‍One View, 40 Pharmacies: Our Path to Operational Clarity

Before the Card

Finance felt like navigating a maze.

In 2006, Jeff Harrell was like many independent pharmacists—working long hours to keep his handful of Washington coast pharmacies afloat amid rising costs and shrinking margins. As he connected with other pharmacy owners, he realized they were all facing the same uphill battle: skyrocketing drug prices, growing overhead, and a mounting administrative burden that took time away from patient care.

Determined to find a better way forward, Jeff expanded his group by opening additional pharmacies and forming strategic alliances. He began building something greater than just a collection of stores. By 2011, with two more pharmacies under his belt, he started reaching out to vendors, exploring new operational models, and forming alliances with like-minded pharmacy owners. The goal was simple but ambitious: empower independent pharmacies to thrive in a challenging healthcare landscape.

That vision became reality with what is now Cascadia Pharmacy Group—a network of over 30 independently owned pharmacies spanning cities, suburbs, and rural communities across the Pacific and Intermountain Northwest. United under a shared mission, Cascadia pharmacies collaborate to streamline operations, lower purchasing costs, and centralize key services—all while delivering the personalized care only a community pharmacy can provide.

“Most traditional financial institutions just can’t keep up with our growth. Every time we add a new pharmacy, finding a partner who can quickly issue business credit cards is a real challenge—it often feels like navigating a maze just to open a new line of credit,” Harrell explained.

“And when I do find a bank willing to issue a card, it adds a heavy burden on my finance team—new usernames and passwords, multiple dashboards to manage, and the hassle of tracking each employee’s cards across various banks. It quickly becomes a nightmare to keep everything organized.”

The Turning Point

Using the NCPA Business Mastercard For One Pharmacy

As the newly appointed president of the NCPA, Jeff was eager to try the card—especially knowing it was backed by his own trade organization. “The NCPA faces one of the toughest challenges out there. Fighting for community pharmacists against PBMs and large insurance companies is no small task. So when they endorse a tool, it definitely warrants a closer look,” Harrell explained.

Within just a week of using the NCPA Mastercard at one of his locations, Jeff was hooked. “The team was incredibly responsive to my feedback. I requested a way to manage all my pharmacies through a single dashboard with one set of credentials. They listened—and delivered. I’ve never experienced that level of service before.”

After the Card

One view, 40 pharmacies

With the NCPA Business Mastercard, Harrell now manages 40 pharmacies and hundreds of employees all from one simple dashboard. Adding a new pharmacy and issuing a business credit card takes just minutes. “I save days each year by having everything in one place. I finally have a partner who supports my growth. Finance should help drive growth—not slow it down. As a community pharmacy owner, I want to focus on patient care—not managing finances.”

“What I also appreciate about the NCPA Business Mastercard team is their commitment to innovation. Beyond the custom dashboard, they introduced an AI-powered receipt management tool that makes tracking expenses effortless. My employees don’t have to deal with complicated apps, and I don’t have to spend thousands on expense tracking. All I do is snap a photo of a receipt and text it in—and at the end of the month, my accountant is impressed.”

Jeff Harrell’s Advice to Other Pharmacies

For other pharmacies considering the card, Harrell’s recommendation is clear: “The NCPA Mastercard is my go-to partner for managing all of Cascadia Pharmacy Group’s financial operations—from credit cards to expense management and more. I’ve already brought 40 of my pharmacies onboard. With 2.25% cash back, generous credit lines, and outstanding customer service, this is by far the best business financial service I’ve ever used.”