Trade Associations
Here's a look at documents from national and international trade associations
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University of Texas at Austin Wins 2025 Good Neighbor Pharmacy NCPA Pruitt-Schutte Student Business Plan Competition
ALEXANDRIA, Virginia, Oct. 19 [Category: Pharmaceuticals] -- The National Community Pharmacists Association issued the following news release:
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University of Texas at Austin Wins 2025 Good Neighbor Pharmacy NCPA Pruitt-Schutte Student Business Plan Competition
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NEW ORLEANS, La. (Oct. 19, 2025) - A team of student pharmacists from the University of Texas at Austin was named the winner of the 22nd annual Good Neighbor Pharmacy NCPA Pruitt-Schutte Student Business Plan Competition. A team from the University of South Carolina was the runner-up, and a team representing the University of Washington
... Show Full Article
ALEXANDRIA, Virginia, Oct. 19 [Category: Pharmaceuticals] -- The National Community Pharmacists Association issued the following news release:
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University of Texas at Austin Wins 2025 Good Neighbor Pharmacy NCPA Pruitt-Schutte Student Business Plan Competition
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NEW ORLEANS, La. (Oct. 19, 2025) - A team of student pharmacists from the University of Texas at Austin was named the winner of the 22nd annual Good Neighbor Pharmacy NCPA Pruitt-Schutte Student Business Plan Competition. A team from the University of South Carolina was the runner-up, and a team representing the University of Washingtonfinished as the second runner-up. The winners were announced as part of the National Community Pharmacists Association's Annual Convention, being held Oct. 18-21 in New Orleans.
"Community pharmacy is where your skills, innovation, and ambition have no limits," said NCPA President Jeff Harrell. "It's also where, as a business owner, you must be able to roll with the punches and deal with whatever challenges might arise. Having an established, solid business plan helps you stay on course and handle any unexpected issues more confidently. We saw many great business plans in this year's competition but one was a cut above the rest. Congratulations to the team from the University of Texas at Austin on a job well done!"
The business plan competition is the first national competition of its kind in the pharmacy profession. The contest is named in honor of two great champions of independent community pharmacy, the late Neil Pruitt, Sr. and the late H. Joseph Schutte. Its goal is to motivate student pharmacists to create a business model for buying an existing independent community pharmacy or developing a new one. Through this competition, NCPA is helping to prepare tomorrow's pharmacy entrepreneurs. The competition is supported by Good Neighbor Pharmacy, Pharmacists Mutual Insurance Company, and the NCPA Foundation.
The three finalist teams presented their business plans in a live competition on Oct. 18 at the NCPA Annual Convention in New Orleans. The judges for this year's live competition were Brian Caswell, Schwanda Flowers, Tripp Logan, Jason Montgomery, Scott Pace, and Chris Ward.
"The NCPA Foundation helps cultivate the next generation of independent community pharmacy owners and the Good Neighbor Pharmacy NCPA Pruitt-Schutte Student Business Plan Competition is our crown jewel in those efforts," said Jerry Shapiro, PharmD, president of the NCPA Foundation. "Many past participants in the competition have gone into ownership and point to this experience as being an important steppingstone in achieving that goal."
The winning team from the University of Texas at Austin is comprised of team captain Rachel Helbling and team members Casey Carswell, Hannah Lerma, and Romina Manochahri. The team adviser is Terry Weaver, and the dean is Samuel Poloyac. In recognition of their achievement, the $6,000 first-place prize was shared among the presenting team members. The team members, team advisers, and dean will also receive complimentary registration, travel, and lodging to NCPA's 2025 Multiple Locations Conference this February in Florida.
The runner-up, the University of South Carolina, is comprised of team captain Emily Fisher and team members Charlize Johnson and Samantha Shilhavy. The team adviser is Patti Fabel, and the dean is Stephen J. Cutler. The $4,000 second-place prize was shared among the presenting team members.
The second runner-up, the University of Washington, is comprised of team captain Elis Johannessen and team members Lee Chinn, Joel Jones, and Arielle Mamaril. The team adviser is Lisa Garza, and the dean is Jayanth Panyam. The $2,000 prize was shared among the presenting team members.
The teams rounding out the top 10, listed alphabetically, are Keck Graduate Institute; Rutgers University; the University at Buffalo; the University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis; the University of Mississippi; the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; and the University of Oklahoma.
The teams' business plans were graded by independent pharmacy owners, business coaches and consultants, financiers, or community pharmacy practitioners, who must follow a detailed rubric when grading plans. Schools submitting to the competition for the first time receive a plaque for their participation. Each year that a school participates, it will receive a plate commemorating the year of participation to be added to the competition plaque. Teams placing in the top 10 receive a special plate acknowledging this distinction.
For more information about the Student Business Plan Competition, please visit NCPA's website.
Founded in 1898, the National Community Pharmacists Association is the voice for the community pharmacist, representing over 18,900 pharmacies that employ more than 235,000 individuals nationwide. Community pharmacies are rooted in the communities where they are located and are among America's most accessible health care providers. To learn more, visit www.ncpa.org.
NCPA
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Original text here: https://ncpa.org/newsroom/news-releases/2025/10/19/university-texas-austin-wins-2025-good-neighbor-pharmacy-ncpa
NCPA Foundation Announces 2025 Scholarship Recipients
ALEXANDRIA, Virginia, Oct. 19 [Category: Pharmaceuticals] -- The National Community Pharmacists Association issued the following news release:
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NCPA Foundation Announces 2025 Scholarship Recipients
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NEW ORLEANS, La. (Oct. 19, 2025) - During the National Community Pharmacists Association's Annual Convention, Oct. 18-21 in New Orleans, La., the NCPA Foundation announced the recipients of this year's NCPA Foundation scholarships. The NCPA Foundation proudly awards scholarships each year to college students pursuing community pharmacy ownership, recognizing those with demonstrated leadership
... Show Full Article
ALEXANDRIA, Virginia, Oct. 19 [Category: Pharmaceuticals] -- The National Community Pharmacists Association issued the following news release:
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NCPA Foundation Announces 2025 Scholarship Recipients
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NEW ORLEANS, La. (Oct. 19, 2025) - During the National Community Pharmacists Association's Annual Convention, Oct. 18-21 in New Orleans, La., the NCPA Foundation announced the recipients of this year's NCPA Foundation scholarships. The NCPA Foundation proudly awards scholarships each year to college students pursuing community pharmacy ownership, recognizing those with demonstrated leadershipqualities, academic achievement and an interest in independent community pharmacy. Scholarship awardees receive funds to be put toward their school tuition, complimentary registration to this year's NCPA Annual Convention, and a travel stipend.
For the first time, the NCPA Foundation awarded four Partners in Pharmacy need-based scholarships providing $10,000 to pharmacy students who demonstrate a strong commitment to independent community pharmacy and significant financial need. This additional investment honors the original Partners in Pharmacy Scholarship founders' intentions to support those students most in need.
"Our hope is that students who may otherwise have more difficulty pursuing independent community pharmacy will have their barriers lessened with this support," said Jerry Shapiro, president of the NCPA Foundation. "The cost of pharmacy education continues to rise annually, and we don't want to see students discouraged from pursuing pharmacy ownership due to the increased cost they carry, even before they graduate."
Congratulations to the following NCPA student members receiving a 2025 NCPA Foundation scholarship:
J.C. and Rheba Cobb Memorial Scholarship in Government Affairs
Colby Cormell, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Neil Pruitt Sr. Memorial Scholarship for Entrepreneurism
Ashleigh Ewens, Mercer University
William B. Simmons Memorial Scholarship in Pharmacy Management
Hannah Grace Matthewson, University of Georgia
Presidential Scholarship, sponsored by McKesson RxOwnership
Tiffany Chao, Rutgers University
Ty Davenport, University of Oklahoma
Emily Fisher, University of South Carolina
Rachel Helbling, University of Texas at Austin
Cindy Lu, University of Pittsburgh
Amber Martin, University of Montana
Evelyn McHaney, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Oluwateti Omilana, Howard University
Ellie Twedt, University of Iowa
Partners in Pharmacy Scholarship
Kara DiNardo, West Virginia University
Armin Dogic, Drake University
Mackenzie Gunn, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
Mark Hanin, University of Southern California
Hannah Lerma, University of Texas at Austin
Madison Shreffler, North Dakota State University
Laney Skipper, Auburn University
Andrea Tucker, Auburn University
The NCPA Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization established in 1953 to honor the previous incarnation of NCPA, the National Association of Retail Druggists (NARD) Executive Secretary John W. Dargavel. Contributions to the foundation are tax-deductible as charitable donations to the extent permitted under federal tax law. The NCPA Foundation's mission is to improve community-based health care by advancing the sustainability, growth, and public understanding of independent community pharmacists--the most accessible health care providers. For more information, go to www.ncpafoundation.org.
NCPA
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Original text here: https://ncpa.org/newsroom/news-releases/2025/10/19/ncpa-foundation-announces-2025-scholarship-recipients
Matt Binder Receives National Preceptor of the Year Award from NCPA Foundation
ALEXANDRIA, Virginia, Oct. 19 [Category: Pharmaceuticals] -- The National Community Pharmacists Association issued the following news release:
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Matt Binder Receives National Preceptor of the Year Award from NCPA Foundation
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NEW ORLEANS, La. (Oct. 19, 2025) - Matt Binder, owner of Ostroms Drug & Gift, Bob Johnson's Pharmacy and Madison Park Pharmacy, all in the Seattle area, was named the recipient of the 2025 National Preceptor of the Year Award by the National Community Pharmacists Association Foundation as part of NCPA's Annual Convention, being held Oct. 18-21 in New Orleans, La. This
... Show Full Article
ALEXANDRIA, Virginia, Oct. 19 [Category: Pharmaceuticals] -- The National Community Pharmacists Association issued the following news release:
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Matt Binder Receives National Preceptor of the Year Award from NCPA Foundation
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NEW ORLEANS, La. (Oct. 19, 2025) - Matt Binder, owner of Ostroms Drug & Gift, Bob Johnson's Pharmacy and Madison Park Pharmacy, all in the Seattle area, was named the recipient of the 2025 National Preceptor of the Year Award by the National Community Pharmacists Association Foundation as part of NCPA's Annual Convention, being held Oct. 18-21 in New Orleans, La. Thisaward recognizes a pharmacist who has made a significant contribution to the education of pharmacy students as a preceptor in a community practice setting. Preceptors demonstrate commitment to students as professional mentors and teachers, and display high standards of professionalism. The selection was made through a blind judging process to guarantee fairness and impartiality.
Binder is a 2017 graduate of the University of Washington School of Pharmacy. He was given the opportunity to buy his first store in 2021, partnering with Jeff Harrell and Cascadia Pharmacy Group. This led to multi-store ownership opportunities. Binder is currently precepting 14 students. He received the 2024 Distinguished Young Pharmacist of the Year from the Washington State Pharmacy Association and served on the 2024-2025 NCPA State Legislation Steering Committee. Binder particularly enjoys encouraging advocacy and contextual awareness in mentees and prioritizes leading with transparency as well as creating a fun environment for employees and patients.
Crystal Bryan, Cascadia Pharmacy Group/Washington State University, who nominated Binder for this award, says, "Matt has been committed to giving back to the next generation since graduation. As owner of three pharmacies with three different patient mixes and varying services offered at each pharmacy, he creates a unique learning environment for technicians, student pharmacists and residents alike. He also engages his full staff to optimize the learning opportunities, feedback and unique viewpoints his interns are exposed to. I have worked with hundreds of pharmacists and preceptors throughout my career and hands-down this young pharmacist is the most engaged, dynamic and devoted preceptor I have ever had the privilege of crossing paths with."
Binder's three proudest recent preceptor moments have been seeing his student Anna Dimak win the Washington State Pharmacy Association Student of the Year, starting a new community residency program with Tara Pfund and first resident Amanda Bryan, and seeing the University of Washington team place as a finalist in the 2025 Good Neighbor Pharmacy NCPA Pruitt-Schutte Student Business Plan Competition. He believes that when good people go into community pharmacy, all of society benefits.
"Matt Binder represents the future of independent community pharmacy leadership," said Jeff Harrell, PharmD, NCPA President and Cascadia Pharmacy Group CEO. "His dedication to mentoring the next generation of pharmacists and technicians is extraordinary, especially considering he's still early in his own career. Matt understands that investing in students and residents isn't just good for pharmacy education -- it's essential for ensuring independent pharmacy continues to thrive and serve communities for generations to come. His ability to create dynamic learning environments across multiple practice settings while maintaining excellent patient care is truly exemplary."
The NCPA Foundation is proud to support the sustainability and growth of the independent pharmacy profession and is grateful for the opportunity to provide awards like this that recognize excellence in pharmacy practice, education, and leadership.
The NCPA Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization established in 1953 to honor the previous incarnation of NCPA, the National Association of Retail Druggists (NARD) Executive Secretary John W. Dargavel. Contributions to the foundation are tax-deductible as charitable donations to the extent permitted under federal tax law. The NCPA Foundation's mission is to improve community-based health care by advancing the sustainability, growth, and public understanding of independent community pharmacists--the most accessible health care providers. For more information, go to www.ncpafoundation.org.
NCPA
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Original text here: https://ncpa.org/newsroom/news-releases/2025/10/19/matt-binder-receives-national-preceptor-year-award-ncpa
MBA Forecast: Total Single-Family Mortgage Originations to Increase 8 percent to $2.2 Trillion in 2026
WASHINGTON, Oct. 19 [Category: Financial Services] -- The Mortgage Bankers Association posted the following news release:
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MBA Forecast: Total Single-Family Mortgage Originations to Increase 8 percent to $2.2 Trillion in 2026
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(202) 557-2771
CREF origination volume is expected to increase 24 percent and multifamily volume 16 percent in 2026
LAS VEGAS (October 19, 2025) -- The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) today announced at its 2025 Annual Convention and Expo that total single-family mortgage origination volume is expected to increase to $2.2 trillion in 2026 from $2.0 trillion
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Oct. 19 [Category: Financial Services] -- The Mortgage Bankers Association posted the following news release:
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MBA Forecast: Total Single-Family Mortgage Originations to Increase 8 percent to $2.2 Trillion in 2026
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(202) 557-2771
CREF origination volume is expected to increase 24 percent and multifamily volume 16 percent in 2026
LAS VEGAS (October 19, 2025) -- The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) today announced at its 2025 Annual Convention and Expo that total single-family mortgage origination volume is expected to increase to $2.2 trillion in 2026 from $2.0 trillionexpected in 2025.
Purchase originations are forecast to increase 7.7 percent to $1.46 trillion next year and refinance originations are expected to increase 9.2 percent to $737 billion. By loan count, total mortgage origination volume is expected to increase 7.6 percent to 5.8 million loans in 2026 from 5.4 million loans expected in 2025.
MBA's 2026 outlook was presented by Mike Fratantoni, Chief Economist and Senior Vice President for Research and Business Development; Joel Kan, Vice President, Deputy Chief Economist; and Marina Walsh, CMB, Vice President of Industry Analysis.
According to Fratantoni, the U.S. economy will grow at a below-trend rate over the next year, as the economy faces headwinds from a softening global economy and uncertainties over the impacts of higher tariffs.
"The FOMC cut rates in September, and we expect additional cuts at the end of October and in December. While inflation is still above the Fed's target, the job market has weakened, and we expect that the FOMC will continue to focus more on its full employment goal," said Fratantoni. He added that the job market will likely weaken over the next year. Even though there have been no widespread layoffs, the pace of hiring remains slow, and the unemployment rate is expected to increase from its current rate of 4.3 percent to 4.7 percent by mid-2026.
Fratantoni expects inflation to be stubborn, as tariffs on imported goods will eventually be passed on to consumers in the form of higher prices.
"We expect that home sales will increase in 2026. The combination of lower mortgage rates and flat home prices has helped affordability conditions improve. While mortgage rates are not expected to decline further, housing supply has increased in recent months, which will ease home-price growth and provide more housing options for prospective buyers. The increase in inventories will put downward pressure on home prices across the country. Home-price declines nationally are expected to decline for several quarters over the next few years."
The risk of growing budget deficits and elevated inflation expectations will keep longer term rates from falling further, even as the Fed cuts short-term rates. This will keep the 10-year Treasury yield above 4 percent and mortgage rates between 6 and 6.5 percent. MBA expects there will be periods where rates drop, which will provide moments of refinance activity, similar to what has occurred several times in 2025.
Kan emphasized that housing market developments are location specific, as growing housing inventory in markets such as Florida, Colorado, and Arizona have led to annual home-price declines, while tight inventory and challenges to homebuilding in the Northeastern and Midwestern states such as New York, Connecticut, Illinois, and New Jersey drive price appreciation well above the national average.
"While median principal and interest payments are gradually declining, they are significantly higher than they were five years ago, given cumulative home-price appreciation and the current level of mortgage rates. Borrowers have increasingly shifted to ARM and FHA loans to manage these affordability challenges. Additionally, the cost burdens from increasing taxes and homeowners' insurance continue to pose challenges to both prospective homebuyers and existing homeowners," Kan said.
Walsh noted during her presentation that production profitability in the second quarter of 2025 was the highest since 2021, a welcome development after ten quarters of net production losses over that same time period.
"Origination costs are still elevated and the pull-through of loan closings to applications has declined over the past four years," said Walsh. "Many lenders are exploring ways to reduce origination costs and increase productivity through technology advances and process improvement. Other lenders may consider mergers or acquisitions to achieve scale."
Walsh continued, "The servicing side of the business has been a bright spot over the past several years, generating income to counterbalance weak origination results and also offering recapture opportunities. Delinquency rates - particularly for government loans - are likely to increase as unemployment rises, putting pressure on servicing costs. U.S. homeowners have accumulated approximately $36 trillion in home equity, providing a financial cushion. This build-up in equity gives many borrowers options to resolve financial hardship -- including loan workouts, cash-out refinances and home equity loans, or selling their homes to avoid foreclosure."
MBA also released an updated forecast for commercial and multifamily originations.
CREF origination volume is expected to increase 24 percent and multifamily volume 16 percent in 2026 following solid growth for both in 2025.
"The CRE lending market has remained strong with new originations increasing year-over-year during the first six months of 2025, said Judie Ricks, MBA's AVP of CREF Research. "The multifamily market experienced similar strength in the first half of the year that is expected to continue into 2026. Notably, agency loans accounted for more than 40 percent of multifamily originations in 2024."
MBA's new Mortgage Finance Forecast and Economic Forecast can be viewed here. The CREF forecast is available here.
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Original text here: https://www.mba.org/news-and-research/newsroom/news/2025/10/19/mba-forecast--total-single-family-mortgage-originations-to-increase-8-percent-to--2.2-trillion-in-2026
Erik Nelson Receives NCPA Foundation's NARD Ownership Award
ALEXANDRIA, Virginia, Oct. 19 [Category: Pharmaceuticals] -- The National Community Pharmacists Association issued the following news release:
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Erik Nelson Receives NCPA Foundation's NARD Ownership Award
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NEW ORLEANS, La. (Oct. 19, 2025) - Erik Nelson, owner of five pharmacies in the Spokane, Wash. and Post Falls, Idaho areas, has received this year's NARD Ownership Award from the National Community Pharmacists Association Foundation as part of NCPA's Annual Convention, being held Oct. 18-21 in New Orleans, La.
The NARD Ownership Award recognizes an independent community pharmacist
... Show Full Article
ALEXANDRIA, Virginia, Oct. 19 [Category: Pharmaceuticals] -- The National Community Pharmacists Association issued the following news release:
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Erik Nelson Receives NCPA Foundation's NARD Ownership Award
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NEW ORLEANS, La. (Oct. 19, 2025) - Erik Nelson, owner of five pharmacies in the Spokane, Wash. and Post Falls, Idaho areas, has received this year's NARD Ownership Award from the National Community Pharmacists Association Foundation as part of NCPA's Annual Convention, being held Oct. 18-21 in New Orleans, La.
The NARD Ownership Award recognizes an independent community pharmacistwho embraces entrepreneurial spirit through promotion and demonstrated excellence in the field of community pharmacy ownership. NARD, or the National Association of Retail Druggists, was for a century the name associated with independent pharmacy. The organization was founded in 1898, and now, as NCPA, represents the nation's community pharmacists. The selection was made through a blind judging process to guarantee fairness and impartiality.
Nelson graduated from Washington State University College of Pharmacy in 2013 and bought his first store three months afterwards. He shares a passion for independent pharmacy and advancing the profession through the development of clinical services, innovative partnerships, and involvement with community partners. He serves as a student preceptor for the Washington State University College of Pharmacy. He has completed a fellowship from the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine, and he has been awarded the Albert E. Rosica Jr Memorial Award as well as the Washington State University College of Pharmacy Alumni of the Year Award. Nelson is also the president of the Cascadia Pharmacy Group, which comprises 43 stores throughout Washington, Oregon and Idaho.
"Erik Nelson exemplifies the entrepreneurial spirit and innovation that defines the best of independent community pharmacy," said Jeff Harrell, PharmD, president of NCPA and Cascadia Pharmacy Group, CEO. "From his remarkable start as a new graduate purchasing his first pharmacy to his leadership of multiple stores and the Cascadia Pharmacy Group, Erik has demonstrated that independent pharmacy ownership remains a vibrant and vital path for advancing patient care. His commitment to clinical services, mentorship, and community engagement sets a powerful example for the next generation of pharmacy owners."
As a student pharmacist, Nelson led a team of four to first place in the Good Neighbor Pharmacy NCPA Pruitt-Schutte Student Business Plan Competition. As a young student pharmacist, he envisioned a world that was different than what most community pharmacies were offering and he created it. His business plan included compounding, clinical services, and embraced new technologies that would impact the patients and community. Upon graduation he morphed the plan into his first community pharmacy.
Crystal Bryan, Cascadia Pharmacy Group/Washington State University, who nominated Nelson for the award said he "is passionate, involved and gives back to the profession, his peers and the next generation of pharmacists and technicians. He is very engaged in the profession, serving on numerous boards and committees from universities to state associations and NCPA. Erik also participates in research and drives forward change and innovation while providing valuable mentorship to newer or struggling pharmacy owners."
The NCPA Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization established in 1953 to honor the previous incarnation of NCPA, the National Association of Retail Druggists (NARD) Executive Secretary John W. Dargavel. Contributions to the foundation are tax-deductible as charitable donations to the extent permitted under federal tax law. The NCPA Foundation's mission is to improve community-based health care by advancing the sustainability, growth, and public understanding of independent community pharmacists--the most accessible health care providers. For more information, go to www.ncpafoundation.org.
NCPA
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Original text here: https://ncpa.org/newsroom/news-releases/2025/10/19/erik-nelson-receives-ncpa-foundations-nard-ownership-award
Christine Chandler Sworn in as 2026 MBA Chair
WASHINGTON, Oct. 19 [Category: Financial Services] -- The Mortgage Bankers Association posted the following news release:
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Christine Chandler Sworn in as 2026 MBA Chair
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(202) 557-2727
Owen Lee named Chair-Elect; John Hedlund Named Vice Chair
LAS VEGAS (October 19, 2025) -- Christine Chandler, Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, M&T Realty Capital Corporation (RCC), was sworn in here today as 2026 Chair of the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) during the association's 2025 Annual Convention and Expo.
"Throughout my career, I have witnessed the significant impact
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Oct. 19 [Category: Financial Services] -- The Mortgage Bankers Association posted the following news release:
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Christine Chandler Sworn in as 2026 MBA Chair
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(202) 557-2727
Owen Lee named Chair-Elect; John Hedlund Named Vice Chair
LAS VEGAS (October 19, 2025) -- Christine Chandler, Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, M&T Realty Capital Corporation (RCC), was sworn in here today as 2026 Chair of the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) during the association's 2025 Annual Convention and Expo.
"Throughout my career, I have witnessed the significant impactof MBA's advocacy, research, and education in strengthening the real estate finance industry and the communities it serves," said Chandler. "It is a distinct honor to represent our industry as MBA's 2026 Chair. I look forward to working with Chair-Elect Owen Lee, Vice Chair John Hedlund, and our member leaders to cultivate the next generation of industry professionals, advance policies that expand housing affordability and accessibility, and further increase member engagement in MBA's advocacy efforts."
Chandler has been with M&T since 1991 and has more than 30 years of experience in commercial real estate finance. Since 2018, she has been Chief Operating Officer and has overseen credit, asset management, compliance, technology and transformation.
Active in various committees and groups related to the mortgage banking industry, Chandler is a voting member of MBA's Board of Directors, served as 2023 Chair of MBA's Commercial Real Estate/Multifamily Finance Board of Governors (COMBOG), and previously served as Chair of MBA's Audit Committee. She is a sought-after speaker at industry conferences and is a passionate advocate for mPower, MBA's networking platform for women in the real estate finance industry.
Owen Lee, Chief Executive Officer at Success Mortgage Partners, Inc. (SMP), and John Hedlund, Vice Chairman of ICE Mortgage Technology, were also sworn in today as Chair-Elect and Vice Chair, respectively.
Lee co-founded SMP, located in Plymouth, Michigan, with his father, Vincent, in 2002 and serves as CEO. Under his leadership, SMP has closed billions of dollars of mortgage loans yearly since 2016, is licensed in 42 states, and has more than 600 employees. Lee is also Managing Member of Title Partners, LLC, a full-service title insurance and escrow services agency.
An active leader in the mortgage and financial services sectors, Lee serves on MBA's Board of Directors, was previously Co-Chair of its Independent Mortgage Bankers Executive Council, and was the 2023-2024 Chairman of MORPAC, MBA's political action committee, where he was a successful political fundraiser, helping to advance the association's top legislative priorities. Lee is also a member of the Board of Directors of The Mortgage Collaborative's Technology Fund, a venture capital investment group specializing in the mortgage technology space. He also sits on the Board of Directors of TrAIned, a mortgage technology firm in Pittsburgh.
Additionally, Lee currently holds memberships and affiliations with the State Bar of Michigan, State Bar of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Michigan Mortgage Lenders Association, Lenders One, The Mortgage Collaborative, and the National Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association. He also sits on the Board of Directors of Camp Sweeney, the largest summer camp in the world for children with Type 1 Diabetes.
Hedlund, a prominent MBA voice and industry volunteer over the years, has served as a board member for several organizations, including as a member of MBA's Board of Directors, Board Chairman of MISMO, Chairman of MBA's Residential Board of Governors (RESBOG), Board Member and past Chairman of the California Mortgage Bankers Association, and Advisory Board Member for Automated Mortgage Systems, Inc., and FundingShield, LLC.
Hedlund has served in senior leadership positions in the mortgage divisions at several large financial institutions during his career. He also co-founded and served as Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer at AmeriHome Mortgage Company, where under his leadership, AmeriHome quickly grew to become the second-largest correspondent lender in the country. He helped lead the company's sale to Western Alliance Bank in 2021, where he was a member of the leadership and executive team until 2024. He also founded and led Adanac Advisors Group, a boutique advisory and consulting firm.
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Original text here: https://www.mba.org/news-and-research/newsroom/news/2025/10/19/christine-chandler-sworn-in-as-2026-mba-chair
Brittany Sanders Named 2025 NCPA Willard B. Simmons Independent Pharmacist of the Year
ALEXANDRIA, Virginia, Oct. 19 [Category: Pharmaceuticals] -- The National Community Pharmacists Association issued the following news release:
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Brittany Sanders Named 2025 NCPA Willard B. Simmons Independent Pharmacist of the Year
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NEW ORLEANS (Oct. 19, 2025) - The National Community Pharmacists Association is pleased to announce that Brittany Sanders, of the Pharmacy at Wellington in Little Rock, Ark., is the winner of the 2025 NCPA Willard B. Simmons Independent Pharmacist of the Year Award. The award, which is sponsored this year by CPA, was presented as part of NCPA's Annual Convention,
... Show Full Article
ALEXANDRIA, Virginia, Oct. 19 [Category: Pharmaceuticals] -- The National Community Pharmacists Association issued the following news release:
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Brittany Sanders Named 2025 NCPA Willard B. Simmons Independent Pharmacist of the Year
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NEW ORLEANS (Oct. 19, 2025) - The National Community Pharmacists Association is pleased to announce that Brittany Sanders, of the Pharmacy at Wellington in Little Rock, Ark., is the winner of the 2025 NCPA Willard B. Simmons Independent Pharmacist of the Year Award. The award, which is sponsored this year by CPA, was presented as part of NCPA's Annual Convention,being held Oct. 18-21 in New Orleans.
The annual award is given to a pharmacist who exhibits exemplary professional leadership, service to community, and commitment to independent pharmacy. It is named in honor of Willard B. Simmons, a former executive secretary of NCPA (then known as the National Association of Retail Druggists) and a longtime trustee of the NCPA Foundation.
Sanders received her PharmD from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Pharmacy in 2005. She spent the next 10 years working in various capacities for a chain pharmacy before leaving to open the Pharmacy at Wellington in 2015 with her business partners. The pharmacy has since been recognized as Best Pharmacy on multiple platforms and was honored by the Arkansas Governor's Office as the largest community pharmacy COVID-19 immunization site in the state in 2021.
Sanders serves as a preceptor for the UAMS College of Pharmacy and is a member of the UAMS College of Pharmacy Admissions Committee. She is an Arkansas CPESN(r) Luminary and, for the past several years, has served on the board of the Arkansas Pharmacists Association, including as president during the recent legislative session critical to pharmacy in the state.
Her dedication to advancing the profession, independent pharmacy and her community has been recognized with honors, including as UAMS College of Pharmacy Outstanding Preceptor (2024 and 2025), Little Rock Soiree's Class of 2024 Women to Watch, and the Arkansas Pharmacists Association Pharmacist of the Year Award (2020).
Founded in 1898, the National Community Pharmacists Association is the voice for the community pharmacist, representing over 18,900 pharmacies that employ more than 235,000 individuals nationwide. Community pharmacies are rooted in the communities where they are located and are among America's most accessible health care providers. To learn more, visit www.ncpa.org.
NCPA
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Original text here: https://ncpa.org/newsroom/news-releases/2025/10/19/brittany-sanders-named-2025-ncpa-willard-b-simmons-independent
