ATLANTA (April 10, 2024) –The Restaurant Loss Prevention & Security Association (RLPSA) announces its newest restaurant Board Members:
- Aaron Hancart, Sr. Director, Asset Protection & Safety, Denny’s
- Rocco Prate, Loss Prevention, Safety & Security, Wendy’s Company
- Daniel Thomas, Field Security Manager – Chicago, US Security – McDonald’s Corp.
- Michael W. Simmons, ARM, RIMS-CRMP, VP, Human Resources, Risk & Legal, Services Brands, WKS Restaurant Group
- Thomas Stein LPC, CFI, CFE, Director, Asset Protection & Safety, Paradies Lagardère
“I am so pleased to announce our five outstanding new board members,” said Kurt Leisure, President of RLPSA and Vice President, Risk Services at The Cheesecake Factory. “These are phenomenal industry leaders, and they will bring such value to RLPSA over the next three years executing RLPSA’s mission with their unique perspectives and experiences.”
“Aaron, Rocco, Daniel, Michael, and Thomas bring a wealth of loss prevention, security, safety, and risk management knowledge. We are excited to have them join the board and look forward to seeing them enhance and grow our association!”
Aaron Hancart has more than 18 years of experience in the asset protection/loss prevention and security industry. He has experience in Big Box (Target, Dick’s Sporting Goods, JCPenney), Specialty (The Cellular Connection, Luxottica), and Restaurant/Convenience (Casey’s Denny’s). Aaron has experience in all facets of the retail asset protection business, including stores, distribution, transportation, logistics, and corporate.
Rocco Prate leads The Wendy’s Company Loss Prevention and Corporate Security functions. He oversees the Loss Prevention, Safety & Security for 360 Company restaurant locations and supports the entire Wendy’s franchise system by promoting industry standards and best practices to safeguard the Wendy’s brand. Rocco has 30 years of LP, safety & security experience working in both the retail and QSR sectors.
Daniel Thomas joined McDonald’s Corporation after a 10-year career in law enforcement with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. In his nearly 27-year career with McDonald’s Corporation, Daniel has been responsible for overseeing the security, loss prevention and risk management of multiple regions, supporting both company-operated restaurants and franchisee organizations. Daniel is a Certified Forensic Interviewer (CFI).
Michael Simmons has been employed in the human resources, risk management, and legal industries since 1986. He is currently the Vice President, Human Resources, Risk Management, and Legal for WKS Restaurant Group based in Cypress, CA. WKS Restaurant Group is one of the largest franchisee organizations in the United States. In this role, Michael works with his team to develop and implement cost saving human resources, risk management, safety, loss control, insurance, claims and security programs that contribute to the profitability and reputation of the brand.
Thomas Stein has an extensive public and private sector Law Enforcement, Retail, and Food & Beverage industry leadership background, with a proven track record of success in highly diverse business models and in extremely complex operating environments. Over the past 20+ years, he has led Asset Protection, Safety, and Risk Management operations for 3 different multinational Food and Beverage companies and spent 3 years running Field level Dining and Retail Operations.
About RLPSA
The RLPSA’s goal is to help make our members more efficient and successful in their careers by serving as the “go-to” resource for restaurant and food industry loss prevention and security, risk, and safety professionals. Investigate your company’s membership rate here and join today: http://rlpsa.com/join-us/