The NRF’s Loss Prevention Council’s Ring of Excellence Award is the premier recognition program for loss prevention professionals. The award recognizes outstanding leaders who throughout their career have undoubtedly the character and contributions associated with leadership, mentorship and development, industry growth and, above all, a contribution that has furthered the LP/AP profession. The defining quality among these leaders is that the industry would not be what it is today without their contributions. To maintain the integrity of this prestigious recognition, it is essential that the individuals nominated be of the same caliber.
Induction into the Ring of Excellence is not limited to the members of the National Retail Federation but may be given to anyone who makes a meaningful career-long contribution to the industry.
Distinguished achievement may include, but is not limited to, significant contributions of lasting value to the overall industry; the leadership role provided to the industry; development of original ideas and techniques for use in the industry; and outstanding service to other organizations serving the industry.
Current members of the NRF LP Council cannot be nominated.
Nominations may be made posthumously.
The following criteria are utilized in evaluating each nominee:
A career supporting retail loss prevention or asset protection with contributions of: 1) Outstanding leadership, 2) Development of new ideas, techniques, programs or technologies, 3) Excellence in service to the organizations they served, and 4) Contributions of lasting value to the profession and the industry overall.
The nominee has served the industry beyond their individual organization, supporting the growth of the profession and retail industry through engagement, thought leadership, representation and actions of an industry leader.
The nominee may have served in the capacity of a practitioner, industry partner or “pioneer” with contributions in one or more of these capacities throughout their career. Their contributions have helped to shape innovation, advancement or growth in how our industry engages and supports those within our profession.
Nomination forms must meet the above criteria, supported by examples showing the individual’s contributions to the industry, not a singular organization or entity.
Completing the nomination form requires that you provide specific information and details about the nominee’s contributions to the industry. As you complete the specific information, consider the following;
How has the individual contributed to the industry and what is the nominee’s single most important contribution to loss prevention or asset protection? What is the significance of that contribution to others?
How has the individual represented the industry beyond their individual organization(s)? Discuss involvement and achievements involving associations, councils, boards and committees within the profession or across the industry. Did they hold specific leadership roles? Did they publish any articles, best practices or engage in developing industry standards?
What can you tell us about the individual as a person or contributions made to society outside of the retail industry? What is special about the character of the nominee? How do others describe the individual?
The nomination form has a “Nominee Category” section that describes three (3) specific categories of their engagement with our industry. Please review the following to best place your nominee in their appropriate category.
Practitioner: The nominee spent the majority of their career as a loss prevention or asset protection leader of a retail organization(s), and/or the main contributions to the industry in which you are basing their nomination are from time as a loss prevention or asset protection leader of a retail organization(s). Contributions of this individual must go beyond their achievements to a retail organization and include industry engagement and leadership.
Industry Partner / Academia: The nominee has specific contributions and achievements as a solution provider, consultant or service provider, or engaged in research and academics involving the retail loss prevention industry. Nominations must include specific achievements where this individual has gone above and beyond, provided new technologies, innovation or helped retailers to think differently and contributed to the success of the industry.
Pioneer: There are those who throughout their entire career have undoubtably been viewed by retailers and industry partners as those that “shaped” the industry. This nominee’s contributions to the industry may have been viewed as “the first or the foremost” or “a new approach” where the industry as a whole recognizes their achievements as having brought the industry forward. Nominees within this category can be retailers, industry partners, academia or others who have supported the retail industry.
The Ring of Excellence winner will have their award presented on Tuesday, June 24 at 5:15 p.m. during the NRF PROTECT 2025 conference.