RILA
Announces 2013 College Student Program
Program offers scholarship and
collaboration opportunities
with top industry executives
Arlington, VA – The Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA)
announced its 2013 RILA College Student Program, offering
undergraduate and masters students a scholarship to the 2013
Retail Asset Protection Conference and a competitive
advantage over their peers through industry networking and
best-in-class educational opportunities. Sponsoring
retailers will cover students’ attendance at RILA’s 2013
Retail Asset Protection Conference and offer personalized
education and mentoring.
The groundbreaking program affords students the opportunity
to learn about asset protection from experts in the field
and access to nearly 1,000 retail executive in attendance at
the conference. Students will also receive a scholarship to
complete the Loss Prevention Foundation’s (LPF) Loss
Prevention Qualified (LPQ) certification course and
examination, a one-year complimentary membership to LPF and
complimentary enrollment in the Academic and Retail
Partnership Program that guarantees students who have earned
the LPQ certification a job interview with one or more
participating retailers.
“This program offers students unprecedented exposure to the
retail industry and presents them with opportunities they
don’t get by sitting in the college classroom,” said Lisa
LaBruno, senior vice president of retail operations for RILA.
“It’s a win-win; mentors are connected to talented young
people who are passionate about pursuing a career in retail
and students get to showcase their skills to key decision
makers at some of the largest and most progressive employers
in the U.S.”
In the months leading up to the Retail Asset Protection
Conference, students will work with corporate and store
level personnel from their mentor companies to complete a
research project, culminating in a presenation during a
breakout session at the conference. This year’s topic is
titled, "Customer Rights, Customer Service and Asset
Protection in a Mobile Point-of-Sale World."
“Given the industry’s focus on the risks associated with
emerging POS technologies, this is a timely and relevant
research project that should lead to some interesting
insights,” said LaBruno.
“LPF supports RILA’s efforts to attract aspiring graduates
into the Asset Protection/Loss Prevention profession. Their
college program has evolved into a magnificent opportunity
for retailers to identify talented students," said Gene
Smith, president of the Loss Prevention Foundation and
sponsor of the 2013 College Student Program.
Student mentors participating in the 2013 RILA College
Student Program include:
• 7-Eleven, Inc.
• Abercrombie & Fitch, Co.
• Aspect Loss Prevention, a division of Verisk Crime Analytics
• Axis Communications, Inc.
• Big Lots Stores, Inc.
• Cabela’s Inc.
• Dicks’s Sporting Goods, Inc.
• Hart Systems, LLC
• J.C. Penny Company, Inc.
• Loss Prevention Foundation
• Lowe’s Companies, Inc.
• The Home Depot, Inc.
• Walgreen Co.
• Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
Students from University of Texas McCombs School of
Business, University of Florida, University of Georgia,
Mississippi College and Sam Houston State University are
participating in the program.
The
2013 Retail Asset Protection Conference will take place
April 28-May 1 in Orlando, FL.
Contact:
Chrissa Benson
(703) 600-2032
chrissa.benson@rila.org
|