State Sen. Cliff Hite will be the guest speaker at the National Community Pharmacists Association’s (NCPA) annual legislative reception at The Inn at Ohio Northern University on Thursday, April 25, at 7 p.m.   

Hite will speak on the topics of entrepreneurship and independent pharmacies, current legislation affecting health care, and the importance and opportunities for student involvement in advocacy.

Hite was first appointed to the state Senate in 2011 to fill the unexpired term of state Sen. Steve Buehrer. Prior to his appointment, Hite was elected three times to the Ohio House of Representatives.

During his first term as representative of the 76th Ohio House district, Hite was appointed vice chair of the State Government and Elections Committee. Hite also served on the Agriculture and Natural Resources, Finance and Appropriations, Agriculture and Development Subcommittee of Finance and Appropriations (for which he served as vice chair), and Financial Institutions, Real Estate and Securities Committees.

The NCPA represents the interests of America’s community pharmacists, including the owners of more than 23,000 independent community pharmacies, pharmacy franchises and chains.

Together, they represent a $93 billion health care marketplace, have more than 315,000 employees (including 62,400 pharmacists), and dispense more than 41 percent of all retail prescriptions.