In this special episode of It’s Your Loss w/ Tony & Johnny, we’re joined by the legendary King Rogers (Ret.), former Vice President of Asset Protection at Target and widely regarded as the “Godfather of Retail Loss Prevention.” King shares stories from the front lines of building one of the most respected LP organizations in the world, the evolution of the profession, and what today’s leaders must do to stay ahead of organized retail crime, shrink, and operational risk. A must-listen conversation on leadership, culture, and the future of loss prevention.

Join us as we chat with Sr. Director of Loss Prevention and Safety at At Home Group Inc. and overall industry legend!   Hear his perspective on where our industry "came from" and where we are heading.

In this episode of It’s Your Loss, Tony and I sit down with industry heavyweight Rhett Asher—SVP of Partnership Development at Alto and a lifelong retail pro with one of the most unique resumes in LP. From his early days loading trucks at Roses to shaping loss prevention education and advocacy at RILA, NRF, FMI, and the LP Foundation, Rhett’s story is equal parts grit, growth, and gratitude.

We talk about what it really means to understand shrink (spoiler: it’s not just about theft), how Alto helps close the loop on prosecutions, and why operational partners need to get LP in their DNA. Plus, Rhett shares some hilarious early career mishaps—including one involving a massive warehouse mistake—and his surprising guilty pleasures (Kim Possible fans, you’re not alone). This one’s packed with insights, laughs, and a whole lot of heart.

Timeline Summary

 [6:33] – Rhett explains what Alto is, how it works, and why accountability across stakeholders matters
 [12:07] – Growing up between DC and the Carolinas, and how loading trucks sparked his retail career
 [16:05] – First impressions of LP from the ops side—and why he learned to see them as partners
 [19:28] – How his understanding of shrink evolved from "stolen goods" to total loss
 [22:02] – The advice Rhett would give his younger self about LP, urgency, and staying the course
 [26:58] – The power of stores that “feel good”—and what that tells you about leadership and culture
 [34:25] – Building the first operational audit group at RILA and its long-lasting impact
 [38:43] – Rhett’s role in founding the Loss Prevention Foundation and pushing for LP credibility
 [44:34] – Joe LaRocca, online platforms, and the untold stories of collaboration across the LP landscape
 [48:57] – What Rhett learned from the grocery sector at FMI—and why family-run retail hits different
 [53:15] – Guilty pleasures: Why Kim Possible is his go-to feel-good song
 [55:25] – His unexpected love of antiquing (yes, really!)
 [58:28] – A massive warehouse screw-up he’ll never forget—and what it taught him
 [1:04:20] – Why integrating Alto with ThinkLP is a win for everyone
 [1:08:26] – What’s next for Rhett, and why he’s still chasing purpose over comfort

Memorable quotes

• “We talk a lot about holding offenders accountable, but it’s also about holding law-enforcement and prosecutors accountable,  making sure everyone has the evidence they need so the punishment fits the crime.” 
• “Too many people put a lot of work into making an arrest, but if they’re cut loose, you haven’t solved the problem.” 
• “When the SVP of Operations said, ‘These stores feel good,’ she meant she saw happy customers and engaged employees. That’s the metric that matters.” 
• “Never miss an opportunity to meet somebody new.” 
• “I’ve preached for years that vendors have to stop working in silos, data means nothing until you do something with it together.” 
• “We chase ORC and shrink, but the bigger question is: how do we bring better education to the industry?” 
• “Key to success in loss prevention? Coach girls—coach soccer.”

Links & Resources

• Learn more about Alto Alliance: www.alto.us
• Explore ThinkLP: www.thinklp.com
• Connect with Rhett Asher on LinkedIn: Rhett Asher
• Follow Tony Sheppard and Johnny Custer for more LP insights and stories

Until Next Time…
Thanks for tuning in t

In our very first episode of It’s Your Loss, Tony and Johnny kick things off with a raw, hilarious, and honest conversation about how we both stumbled into the world of loss prevention—and why we stuck around. From getting dragged by getaway cars and chasing down thieves with zero training, to discovering the power of data, margin protection, and internal investigations, we unpack how our early LP experiences shaped our philosophies today.

We get into the weeds on the shift from catching shoplifters to understanding complex fraud, operational failures, and organized retail crime. We don’t agree on everything—and that’s the point. This show is all about exploring the full spectrum of loss prevention through different lenses, and in this kickoff episode, you’ll get to know exactly where we each stand. Whether you’re an old-school investigator or a modern-day data nerd (or a little of both), there’s something here for you.

Favorite Quotes:

• "I don't know what they said. I know what I did." – Tony (On early apprehension policies vs. actual practice)
• "They told me our regular shoplifter was back there huffing spray paint." – Johnny  (On walking into a Cleveland Kmart as his first day introduction)
• "We were completely judged and reviewed on our numbers." – Johnny  (Describing LP performance metrics in his early days)
• "I got dragged by a car. I was holding the coats... and I wouldn't let go." – Tony  (Recalling his first unauthorized apprehension attempt)
• "I was one of the ones... I was poo-pooing the coupons." – Tony (On dismissing margin-loss cases earlier in his career)
• "I was basically told, 'stay in your lane.'" – Johnny  (When Ops partners dismissed his early data findings on margin loss)
• "We could fill up an entire episode with stories of trying to install cameras." – Johnny (Reflecting on the MacGyver days of covert surveillance installs)
• "The really good folk—the professional shoplifters—people don't even know they were there." – Tony  (On the stealth and sophistication of organized retail crime)
• "Looking back now, me of today would have fired me of then." (Reflecting on his wild early LP tactics and rule-breaking)
• "Loss prevention has to be holistic... if you go after one thing, you're gonna miss the others." – Tony (In the final segment, on staying balanced across LP risks)

Timeline Summary:

[3:05] – Tony and I swap our loss prevention origin stories—from Montgomery Ward to Walmart and Kmart

[10:59] – We talk cowboy culture, stats-driven pressure, and how "good LP" used to be judged

[14:32] – Tony shares the wild story of his first attempted apprehension—complete with a knife, a getaway car, and a badge he technically didn’t have

[18:10] – How operational shrink and data started creeping into our mindset (even if we didn’t want to admit it)

[24:11] – Internals, journal rolls, covert cameras, and why catching employee theft was the ultimate LP puzzle

[30:58] – Exception-based reporting, bad coupon bias, and our philosophical divergence

[46:34] – Tony breaks down how he shifted from internal-focused to leading the charge on ORC

[55:23] – Johnny confesses: Tony almost converted him to the ORC dark side

[59:40] – The case for staying holistic in LP: Why focusing only on ORC could leave you exposed elsewhere

Practical Takeaways:

1. Build partnerships with Ops and HR — your job isn’t just enforcement, it’s influence.
2. Don’t ignore low-dollar theft — small patterns can hide big problems.
3. Don’t underestimate margin loss — it’s not just about theft, it’s about profitability.
4. Historical data matters — length of employment can be key to identifying internal theft patterns.
5. Use operational red flags as training moments — not every error