Employee Spotlight: Meet Mark Major, PharmD
Retired U.S. Air Force. Pharmacist. Poppa. Distillery Owner. Hometown Hero.
Mark joined the Mac’s family just two months ago as a pharmacist, but he’s spent his whole life serving others. Before that, he worked at Food City on West Broadway—but his path to pharmacy is anything but typical. He retired from the United States Air Force after a decorated 20-year career in Advanced Core Medical Command—a highly specialized role with the kind of leadership, training, and responsibility most of us only hear about in movies. He’s a 90% service-connected disabled veteran, proud husband, father of four, and Poppa to two grandkids. His story is full of grit, growth, and gratitude—and trust us when we say, he’s bringing way more than prescriptions to the counter. You’ll rarely catch Mark in a plain white coat—most days, he’s in a Hawaiian shirt, because as he puts it, “I like to carry a little vacation in my spirit.”
How long have you worked for Mac’s Pharmacy/City Drug?
I’ve been with Mac’s for about two months now. While I may be new to the team, I already feel like I’ve found my people. There’s something about the way this place operates—with heart, with hometown roots, and with real connection to the community.
What inspired you to go into pharmacy?
After retiring from the military, I realized that my purpose wasn’t done just because I took off the uniform. I’ve always had a calling to help people, and pharmacy gave me a new lens to do that—one where I could still be hands-on, still serve, and still protect the well-being of others. With every prescription, every consultation, every problem solved—I get to walk alongside people in some of their most vulnerable moments, and that matters to me.
What advice would you give to someone going into pharmacy school?
Pharmacy is competitive—people are trusting you with their health. Be intentional. Go to class. Challenge your professors. Leadership matters, and so does community. Do everything you can to set yourself apart, because the competition is real—but so is the reward.
What’s something people might not know about your life before pharmacy?
After we first moved to Maryville, my wife and I actually opened a restaurant. But just a few months in, we were robbed at gunpoint. That was a turning point. We decided to shut the doors and go back to school. It was a tough season, but it changed everything for the better.
Tell us about your family.
I’m incredibly proud of my family. My wife Carrie also served 21 years in the Air Force and now works as the Senior Vice President of Enrollment at South College. She’s sharp, driven, and endlessly supportive. We have lived in Maryville for 15 years now and have four incredible kids. Britney is 35 and married with two children of her own. Chris is 30 and lives up in Ohio. Hanna, who turns 26 today, lives in Atlanta, and Harrison is 25 and recently got engaged. I’m also “Poppa” to two amazing grandkids—Owen (11) and baby Anaha (just six months old). Being a grandfather is one of the greatest blessings of my life.
What do you do in your free time?
We love to travel. Carrie and I just returned from a beautiful trip to Italy, and we are already planning a getaway to Cancun next spring. Exploring the world together is one of the ways we recharge and stay connected after all life has thrown at us. I also spend time working with Clinch River Rum, a craft distillery we co-own in East Tennessee. And yes, you might say I’ve got some deep Tennessee roots. We are related to State Senator Tom Hatcher, and I’m proud of the legacy of service and leadership that runs in the family. Whether it’s through pharmacy, military, or public service—helping others is kind of what we do.
What’s one product you recommend to everyone who comes into the pharmacy?
That’s easy: the SolutionsRx probiotic. It’s the one thing I recommend across the board, whether someone is starting antibiotics or just wants better gut health. It’s pharmacist-formulated, contains five dominant strains, and even includes prebiotic FOS—which helps the good bacteria actually stick around and do their job. We also send out a YouTube video with it, so patients really understand how it works. Prevention is powerful, and this is a tool that helps people feel better, faster.
Who has made an impact on you since joining Mac’s?
Rick and Tim Wilhoit. They’ve both welcomed me in and set the tone for what this company is all about—local people, helping local people.
