APEX kicks-off on Sunday and man, I can’t contain my excitement! I keep looking at the APEX agenda and getting excited about the conversations we’re going to have in Nashville. When we set out to create this conference, our goal was simple: give asset protection executives the kind of content and networking they actually need to do their jobs better.
Looking at this year’s lineup, I think we nailed it.
Real Talk, Real Problems, Real Solutions
Take a look at what we’re covering. “Supply Chain Under Fire” That’s not some feel-good workshop about best practices. That’s Mitchell Jacobs from Walmart and Marlene Weber from Williams-Sonoma having a candid conversation about what’s happening in our supply chain and what we can do about it.
Or how about “But what’s the CFO think?” with Fred Becker and Scott Zettell from Bloomingdale’s. We’re literally putting the CFO and the AP leader on stage together to talk about how they actually work with each other. No scripts, no sanitized corporate speak. Just two executives who have to make this relationship work talking about how they do it.
The Caliber of Voices
We’ve got Scott McBride from American Eagle talking enterprise risk management from the C-suite perspective. Mitchell Jacobs from Walmart diving into supply chain challenges that are keeping everyone up at night. Tim Lapinski from Helzberg Diamonds, Dan Petrousek from Ulta, Tristen Shields from lululemon all on one panel talking hot topics without any filter.
These aren’t people reading from marketing decks. These are executives who are living these challenges every single day and are willing to share what’s actually working and what’s not.
And don’t forget our hospitality track featuring experts in the risk and loss prevention field including Mike Simmons, SVP at WKS Restaurant Group, Shaun Jackson, Executive Director of Risk Management at Panda Restaurant Group and Jesus Alvarez, Director of Risk, Asset Protection, and Legal Services – QDOBA Restaurant Corporation.
What Makes APEX Unique
Because we created APEX ourselves, we’re not beholden to anyone except the industry professionals we serve. That freedom lets us focus entirely on delivering the kind of content and conversations that executives actually need. No sales agendas, no corporate sponsors dictating content, just pure value designed around what matters most to asset protection leaders.
We’re talking about tap-to-pay fraud and relay attacks with people who are dealing with it right now. We’re exploring AI use cases that companies are actually implementing, not theoretical possibilities. We’re having the hard conversations about law enforcement relationships and community goodwill that other conferences don’t touch.
Why This Matters
Other conferences bring together vendors and buyers – and those are valuable and have their place. However, APEX brings together problem solvers. People who understand that the challenges we’re facing in 2025 require more than new technology or updated policies. They require new ways of thinking, new partnerships, and honest conversations about what’s actually working (and what’s not).
That’s what you get in Nashville. That’s what makes September worth the trip.
Registration’s still open, but this thing sells out every year for a reason. Hope to see you there. Retailers, grocers, restaurant executives: Let me know if you’d like me to squeeze you in one of our last seats!