| Keith R. Aubele CPP, LPP President & CEO
Keith Aubele is recognized as one of the most innovative, creative and results driven Loss Prevention Professional in the industry with over 25 years of extensive senior leadership experience in retail loss prevention/safety and risk management and general retail operations.
His extensive consulting experience as leader of the Retail Loss Prevention Group has enabled Keith to work with some of the most dynamic retailers and security/risk management suppliers in the industry. He has served as a subject matter expert with Cap Gemini, one of the leading consulting firms in the world.
A former Senior Executive with The Home Depot and Wal-Mart Stores, Keith has established himself as a leader in the retail industry, with a proven track record of success. His leadership at the Retail Loss Prevention Group, Inc. has shown exceptional growth and customer impact for the past 8 years.
At The Home Depot, as the Corporate Vice President of Loss Prevention, Keith led the team that lowered The Home Depot's shrink to the lowest in the history of the company. In one year alone, Keith's team combined to lower shrink and implement a historic refund policy that saved the added over $600 million to the bottom line! Keith was credited for implementing key loss prevention organizational enhancements, along with proven shrink reduction processes that continue to provide impact today!
While at The Home Depot, Keith was recognized as a High Succession Candidate in the Officer Development Program. He was awarded the highest possible evaluation scores offered to officers during his tenure at The Home Depot. He was selected as a Six Sigma Cluster Champion, and assisted in the development of key Six Sigma programs for the organization. His leadership contributed to substantial savings to The Home Depot, while lowering the operating budget by 2 million dollars each year. He oversaw a budget in excess of 80 million dollars, and led a group of over 1000 members of management and over 1000 hourly associates.
During his long career at Wal-Mart Stores Incorporated, Keith started as a District Loss Prevention Supervisor, and climbed through the ranks all the way to Director of Loss Prevention. His leadership and guidance assisted the company to deliver the lowest shrink results in the entire industry. As Director of Loss Prevention for the Supercenter Division, Keith's team was responsible for lowering grocery shrink to the lowest in the history of Wal-Mart through extensive process evaluation, program development and targeted implementation. He had responsibility for 2 Wal-Mart Store divisions totaling over 1300 stores nationwide. While at Walmart, Keith was selected as one of 16 members of management to be placed on the initial "Fast-Track" program and with 2 other high succession leaders, developed the Walmart Neighborhood Market concept which is still a viable vehicle for Walmart today.
Keith Aubele holds the professional designation CPP, Certified Protection Professional administered by the American Society of Industrial Security (ASIS), and LPP, Loss Prevention Professional.
Keith holds a Masters of Science Degree in Business Management from Troy State University, and a Bachelors Degree in Criminal Justice Administration from Missouri Southern State University.
Keith has led loss prevention organizations focused on discount retailing, home improvement retailing, international operations, and grocery and supercenter chains.
Keith has the honor of being "field promoted" by Mr. Sam Walton, founder of Wal-Mart Stores Inc, and later was placed on the "Fast Track Leadership Program", by then CEO David Glass.
Keith has also instructed at the college level, developing and teaching loss prevention & Security Management upper-division courses. He has presented at major industry conventions, has written over 75 articles on loss prevention and safety, and broadcast over 80 shows educating and informing people on retail safety and loss prevention issues. He is a dynamic speaker, and writer.
Keith was awarded the prestigious Aegis Award in 2001,and the Telly Award in 2002, for Broadcast Excellence with his informational and educational Satellite Broadcast Program, IN FOCUS.
Keith is a 6 year active duty veteran of the USAF, and spent 6 years as a law enforcement officer. He sits on several non-profit boards and believes in giving back to the community.
Richard Wells, Senior Advisor
Richard Wells has led a distinguished career in the field of Retail Loss Prevention, Judicial Governance and Federal Government Service. As the Director of Loss Prevention for Walmart Stores Richard served a stellar 28 year career sculpting the retail loss prevention division into the progressive and successful platform that it enjoys today.
Richard also managed cutting edge technologies such as an in-house check collection organization collecting over 50 million bottom line dollars, and leading the very first Organized Retail Crime task force established in retail. This dedicated team called themselves the ITF, and were responsible for some of the largest retail organized crime cases seen by the federal government.
After serving the LP division for 20+ years, Richard served as Senior Legal Council for Walmart Stores, Inc. During this time Richard oversaw criminal and civil cases filed against Walmart.
Richard has also held the positions of Municipal Judge of Washington County, Arkansas, and City Attorney for Fayetteville, Arkansas.
His tenure as a Special Agent for the Federal Bureau of Investigations paved the way for his ability to impact the loss prevention and legal aspects of a retailer's needs. Richard also served his country as a member of the US Army.
Armed with a JD degree from the University of Arkansas, Richard is prepared to continue his stellar retail career as a Senior Advisor for the Retail Loss Prevention Group.
A dedicated family man with a passion for love, life and photography, Richard Wells brings an incredible resume and incredible personal and business integrity to his role with the RLPG.
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