APRx History
From Vision to Triumph
Persistence, Values Drive the Success of American Pharmacies
Luck in the business world often occurs when preparation intersects with opportunity. That’s why Mike Gohlke is one of the luckiest guys in pharmacy to be the founder of American Pharmacies.
The genesis of APRx dates to 1999, when Gohlke left McKesson Corp. to join Walsh Healthcare Solutions, a regional drug distributor that had just partnered with Alabama-based American Pharmacy Cooperative Inc. Walsh started a San Antonio distribution center, which soon reached $300 million in annual sales. Gohlke says Walsh started selling stock in August, 2001 and and quickly sold about 200 shares to Texas independents. A five-member council was established to help shepherd the new business, and Mike was asked to serve as the executive.
“We made monumental differences for independent pharmacies,” Mike said. “In the early years we changed the playing field for independents, not only from a purchasing standpoint, but in advocacy, too.
American Pharmacies is Born
Southwest Pharmacy Solutions Inc. (dba American Pharmacies) was created on Sept. 25, 2002. APRx’s core principles from the start was one member-one vote management, 100% member ownership and a board of directors composed of shareholder members elected by their peers. The original APRx board members were Ray Carvajal, R.Ph., San Antonio; Buddy de la Rosa, R.Ph., Weslaco; Lynn Everett, R.Ph., Waco; Dennis Helbert, R.Ph., Brownwood; Don Novak, R.Ph., Longview; Gary Rice, R.Ph., Houston; and Bruce Rogers, R.Ph., Victoria.
“A lot of people took a lot of chances to create American Pharmacies,” Mike said. “Those first board members were visionaries willing to take a leap of faith to give independents an organization they could believe in — one that would fight for their interests.”
The Birth of APRx Legislative Advocacy
In 2003 the board hired government affairs specialist Richard Beck, R.Ph., as vice president for pharmacy affairs. APRx’s success in the Texas Legislature led to the 2009 formation of the Texas Pharmacy Business Council (TPBC), a subsidiary of APRx, and Beck became executive director. Beck was succeeded in May 2022 by Michael Wright, who now oversees nationwide advocacy effort as VP of government relations.
Today, American Pharmacies' advocacy reach includes Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, Michigan and Washington, D.C., where APRx entered the federal advocacy area in 2023. American Pharmacies has now passed 20 pro-pharmacy bills in four states.
APRx also sponsors a political action committee in Texas – APRxPAC – to help support the election and re-election of lawmakers who support independent pharmacy.
A New Era at APRx
In 2019, APRx Founder Mike Gohlke retired as APRx leader after 17 years of service. He was succeeded as president on January 1, 2020 by Laird Leavoy, senior vice president of sales and operations. Gohlke remains active in APRx affairs by serving as an advisor to the board of directors.
APRx, which started with some 200 members in Texas more than 20 years ago, has now grown to 750+ member pharmacies in 38 states.
Laird Leavoy's Profile