Chapter Leader Profile: Carmen Wiechers, CFE
/President, Vancouver Chapter #66
Since earning the CFE credential in 2005, Carmen Wiechers has been a steady presence on the Board of Directors of the ACFE Vancouver Chapter.
Carmen Wiechers, CFE
The former ACFE Walker Award winner is currently serving as president of the Vancouver Chapter.
Wiechers is the Western Canada Regional Loss Prevention Manager for Value Village, the largest privately held, for-profit thrift retailer with more than 330 stores across North America.
What career path led you to become a CFE and involved with your local chapter?
I have worked in the Retail Loss Prevention Industry for over 18 years in a multi-unit capacity, gaining a broad exposure to the industry and holding various positions including Senior Investigator, Regional Manager and National Director.
I decided to return to my roots and am currently working as Western Canada’s Regional Loss Prevention Manager for Value Village.
I prefer to be in the trenches educating employees, and preventing and investigating fraud.
My current position affords a healthy work-life balance allowing me to invest more time with family, hobbies and play a very active role in the Vancouver Chapter.
What goals do you have for the chapter in your role as president?
My primary goal is to work with the invaluable and dedicated board to increase the chapter’s membership outreach.
I passionately believe that exposing young students to the ACFE and the CFE credential will broaden their current notions of “crime fighting” to include anti-fraud efforts within both the public and private sectors.
What new initiatives do you have planned for the chapter?
I recognize that obtaining high quality speakers is paramount for the chapter members’ anti-fraud education and its membership outreach and retention.
I am excited about the newly forged partnership with the Justice Institute of B.C., Canada’s leading public safety and security educator, offering a wide curriculum such as court administration, sheriff, law enforcement and corrections programs.
The chapter will jointly host a half day training session in May 2014 bringing young and mature students together with seasoned anti-fraud professionals.
What do you like to do for fun in your spare time?
I enjoy playing the cello, carving stone or wood and dabbling with acrylic abstracts on canvas.
I started taking cello lessons four years ago and learned to read music at the same time. I am very fond of classical music and the cello is very soulful. It comes closest to the human voice in my opinion.
Wiechers and her cello.
