NACDS Leadership: Together, Members Find Clarity Amid Chaos

PRESS RELEASEPALM BEACH, FLA. - Representatives of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) leadership spoke today about NACDS’ role in helping chain and associate members succeed in an environment of global and national challenges. The remarks were part of a morning Business Program, which began a full day of Strategic Exchange Appointments among diverse chains and supplier partners at the 2016 NACDS Annual Meeting.

"The value of NACDS is measured in what together we provide to our communities, patients and society in general."

The following is a selection of quotes from the remarks of NACDS Chairman of the Board Randy Edeker, chairman, CEO and president of Hy-Vee, Inc.:

“The value of NACDS is measured in what together we provide to our communities, patients and society in general.”

“NACDS provides transactional value to the business, but it’s much, much more. NACDS brings an intangible value: the inspiration I get when I come to events like this. As much as technology has advanced, it’s the relationships that really matter. It’s the knowledge and the strength that come from joining together.”

“Advocacy is definitely a key strength of this organization.”

“One of my favorite events is TSE — the NACDS Total Store Expo. I love Meet the Market at TSE. It’s where you find the items you’re looking for. You meet with the company maybe you never would have met with. I walk in and see those tables and I see opportunity.”

“Before I made the decision to engage more in NACDS, associate members told me this is where you need to be. It’s been one of the best things to happen in the life of our company. I couldn’t be more proud, thankful and grateful for my time as chairman of NACDS.”

The following is a selection of quotes from the remarks of NACDS President and CEO Steven C. Anderson, IOM, CAE, who later moderated a question-and-answer session with keynote speaker John Boehner, former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives:

“One of the numerous aspects of NACDS that I love is that we celebrate each other’s successes, and we are always there for each other when we need help and assistance — when we may have fallen off the trapeze of life and need a hand up.”

“’Design thinking’ is the perfect way to explain how NACDS operates in a very uncertain and ambiguous world in everything we do. It illustrates how NACDS helps to achieve clarity through advocacy; communications; legal affairs; pharmacy care and patient advocacy; and meetings and member services.”

“With the collapse of power structures in this country and the lack of consensus, don’t believe everything you read and hear that nothing is getting done in Washington, D.C., because NACDS has cracked the code. NACDS is delivering results by operating effectively in this world of uncertainty and ambiguity.”

“People ask me what makes a great association. I think NACDS radiates a ‘spirit of excellence’ in everything we do.”

“The full credit of every success we have goes to the NACDS membership and to the NACDS Board. Your engagement, your energy mean everything. We can accomplish so much more when we join together.”

Edeker and Anderson acknowledged Jack Bailey, president, U.S. pharmaceuticals, GlaxoSmithKline, who supported and spoke at this morning’s NACDS Annual Meeting Business Program. Similarly, David Pothast, vice president, U.S. customer development, Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc., is supporting and will speak at Tuesday morning’s NACDS Annual Meeting Business Program.