ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The National Community Pharmacists Association has announced the preliminary program for its 2015 Annual Convention, scheduled for Oct. 10 to 14 at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Md., near Washington, D.C.

NCPA president John Sherrer

NCPA said Thursday that this year’s annual convention will feature more than 30 hours of live continuing education (CE) credit learning opportunities plus special tracks for technology and long-term care. There are also two general sessions, including industry updates from NCPA leaders and a keynote address by Steven Levitt, the bestselling author of “Freakonomics,” which has sold 5 million copies; as well as a host of events and roundtable discussions that provide opportunities to network and socialize.

CE sessions at the event include programs on marketing, safeguarding your pharmacy against audits, building patient services, and exploring opportunities in transitions of care. A special post-convention program on the morning of Oct. 14, titled “Creating, Selling, and Telling Your Value Story,” will serve as a capstone to trends and opportunities learned over the weekend, NCPA said.

Meanwhile, the trade show will feature more than 200 vendors showcasing their latest products, services and technology for independent pharmacies.

The closing night party on Oct. 13 will include entertainment by “Seinfeld” star Jason Alexander, who perform his one-man show, “An Evening with Jason Alexander and His Hair.”

“There is no better meeting for community pharmacists to reinvest in their businesses than at the premier convention for independent pharmacy, the NCPA Annual Convention,” NCPA president John Sherrer, co-owner of Kenmar Pharmacy and Poole’s Pharmacy in Marietta, Ga., said in a statement.  “From exclusive networking opportunities with one’s peers to ideas for nonauditable, high-value niches that help pharmacies diversify their offerings, attendees will leave with best practices that they can implement as soon as they get home.”

In tandem with the meeting, NCPA is offering in-depth preconvention programming sessions.  New in the October lineup is the popular Ownership Workshop sponsored by McKesson, which will run Oct. 8 to 10. The three-day seminar is designed to give aspiring pharmacy owners the tools and resources they need to become successful business owners.  More than 50% of past Ownership Workshop participants now own their own pharmacy, NCPA noted.

Also new this fall is High Performance Strategies for LTC Pharmacies, sponsored by Pharmacists Mutual Companies, which will be held Oct. 8 and 9, which will provide some valuable insight to pharmacy owners looking to get into long-term care pharmacy or expand their current practice, the association said.

And returning this year is an immunization certificate training program for pharmacists, to be offered on Oct. 9. Also, to help pharmacies improve a their front-end offerings to increase store traffic and profits, NCPA is again providing the Front-End Profit Building Seminar on Oct. 9.

In addition, two compounding seminars on Oct. 10 will cover how to create niches in dermatology and ear, nose, and throat conditions. “Selling Your Pharmacy: Planning for Success” will also be held Oct. 10 and is aimed at helping community pharmacy owners plan ahead for retirement. Unique to this year’s convention is a special networking session for attendees of the Ownership Workshop and the Selling Your Pharmacy programs so prospective pharmacy owners can meet current owners looking to transition their businesses.

“The time an attendee spends at this year’s convention will offer a real return for his or her business,” Sherrer added, “and I encourage community pharmacy owners, students, and all independent pharmacy leaders to join us this fall to recharge, reimagine and reinvent their businesses and their futures.”