Overview
Johnny "JC" Custer serves as Vice President, Strategic Partnerships & Industry Relations at ThinkLP [1][3]. Custer is a retail operations, loss prevention, and product strategy executive with over 30 years of experience addressing profit erosion through data-driven decision-making and operational excellence, with initiatives delivering nearly $1 billion in measurable financial results [2]. Prior to the current role, Custer held positions including Senior Director of Retail Risk Solutions at ThinkLP [4], Chief Operating Officer at VIPER [5], Director of Asset and Profit Protection at Transformco [8], and Managing Director of Retail Loss Prevention at Verisk Crime Analytics [10]. Custer holds Loss Prevention Foundation certifications including LPQ Qualified status [11] and studied Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration and Security Management at community colleges [12][13].
Profile introduction
Retail operations, loss prevention, and product strategy executive with 30+ years of experience helping retailers reduce profit erosion and unlock enterprise value through data-driven decision-making, operational excellence, and strategic innovation. Recognized as a trusted advisor to leading retailers and solution providers, I specialize in applying the principles of Total Retail Loss to identify and address all forms of profit erosion—including shrink, markdowns, fraud, damages, and operational inefficiencies. My teams and initiatives have delivered nearly $1 billion in measurable financial…
Career history
- Vice President, Strategic Partnerships & Industry RelationsMar 2026 to presentThinkLP
- Senior Director, Retail Risk Solutions; Industry AdvisorFeb 2024 to Mar 2026ThinkLP
- COO - Chief Operating OfficerJan 2019 to Feb 2024VIPER - A Retail Operations and Profit Optimization Solutions Provider
- CIO - Chief Implementation OfficerJan 2018 to Jan 2019VIPER - A Retail Operations and Profit Optimization Solutions Provider
- SVP, Client ServicesJun 2017 to Jan 2018VIPER - A Retail Operations and Profit Optimization Solutions Provider
- Director, Asset and Profit Protection (Loss Prevention)Apr 2015 to Aug 2017Transformco
- Vice President, Loss Prevention Solutions & MarketingMay 2014 to Apr 2015Appriss Retail
- Managing Director, Retail Loss Prevention & ORC Crime Linking (LERPnet)Mar 2012 to May 2014VERISK CRIME ANALYTICS, INC.
Education
- LPQ Qualified , LPC Certified (2012 - 2018) at The Loss Prevention Foundation (May 2009)2009
- Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration at Cuyahoga Community College
- Security Management at Lakeland Community College
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