GameStop CEO, Albuquerque Chief of Police to Speak at NRF Loss Prevention Conference & EXPO

For Immediate Release
Kathy Grannis (202)783-7971 or grannisk@nrf.com 
www.nrf.com/lp11  

GameStop CEO, Albuquerque Chief of Police to Speak at NRF Loss Prevention Conference & EXPO

Washington, March 14, 2011 – The National Retail Federation’s 2011 Loss Prevention Conference is pleased to announce J. Paul Raines, CEO of GameStop and Albuquerque Chief of Police Ray Shultz will address more than 2,600 retail loss prevention executives during the three-day event. Additionally, NRF has invited Janet Napolitano, Secretary of Homeland Security, to kick off this year’s Conference. The conference will take place June 13-15 at the Gaylord Texan Resort & Conference Center.

Raines and Shultz will open the conference at 8:30 a.m., Monday June 13. During the keynote, guests will hear Raines discuss how important it is to involve C-level executives in loss prevention efforts within the company. Shultz will recount his experiences within his community and across the country that have involved retail partnerships. The Secretary will share her insights on what the nation has in store for security and protecting the homeland in the decade to come. 

“Retail loss prevention issues spread far beyond the store or the parking lot,” said Joe LaRocca, Senior Asset Protection Advisor at NRF. “We are extremely honored to have such high-profile guests join our event this year, adding credibility and weight to the problem of organized and other types of retail crime and homeland security risks that exist throughout the country.” 

J. Paul Raines is Chief Executive Officer of GameStop, where he previously served as Chief Operating Officer from September 2008 to June 2010. Prior to joining GameStop, Raines spent eight years with Home Depot in various senior management positions and was responsible for more than 2,000 stores and $70 billion in sales activity. He also has extensive international expertise covering Latin America, Asia and Europe. 

Ray Schultz is the Chief of Police for Albuquerque, New Mexico Police Department.  Chief Schultz is a life-long law enforcement officer. Beginning his career with the Albuquerque Police Department as a patrol officer and assuming the role of Chief of Police in 2005. From the beginning, Chief Schultz initiated numerous new projects for the citizens of Albuquerque, including the Albuquerque Retail Assets Protection Association (ARAPA).  ARAPA is a model that many retailers and law enforcement partners throughout the country have used to start their regional efforts.

Janet Napolitano is the third and current United States Secretary of Homeland Security, serving in the administration of President Barack Obama. She is the fourth person to hold the position, which was created after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. A member of the Democratic Party, she was the 21st Governor of Arizona from 2003 to 2009. She was Arizona's third female governor, and the first woman to win re-election. Prior to her election as governor, she served as Attorney General of Arizona from 1999 to 2002. She is the first woman and the 23rd person to serve in that office. Napolitano is the 1977 Truman Scholar from New Mexico. Forbes ranked her as the 51st most powerful woman in 2009.

As the world's largest retail trade association and the voice of retail worldwide, the National Retail Federation's global membership includes retailers of all sizes, formats and channels of distribution as well as chain restaurants and industry partners from the U.S. and more than 45 countries abroad. In the U.S., NRF represents the breadth and diversity of an industry with more than 1.6 million American companies that employ nearly 25 million workers and generated 2010 sales of $2.4 trillion. www.nrf.com

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NRF is pleased to grant complimentary registration to editorial staff members of the press, as well as accredited retail analysts and bloggers. Contact Kathy Grannis to register for the 2011 Loss Prevention Conference & EXPO, (202) 626-8189 or grannisk@nrf.com

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