Dispelling Myths Around Retail Crime

Lisa LaBruno is RILA’s Senior Executive Vice President of Retail Operations. In this role, Lisa oversees RILA’s efforts in the association’s key retail disciplines including asset protection, store operations, supply chain, e-commerce and corporate social responsibility. She leads member-facing strategic initiatives, including the industry’s groundbreaking Vibrant Communities Initiative to combat retail crime, convenes top-level industry executives to address common challenges, interfaces with key public sector partners, and directs executive networking to promote operational excellence within the industry. Lisa has over 30 years of relevant experience in both the public and private sector, including as an assistant prosecutor (Hudson County, NJ), litigation attorney, and in-house counsel at The Home Depot. She also serves on the Board of Directors of the Loss Prevention Foundation.

Dr. Julie Hibdon is an Associate Professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice, School of Justice and Public Safety, at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale. Her primary research interests include crime and place, crime prevention, victimization and policing. Dr. Hibdon has over ten years of experience in applied research and program evaluation. Her current research largely focuses on community crime prevention initiatives, data to understand crime and disorder issues, and hiring, retention and promotion practices of police organizations.

Ryan Phillips, LPC is an Organized Retail Crime Investigator for Triumph Protection Group - luluemon. He currently covers the PNW, Denver, Kansas, and Missouri. Focused on building cases on large booster groups, locating and investigating illegal fencing operations, and building relationships with local, state, and federal LE and prosecutors. He is an executive board member of Washington State Organized Retail Crime Association. Ryan was formerly a deputy sheriff in Washington State for almost 20 years. During his service he spent time as a TFO on a US Marhsall Task Force, an Anti-Crime Team, 10 year's on SWAT, and finished his career in as a K9 handler. He also possess his EMT-B certification and teaches courses regarding emergency trauma care training.

Ashlie Shanley is the District Attorney of Cabarrus County North Carolina, a neighboring county to Charlotte, North Carolina. Shanley serves as the Chair of the NDAA and RILA Retail Crime Advisory Board and works to combat retail crime. Shanley is a career prosecutor and served as the Chief Assistant District Attorney and a Special Victims Prosecutor, prosecuting homicide and rape cases. Shanley has extensive experience assembling and working with multi-disciplinary teams created to reduce and prosecute crime. She previously served as President of the Board of Directors of the Children’s Advocacy Centers of North Carolina, facilitates the Cabarrus County Human Trafficking Task Force, and coordinates the Cabarrus Violent Offender program.
Shanley graduated Cum Laude from Campbell University Law School in 1996 and graduated from North Carolina State University with a degree in Business Management in 1993. Shanley has conducting trainings for law enforcement officers, loss prevention employees, business associations, and other professionals regarding the successful prosecution of organized retail theft and ensuring the safety of communities.