Nikeisha F Powell
Nikeisha Powell‑Echevestre is an accomplished entrepreneur and the Founder & Chief Executive Officer of Ark Business Services Inc., and its sister company Ark Rx Returns Solutions, a nationwide reverse logistics firm specializing in pharmaceutical returns and compliance services. Since entering the reverse distribution space in 2009, she has grown her business into a trusted partner for pharmacies and healthcare institutions across the United States, providing tailored solutions for the retrieval, processing, and manufacturer return of unsaleable or expired medications. Under her leadership, the company is known for operational excellence, strategic innovation, and its unique RX2Go mail‑in program that serves smaller pharmacy clients.
With more than a decade of executive experience across multiple industries including healthcare, finance, construction, education, and retail, Nikeisha brings both strategic vision and operational rigor to every initiative she leads. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting and a Master of Business Administration in Business Management from Monroe College‑New Rochelle, augmented by professional certifications that reflect her commitment to continual growth and industry mastery. Her cross‑sector expertise enables her to build scalable processes, drive organizational performance, and navigate complex regulatory environments with precision and integrity.
Nikeisha’s leadership philosophy centers on people, purpose, and legacy. Guided by faith and a strong belief in team‑first leadership, she has cultivated a workplace culture known for exceptional employee retention and long‑term professional development. Beyond business operations, she champions community engagement through educational partnerships and scholarship support, underscoring her dedication to empowering the next generation of leaders. Her work not only strengthens pharmacy compliance and supply chain practices nationwide but also reflects a deeper commitment to service and positive impact.
• Monroe College-New Rochelle - MBA
• Outstanding Entrepreneur Award
• Faith Christian Academy
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my team. We started off as six people, and I still have the original team. We do not have a high employee turnover. Everyone that we started with, I still have them on staff. I could not have done it alone. At the end of the year, when we had our Christmas dinner, we did service year plaques, and the amount of people that got 10-year plus, 5 years plus, 7 years plus, it was just heartwarming to know that they spent so long with us. Even the ones that just came on staff, averaging 2 plus years now, they're still here. I tell them every day, I'm not building a legacy for me, I'm building a legacy for all of us.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve ever received came from a fellow business owner, who encouraged me to seek out retiring business owners and consider acquisitions as a strategic path for growth. That guidance opened my eyes to opportunities I hadn’t previously considered. Alongside that, I’ve learned the importance of persistence—staying committed, adaptable, and proactive has been key to advancing my career.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would say don't give up. I am a huge believer in owning something, and owning something for the first time is a huge accomplishment. Sometimes the pressure to let it go is often difficult to walk away from, but from my perspective, if I had given up, I wouldn't have had 13 years right now. We would never have survived COVID as a small business. If they find something that they are passionate about, and that they see themselves waking up being happy going to do, I will tell them, hold on to it, because those dreams are far and few in between. Many people start businesses, but because their hearts are not in it, it doesn't work, because people feed off your energy. So if you are like, oh, I don't want to be here today, your employees are gonna feel that, and they won't want to be here. I tell those people who want to start and who are scared to start, take a chance. It's gonna look really frightening. It's extremely frightening because of the unknown. But I trust that if you have a sound business plan, and if you are a go-getter, and if you're ambitious enough, you will definitely, definitely achieve your long-term goals.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest opportunities in my field is the steady, nationwide demand for our services, as they are essential for all pharmacies and healthcare institutions. At the same time, the field presents challenges, including rising competition and the regulatory risks our clients face, such as inspections and potential fines. Navigating these challenges requires thorough partner screening and proactive risk management to ensure we deliver reliable, compliant solutions.