Mark Palmer, pharmacy store manager of Store #24 in Pulaski, NY., and Rachel Simmons, customer experience supervisor in Store #28 in Dolgeville, N.Y., were each named favorite pharmacist and favorite employee of 2021, respectively.
The awards, which were presented Oct. 26 and 27, were given by Kinney Drugs president John Marraffa; KPH CEO Dave Warner; KPH CFO Steve McCoy; KPH vice president, Dave McClure; KPH vice president Rich McNulty; Kinney Drugs regional managers Steve Palmer, R.Ph.; Jon Wing, and Neil Tierson, Dolgeville store managers; Christie Barr and pharmacist Kathleen Palmer.
[Read more: Kinney makes donations in honor of customers' favorite pharmacist, employee]
A 39-year veteran with Kinney, Mark Palmer began his career as a pharmacist in Store #24 after graduating from Albany College of Pharmacy in 1982.
In 1984, he was promoted to pharmacy store manager, the position he holds today. In addition, Palmer’s wife Karla has been a pharmacist with the company since 1987 and currently serves in a part-time role, and their son Steve was hired in 2011 as a pharmacist and now serves as a Regional Manager for Kinney. Their daughter Kathleen was hired in 2015 and is a pharmacist at Store #87 in Syracuse.
When asked what it meant to be voted Favorite Pharmacist of 2021, Mark replied, “I am humbled and honored to have won this award. I continue to enjoy the opportunities the corporation has afforded me throughout my career.”
In Palmer’s honor, Kinney Drugs will donate $1,000 to the Kinney Drugs Foundation.