Jim Whitman, senior vice president of member programs & services, with his wife Karen and daughter Dana
The National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) has awarded Jim Whitman, senior vice president of member programs & services, the esteemed Sheldon W. Fantle Lifetime Achievement Award. Presented during the Board of Directors Dinner at the 2025 NACDS Annual Meeting, this recognition marks Whitman’s extraordinary 48-year tenure at the Association and comes as he prepares to retire in June 2025. The award serves as a testament to his transformative impact on NACDS and the industry.
Whitman’s NACDS journey began in 1977, following his graduation with degrees in business and law, working in both legal and regulatory affairs before moving into member programs and services where he reimagined NACDS events to create industry-leading forums for collaboration and progress. He was the driving force behind the launch of the Total Store Expo (TSE) in 2013, elevated the Regional Chain Conference, and ensured the NACDS Annual Meeting remained the industry’s gold standard for strategic engagement. Whitman’s approach has always honored NACDS’ legacy while relentlessly pushing for innovation and relevance in a rapidly evolving industry.
NACDS President and CEO Steven C. Anderson announced the award, reflecting on Whitman’s legacy, “A unique aura swirls throughout this ballroom. One can almost feel the memories, the joy, the fellowship, and the celebration that have characterized nights like this for decades. It is only fitting that we dedicate this night to an individual who has not been only instrumental — but who has served as the maestro — of nights like this for nearly 50 years. Tonight, we thank and honor Jim Whitman, NACDS’ senior vice president of member programs and services — and certainly his wife Karen and their daughters, Lindsay and Dana.”
The Sheldon W. Fantle Lifetime Achievement Award, established in 1989 and renamed in 1996, honors individuals with exceptional accomplishments and contributions to the industry. In addition to Whitman, earlier in the day Martin Otto, former chief operating officer at H-E-B and chairman of NACDS from April 2016 to April 2017, was also added to the distinguished list of recipients.
Anderson continued, “In many ways, Jim has served as the conscience of this great Association. He has had a singular focus on the NACDS membership and its relationship to the Association. Jim’s relentless pursuit of excellence in service to chains and suppliers has been nothing short of extraordinary. He, along with his NACDS team, have created premier platforms for networking and for business growth. Jim has demonstrated amazing leadership in cultivating NACDS’ members-first ethos. We celebrate Jim — and most important to Jim, NACDS will carry on the legacy that he has dedicated his career to building.”
Prior to presenting Whitman with the award, NACDS Board Chair Rick Gates, senior vice president and chief pharmacy officer at Walgreens, stated: “Jim and the NACDS team have created the gold standard of industry conferences and member service. Jim’s tenure is marked by much more than decades, but also unsurpassed dedication. His contributions to NACDS throughout the years have ranged from legal and regulatory affairs to his current and longstanding role in member programs and services. And perhaps the signature salute to Jim is the ability to say he has been completely focused on all members — chains and suppliers — and committed to their success.”
The 2025 NACDS Annual Meeting, held at The Breakers in Palm Beach, Florida, brought together industry leaders to celebrate achievements and forge new paths forward.
