Suni Shamapande

President

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Venus Finley-Akins

First Vice President

Venus Finley-Akins is the Director of Gap Brand Loss Prevention for the Western, Canada and Central. Venus has more than thirty years of retail Loss Prevention experience and has successfully led Loss Prevention initiatives and efforts at Mervyn’s, a former California based retailer for over 25 years. Venus led a team of 150 Loss Prevention employees and has had over 30 years experience as a security expert. During her tenure, she held positions of increased responsibility in Loss Prevention and Human Resources.

Venus joined Gap Inc. in 2002 as a Regional Loss Prevention Manager for Banana Republic in the San Francisco Bay Area. Venus is an active Volunteer in her Community, most notably at the Agnes Memorial Children’s Center in Oakland. Venus has been married for over 26 years, to Terence Akins.

Fanchon Barnes

Second Vice President

As an Assets Protection Business Partner, Fanchon Barnes’ core role as a multi-district leader is to enhance profitability, the guest experience, and our reputation by minimizing loss and business disruptions and providing safe and secure environments.

She is responsible for recruiting, training, and developing team members; ensuring execution of job responsibilities, planning the business, managing team member and guest issues, managing the Assets Protection programs that keep stores safe for guests, team members, shareholders and communities; driving profitability by reducing stock shortages, monitoring stores’ readiness for inventory, and all theft and fraud investigations.

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Michael has 12 years of retail Loss Prevention experience and is currently the Regional Director of Loss Prevention for Florida at Kohl's Stores Inc. Based out of Miami Fl, Michael drives best in class sales through strategic Loss Prevention initiative that minimize shortage, drive instocks, and create a safe secure environment for customers and associates.

Michael began his security career in 1998 with Target Corporation as an hourly undercover security officer. In 1999 he was promoted to an Executive of Assets Protection with Target Corporation. In 2003 Michael obtained a Bachelors of Science degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Central Florida. Upon graduation Michael was promoted to District Assets Protection Team Leader with Target Corporation. He held that position until transitioning to his current role in 2010.

Michael has been a member of IOBSE since 2006. During that time he has driven IOBSE initiatives through the facilitation of college classroom training, executive recruitment, conference seminars, and student mentorship. Michael has a passion for mentorship and attributes his own professional success to the mentorship he has received from IOBSE members. In 2010 Michael received the "Keith White Mentorship Award" from the International Organization of Black Security Executives.

DuWayne Walker

Treasurer

DuWayne is a Group Assets Protection Team Leader for Target Corporation. Based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, he leads a team of Asset Protection professionals dedicated to proactively address areas of Diversity, Profitability and Guest experience by minimizing loss and providing safe and secure environments.

DuWayne joined Target in 2006 as a District Assets Protection Team Leader. In this role he focused on achieving results in following areas; budget, shortage, safeness and talent management. After 18 months in position DuWayne was promoted to his current responsibilities at the group level.

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Levell Hedgspeth

Financial Secretary

Levell Hedgspeth is a Divisional Loss Prevention Manager for Cracker Barrel Old Country Store which is based out of Lebanon, TN

Levell successfully oversees the loss prevention and investigative functions for the southeast, mid-south, and western United States consisting of approximately 190 locations and 867 Million Dollars in annual revenue. He joined CBOCS in 2005 as a Regional Loss Prevention Investigator and was promoted to his current role of Divisional Loss Prevention Manager in 2008.

Levell served in the United States Army as a Correctional and Military Police Officer before beginning his civilian career as District Security Manager with Roses Stores, Inc. in 1987.

With more than 23 years in the loss prevention/asset protection profession, Levell has held various leadership positions including, District Loss Prevention Manager with Best Buy, Inc., Company Auditor with Shoe Show, Inc, and District Loss Prevention Manager and Regional Loss Prevention Manager with DSW/Retail Ventures, Inc.

Levell resides in Charlotte, NC with his lovely wife of almost 17 years, Renee. With a blended family they have five daughters; Shawn, Tiffany, Eboni, Whitney, and Lorin, and one granddaughter; Kaitlyn. They also have two son-in-laws; Brandon (Eboni) and Lester (Whitney).

Levell has been an active member of the IOBSE since June 2008 and currently takes part in the Education Committee, assisting with college seminars and the mentorship program.

Levell is bi-vocational. He is an ordained minister and founding church pastor of 13 years with a passion for the success of young people. He lives by the golden rule, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

Michael is a Divisional Asset Protection Director for the Midwest Division at Wal-Mart Stores Inc. Based in Chicago Il, Michael sets the Asset Protection strategy for the Midwest Division and leads a team of Asset Protection professionals charged with reducing losses and protecting the customers, associates and facilities of Wal-Mart Stores in the Midwest Division.

Michael joined Wal-Mart in 1992 as an Assistant Manager in the Turnersville NJ area. In 1994 he joined the Loss Pre-vention department as a District Loss Prevention Supervisor. In this role he was responsible for managing, maintaining and supervising security issues and systems within his district of 15 stores. After 2 years Michael was promoted to Training Supervisor then to Regional Loss Prevention Director. He was then promoted to his current role.

Prior to joining Wal-Mart, Michael enjoyed an active duty career in the U.S. Air Force. He was a crew member on the
C-130E and EC-130E aircrafts and has over 4500 flying hours including combat time. He ended his active duty career as an Assistant Professor of Aerospace Studies at Tennessee State University in Nashville TN. He then joined the 193rd Special Operations Wing of the Pennsylvania Air National Guard in Harrisburg, PA where is finished his military career. During his career he earned three Air Medals as well as four Air Force Commendation medals.

Michael received his Bachelor of Science in Music Education degree from North Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro, NC , where he graduated Cum Laude. In 1992, he received his Masters degree in Security Management from Webster University in St Louis, MO.

Michael currently resides in the Chicago Ill area with his wife of 20 years, Sherry and their four children.