Asset Protection’s New Frontier: AI, Safety, and the Future of Retail Operations

Join Brand L. Elverston for a timely and wide-ranging conversation with Cassandra Brown, Vice President of Asset Protection, and Christyn Keef, Vice President of Checkout Experience. Together, they explore the evolving landscape of safety, shrink, technology, and leadership in today’s retail environment.

With extensive experience across operations, asset protection, checkout transformation, and enterprise strategy, Cassie and Christyn share grounded, real-world insights on how the industry is adapting to rapid change, from AI and computer vision to shifting customer expectations and the growing complexity of retail risk.

In This Conversation, You’ll Hear About:

• How Asset Protection has shifted from traditional loss prevention to a total retail loss mindset
• The rise of organized retail crime and why associate safety remains a top priority
• How AI, machine learning, RFID, and multi-signal item identification are reshaping visibility and decision-making
• Building protections that remain invisible to the honest customer while deterring bad actors
• How digital commerce and last-mile fulfillment influence store design, assortments, and risk
• Technology’s acceleration and why the workforce must evolve with it
• Leadership insights around curiosity, grit, and openness to change
• What the next generation of retail and AP leaders must know to stay relevant
• What is coming next for the brick-and-mortar experience as customer habits shift

About Christyn Keef
With 24 years at Walmart, Christyn Keef currently serves as Vice President, Checkout Experience for Walmart U.S. Stores. She began her career as a cashier in 2001 and has held multiple leadership roles across asset protection and store operations. Today, she and her team focus on transforming the in-store checkout experience through people-first strategies and the thoughtful application of technology. Christyn is known for fostering collaboration and delivering meaningful improvements for customers and associates.

About Cassandra Brown
Cassie Brown is the Vice President of Asset Protection for Walmart U.S. She oversees asset protection strategies across more than 4,700 stores and supports a nationwide field organization of over 50,000 asset protection associates. Over her 15 years with Walmart, she has held roles in operations, enterprise strategy, transformational strategy, and security. Cassie is committed to protecting Walmart’s people and assets while championing a culture of integrity, safety, and operational excellence. She is also a proud wife and mother to her 10-year-old son.

About Brand L. Elverston
Following a distinguished military career and more than two decades in Walmart’s Loss Prevention organization, Brand L. Elverston now leads Elverston Consulting, where he helps retailers and solution providers apply emerging technologies to support safer and more efficient operations.

This conversation offers a clear look at how retail is changing and what leaders must do to navigate the future with capability, clarity, and purpose.

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