retail Cybersecurity Leadership Award recognizes an individual’s cumulative contributions to advancing the state of cybersecurity within the retail industry. Recipients are leaders in the retail cybersecurity community, working to strengthen information sharing and collaboration on cybersecurity and fraud threats. This award is hand-selected by NRF.

The 2025 recipient is Diane Brown, Vice President of IT Risk Management at Ulta Beauty. Brown joined the company in 2008 and has led Ulta Beauty’s efforts to develop and expand its information security team. She has been a member of the NRF IT Security Council since its founding in 2014 and has served as chair since 2022. She also currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the Retail and Hospitality ISAC (RH-ISAC).

Retail Cybersecurity Leadership Honorees

  • 2025: Diane Brown

  • 2024: Rich Agostino

  • 2023: Cy Fenton

The Ring of Excellence Award honors exemplary leaders in asset protection and loss prevention. As leaders within their profession, recipients have had a profound impact on the retail industry, dedicating their professional careers to safeguarding their colleagues, customers and retail stores across the country. Recipients of this award are nominated by their peers in the industry.

2025 recipients:

  • Tony D’Onofrio, President of Sensormatic Solutions. A globally recognized leader in loss prevention innovation with more than three decades of experience, D’Onofrio has worked with the largest retailers and top industry leaders throughout his career. He advocates for combating retail loss and organized retail crime through disruptive technologies and solutions, along with stronger laws to create a safer and more secure retail environment.

  • Paul Jones, Senior Vice President of Sales for Gatekeeper Systems. An industry expert with more than four decades of experience in asset protection for top retail brands, Jones helped launch eBay and PayPal’s PROACT loss prevention program. He was instrumental in launching the Loss Prevention Foundation and currently serves as vice chairman, mentoring the next generation of loss prevention talent and advancing the profession through innovation, education and collaboration.

  • Randy Meadows, who most recently served as Senior Vice President of Loss Prevention at Kohl’s where he retired after 18 years with the company. An industry expert with four decades of experience in loss prevention and safety, he has held leadership roles at Hollywood Entertainment, Mervyn’s, Nike and Stage Stores. He also served as a member of the NRF Loss Prevention Council. His strategic initiatives have delivered measurable shrink reduction, profit improvement and people development. Meadows remains active in the industry, serving as both a mentor and strategic advisor.

  • Kathleen Smith, CFI, who retired in 2022 as Vice President of Asset Protection from Safeway, where she led loss prevention efforts for over 2400 stores, 33 manufacturing plants and 20 distribution centers. With more than four decades of experience in security management, asset protection and law enforcement, she previously served as a member of the NRF Loss Prevention Council and the Loss Prevention Foundation. Smith has also served on the advisory board for Center for Interviewer Standards and Assessment IAI (CFI) and has also participated in the Loss Prevention Research Council.

Ring of Excellence Honorees

  • 2025: Tony D'Onofrio, Paul Jones, Randy Meadows, Kathleen Smith

  • 2024: Gary Johnson, Mike Lamb, Walter Palmer, John Velke

  • 2023: Read Hayes, Joan Manson, Chad McIntosh, Chuck Miller, Keith White

  • 2022: Van Carney, Alisa Dart

  • 2019: Gus Downing

  • 2018: Bob MacLea

  • 2017: Gene Smith

  • 2016: Joseph LaRocca

  • 2015: Richard Mellor

  • 2014: Daniel Doyle

  • 2013: George Luciano

  • 2011: John Hegan

  • 2010: Jim Lee

  • 2009: Sandy Katz, Gary Manson, George Slicho

  • 2008: Robert Barry, James Bridges, Shelley Connors, Ben Guffy, Robert Ralickli, Joe Roessier, Doug Wicklander, Fred Wilson, Dave Zulawski

  • 2007: John Christman, Richard Hollinger, David Myers, King Rogers, Lew Shealy