Dectective Josh Pirkola Recognized with Advocate of the Year Award

St. Paul, MN (October 1, 2026) – Minnesota Retailers is proud to recognize Detective Josh Pirkola with the Advocate of the Year award, part of the 2026-2027 Minnesota's Retail Champions program.

Pirkola has been one of Minnesota’s most credible and effective voices in the fight against organized retail crime. As a detective with the Coon Rapids Police Department and vice president of the Minnesota Organized Retail Crime Association, Pirkola drew on his firsthand investigative experience to help lawmakers understand how sophisticated criminal enterprises manipulate gift cards and target consumers. During the 2026 legislative session, he testified before legislative committees, participated in a Capitol press conference, and served as a trusted resource for lawmakers. His compelling advocacy and commitment to collaboration played an instrumental role in the passage of Minnesota’s gift card fraud law, strengthening protections for consumers and giving law enforcement additional tools to hold organized criminals accountable and protect consumers.

"Some advocates speak from theory. Josh Pirkola speaks from experience. His firsthand knowledge, credibility and ability to explain complex criminal activity in real-world terms made him an extraordinarily effective voice at the Capitol,” said Bruce Nustad, president of Minnesota Retailers. "Josh’s advocacy was instrumental in passing Minnesota’s gift card fraud legislation and strengthening protections for consumers, retailers and communities across our state. We are proud to recognize him as the Advocate of the Year."

“I am honored to receive the Advocate of the Year Award. The passage of Minnesota’s gift card fraud legislation shows what can be accomplished when law enforcement, retailers, prosecutors, investigators and policymakers work together and listen to the experiences of victims. This recognition belongs to everyone who helped bring attention to these crimes and strengthen our ability to protect consumers and hold organized criminals accountable,” said Pirkola.

Pirkola will accept the award at Retail Rally on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, starting at 2:00 p.m. The event—held at Brookview in Golden Valley—will feature an insightful keynote presentation from University of St. Thomas Associate Professor Seth Ketron, Ph.D., titled “AI in the Customer Journey: Real Insights for Retail Leaders.” For more event details, visit www.retailrally.com.

Click here to see all the 2026-2027 Minnesota's Retail Champions!

Click here to see a video featuring this award winner!

About Minnesota Retailers: Minnesota Retailers is a non-profit association formed to improve communities through a holistic investment in retail, representing small, regional, and national retailers. Our mission is to ensure collective success across Minnesota by advancing retail for businesses, employees, consumers, and policymakers. Our vision is to be the driving force in the evolution of the state's retail landscape through advocacy, valuable insights, and championing innovation. More at www.mnretail.org