Lara Larson
Portland,OR
Summary
Detail-oriented team player with strong organizational skills. Ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously with a high degree of accuracy. Skilled in fostering collaborative partnerships and implementing effective strategies to improve productivity.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
Work History
Regional Asset Protection Leader
Rite Aid
05.2022 - 02.2024
- Enhanced asset protection strategies by conducting thorough risk assessments and implementing effective security measures.
- Improved compliance with company policies and procedures through regular audits, identifying areas for improvement and ensuring corrective action was taken.
- Investigated incidents of theft, fraud, or suspicious activity, gathering evidence and working closely with law enforcement to resolve cases effectively.
- Led asset protection awareness campaigns within the organization, educating employees on their responsibilities in safeguarding company assets.
- Served as the primary point of contact for emergency response planning, coordinating efforts across departments to ensure seamless execution during crisis situations.
- Monitored trends in criminal activity affecting the retail industry, proactively adjusting strategies to address emerging threats to company assets.
- Reduced instances of theft and fraud by developing comprehensive training programs for employees on loss prevention techniques.
Regional Asset Protection Manager
Dollar Tree
03.2016 - 05.2022
- Enhanced overall asset protection by implementing effective security measures and loss prevention strategies.
- Reduced instances of theft by conducting regular audits, monitoring surveillance systems, and training staff on best practices.
- Improved inventory accuracy by overseeing regular cycle counts and addressing discrepancies in a timely manner.
- Collaborated with store management to develop and enforce policies for maintaining a safe and secure environment for employees and customers.
- Conducted thorough investigations into suspected cases of internal theft, resulting in the identification and remediation of vulnerabilities within the organization.
- Oversaw incident response efforts, coordinating resources effectively during emergency situations to minimize losses or damage sustained by the company.
- Built cross-functional relationships with business partners to reduce losses.
- Performed thorough cash audits and deposit investigations.
- Installed and maintained covert security equipment.
District Manager of Investigations
Macy's
04.2015 - 01.2016
- Responsible for driving the investigations program for 26 stores in local and remote markets through effective verbal and written communication.
- Reduced shortage within assigned stores through a focused effort on high value merchandise theft, fraud, and counterfeit cases.
- Built strong working relationships with store management, district and regional Asset Protection, Human Resources, Employee Relations, and Operations to drive sales and profit through strong communication with messages tailored to the audience. Able to communicate with all levels in the organization and supporting external partners.
Asset Protection Manager
Macy's
08.2009 - 03.2015
- Managed all Asset Protection functions within a dual-location store including Internal and External Investigations and apprehensions, Shortage, Safety and a team of Asset Protection Detectives.
- Drove internal investigations program through team ownership and accountability resulting in a 30% increase in internal apprehensions and a 700% increase in case value.
- Challenged members of team to focus on theft-impacting external cases leading to a 30% increase in case value.
- Reduced shortage within assigned stores through a focused effort on high value merchandise theft , fraud , and counterfeit cases.
- Built strong working relationships with store management , district and regional Asset Protection , Human Resources , Employee Relations , and Operations to drive sales and profit through strong communication with messages tailored to the audience. Able to communicate with all levels in the organization and supporting external partners.
Risk And Business Continuity Manager
Macy's
04.2006 - 05.2008
- Improved company''s overall preparedness by developing and implementing comprehensive business continuity plans.
- Minimized downtime during unexpected events by regularly updating and testing disaster recovery strategies.
- Enhanced operational resilience by conducting thorough risk assessments and identifying potential vulnerabilities.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to ensure seamless integration of business continuity initiatives across the organization.
- Increased employee awareness on crisis management through regular training sessions and workshops, resulting in a more resilient workforce.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Business Management
City University of Seattle
Seattle, WASkills
- Compliance Management
- Crisis Management
- Emergency Preparedness
- Incident Response
- Fraud Investigation
- Data Analysis
- Risk Management
- Incident Reporting
Timeline
Regional Asset Protection Leader
Rite Aid
05.2022 - 02.2024
Regional Asset Protection Manager
Dollar Tree
03.2016 - 05.2022
District Manager of Investigations
Macy's
04.2015 - 01.2016
Asset Protection Manager
Macy's
08.2009 - 03.2015
Risk And Business Continuity Manager
Macy's
04.2006 - 05.2008
Bachelor of Science - Business Management
City University of Seattle