Investing in the Future of Retail Loss Prevention: Gatekeeper Systems Sponsors Inaugural NRF PROTECT Student Scholarship
At Gatekeeper Systems, our mission has always been clear: to help retailers create safer, smarter, and more secure stores. For more than 27 years, we’ve partnered with retail Asset Protection (AP) and Loss Prevention (LP) professionals to develop technology that protects people, products, and profits—without compromising the customer experience. But as our industry continues to evolve, so too does our role.
We’re proud to announce that Gatekeeper Systems is an inaugural sponsor of the NRF PROTECT Student Scholarship, a new initiative launched by the National Retail Federation to introduce college students and interns to careers in asset protection. More than just a sponsorship, this effort represents our deep, long-term investment in the future of the industry we serve.
Supporting the People Behind the Technology
Gatekeeper Systems has always been driven by the needs of the people on the front lines of retail. Our Purchek® pushout theft prevention and CartControl® retention systems were born from direct conversations with AP teams about their biggest challenges—rising shrink, increasing in-store aggression, and the need to maintain open, welcoming shopping environments.
As we’ve expanded our portfolio to include FaceFirst’s AI-powered face matching and video analytics, our focus has remained the same: build tools that make a difference for store teams. That means technology that works in the background to deter theft and enhance safety, while providing actionable insights that support investigations, reduce risk, and strengthen operations.
But we know innovation alone isn’t enough. The strength of the AP/LP industry lies in its people. That’s why we’re committed to playing a role in growing, mentoring, and supporting the next generation of professionals.
A New Pathway for the Next Generation
The NRF PROTECT Student Scholarship, championed by David Johnston, VP of Asset Protection & Retail Operations at the NRF, is designed to expose students studying criminal justice, security, or related fields to career opportunities in asset protection. Scholarship recipients will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to NRF PROTECT 2025, where they will attend sessions, network with professionals, and explore how the AP field supports both retail business and public safety.
As a sponsor, Gatekeeper Systems is excited to engage directly with these emerging leaders—offering insights into how solution providers and practitioners collaborate to keep stores safe and resilient. We’re also encouraging our peers across the industry to join us in welcoming these students and showing them the real-world impact of careers in LP and AP.
Continuing the Conversation: Our LPF Webinar
To further spotlight the importance of industry mentorship and succession planning, Gatekeeper Systems recently hosted a special webinar in partnership with the Loss Prevention Foundation:
“Securing the Future: Succession Planning & Building Tomorrow’s LP Leaders.”
This forward-looking discussion featured some of the most respected voices in the field:
- David Johnston, National Retail Federation
- Mark Stinde, LPC, Casey’s General Stores
- Rick Peck, LPC, TJX Companies
- Caroline Kochman, Loss Prevention Foundation
Together, they shared actionable insights on building high-performing teams, developing leadership pipelines, and the role certification programs like LPQ and LPC play in advancing careers.
Register Here
Whether you’re a tenured professional or just starting out, the message was clear: investing in people is the most important investment we can make as an industry.
Meet Us at NRF PROTECT
We invite you to continue this important conversation in person at NRF PROTECT 2025, taking place June 23–25 in Grapevine, Texas.
📍 Visit Gatekeeper Systems at Booth 622
📍 Visit FaceFirst (a Gatekeeper Company) at Booth 308
We’ll be showcasing how our theft prevention and safety solutions—enhanced by real-time data, video intelligence, and proactive alerts—are helping some of the world’s top retailers combat Organized Retail Crime, prevent in-store aggression, and create more secure shopping environments.
We’ll also be hosting student scholarship recipients in our booth and encouraging retailers to engage with the next generation of AP talent.
A Long-Term Commitment
At Gatekeeper Systems, we don’t see our work as simply developing technology—we see it as helping to shape the future of the retail environment. From supporting safer stores to investing in the people who protect them, we are proud to stand alongside our customers and industry partners as we build what’s next.
The NRF PROTECT Student Scholarship is just one example of how we’re putting our values into action. We believe that by lifting up future leaders and working together to share knowledge, we can ensure that the next 27 years of LP and AP innovation are even more impactful than the last.
We hope you’ll join us.
