Chamber recognizes 2022 Small Business Leader of the Year

GREENVILLE, NC (May 24, 2023) – Chris Loignon, owner and operator of Fleet Feet Greenville NC, was named the Greenville-Pitt County Chamber of Commerce’s 2022 Small Business Leader of the Year during the Chamber’s annual Small Business Awards ceremony at the Greenville Convention Center.

Fleet Feet Greenville NC is part of a network of specialty running, walking, and fitness stores across the country, and carries the top brands of athletic footwear, along with a wide variety of athletic apparel and products to help customers achieve their needs in lifestyle, fitness, and training.

Fleet Feet’s vision is an acronym called S.E.R.V.E., which, for them, means to serve humbly, educate, run together, value the act of giving, and empower a community to be better.

Loignon and his wife, Kendra, opened their Fleet Feet franchise in 2017 at Greenville Square.  After outgrowing their original space, the Loignons moved the business to its current location at 207 East Arlington Boulevard in April 2022.

Loignon first worked at a Fleet Feet franchise in Winston-Salem, NC in 2011.  After being inspired by the franchise’s support of the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, he pursued opening a franchise in Greenville with a desire to share the impact that running can have on a community.

Fleet Feet supports various community activities through hosting or supporting 50 races/runs annually that benefit local and national non-profit organizations.  Additionally, the franchise has a monthly community partner program where they donate a portion of their sales each month.  In 2022, Fleet Feet donated close to $35,000 to charitable causes.

“I have a team of people that get behind the mission my wife and I came up with and they go out and do that every day with our customers,” said Loignon, who is also an avid runner.

In addition to their charitable giving, Fleet Feet donates shoes to different student populations in underserved areas.  Each May, they provide a shoe fitting for people at Joy Soup Kitchen, giving away 200-250 shoes at each event.

“Our employees know the impact they are going to have is this ripple effect and that is why we use the mantra, ‘running changes everything,’ Loignon said.

In continuing with their mission to serve the community and promote a healthier lifestyle, Loignon and his wife also own and operate two additional businesses within Fleet Feet’s location – Cycleologie and Serve Coffee Bar.

Loignon received his BS and MS degree in Kinesiology and Exercise Science from East Carolina University.  He received the ECU Health and Human Performance Outstanding Alumni award in 2019.  In 2021, Fleet Feet Greenville NC was named a Top 50 Best Running Store by Running Insight magazine.

Loginon is the 37th recipient of the Chamber’s Small Business Leader of the Year Award, presented annually to recognize an individual leader from a business with 50 or less full-time employees who has not only demonstrated successful operation of his or her business, but who also has made significant contributions to the community and demonstrated business leadership.

Additional finalists for the 2022 Small Business Leader of the Year award included Cindy Kosor, chief operating officer at Beauty Bar Medispa, and Rachel Davis and Mark Porter, co-owners of Advance Mechanical Heating & Air Conditioning.

The Small Business Leader of the Year Awards ceremony was presented by First Citizens Bank and Optimum Business.

For a list of past recipients of the Chamber’s Small Business Leader of the Year award, visit greenvillenc.org/smallbusinessawards.

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Media Contact:
Lauren Phillips, Director of Marketing & Communications
(252) 752-4101 ext. 2228

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Chris Loignon, pictured right with wife, Kendra, was named the Chamber's 2022 Small Business Leader of the Year during a ceremony on May 24, 2023.

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