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On Sunday, Fleet Feet Adams Morgan celebrates its 40th anniversary! This store, the first Fleet Feet outside of California, ignited Fleet Feet's journey to becoming a nationwide brand. Over the past four decades, Fleet Feet Adams Morgan has touched countless lives and stood as a pillar in Washington, D.C.'s running community. From beginners taking their first steps to seasoned marathoners, they've provided support, inspiration, and a sense of belonging. Their dedication to fostering a vibrant and healthy community has made a lasting impact on countless individuals and families. A heartfelt congratulations to Phil and Jan Fenty, who originally opened the store, and to their son Shawn and his wife Kim, who took the helm just over 15 years ago and continue to uphold the legacy. Their story is a testament to the power of following your dreams and the incredible journey of owning your own business. Here's to many more years of success, growth, and inspiration!
Celebrating Our Interns' First Week! What an incredible first week it's been with our summer interns! This week, we welcomed 13 interns who will be working in our retail stores and various Store Support Team departments. The warm welcome from Joey Pointer, presentations from our Fleet Feet Board (Jim Hyler & James Lackland), the Outfitting experience in the Carrboro store, and hashtag#TheBigRun5K have allowed our interns to navigate Fleet Feet's culture and showcase their remarkable potential. We are thrilled to welcome this talented group of individuals who have already started to make a significant impact. Their enthusiasm, fresh perspectives, curiosity, and eagerness to learn have been truly inspiring. We are eager to see what they will accomplish during their time with us. Here's to a fantastic journey ahead! Let's continue to innovate, learn, and grow together.
Running is good for your mental health. It’s supported by literature and we know it from experience. But running is just one tool in a mental health “tool kit” that needs to be sharpened and used. Like any tool, it has its limitations and shouldn’t replace therapy for those who need it. What’s more, if you’re a competitive athlete in the sport, it’s common to have your identity tightly wrapped up in your status or appearance as a runner. This can make you more susceptible to disordered eating and depression or anxiety if you find yourself unable to run. For Mental Health Awareness Month, we talked to licensed clinical psychologist, running coach and marathoner Gwen Riley about the psychological benefits and limitations of running, when to seek professional help and how.
This week’s employee spotlight shines a light ⭐ on another exceptional team member: Bree O’Connell. Bree has been with Fleet Feet since July of 2018 playing a pivotal role in the growth of our two locations in the Wichita, KS market. In 2023, Bree joined the Colorado market of five stores as the Retail Operating Partner alongside Aubrey Curl. As the leader of our retail store management, Bree has been accountable for developing their amazing team, driving overall business results and providing phenomenal customer service in support of operating a thriving Fleet Feet. Get to know her: Q: What is the most valuable career advice you’ve been given? Several years ago, I was given the advice "Don't be afraid to give feedback. Your team wants to know how they are doing. They want to be good at their jobs. No one wants to be the team member who is failing." I was given this advice as a store manager, and I use it often when training and coaching my store managers. I also often think about some advice I received about frequency in feedback. "Feedback should be like an everyday brushing. If left too long it can often feel like a root canal for both parties." This helped me understand both urgency and how to make feedback easier. Without these nuggets of advice, I would not be in the position I am today.
🌟 We're excited to shine the spotlight on one of our outstanding team members, Billy Heatherly! 🌟 Billy has been a part of our Fleet Feet community for nearly 5 years. As our Operating Partner, Billy plays a pivotal role in leading our Fleet Feet Asheville market and has truly embodied making the world better by building and strengthening our local community in Asheville, NC.
AM 🌟 We're thrilled to shine the spotlight on one of our outstanding team member, Jamie McDonald! 🌟 As our Operating Partner, Jamie plays a pivotal role in leading our Utah market and driving our brand's success with her unwavering dedication. Learn more about Jamie below: What is your favorite thing about your role? Getting the opportunity to meet new people and make new connections every day. I love the relationships I build. What are you currently excited about in your job? Growing our business through training programs. What’s one professional skill you’re currently working on? Marketing- using platforms like Canva and learning more effective marketing tools. What is the most valuable career advice you’ve been given? Search for value in criticism and feedback. What’s your go-to productivity trick? Listening to soft music in the background of paperwork. What behavior or personality trait do you most attribute your success to, and why? Communication- I am not afraid to talk to strangers. I love building relationships with the community and staff. Outside of work, tell us how you sweat and live passionately. Being in the mountains- hiking, biking, paddleboarding. Orange Theory workouts. Watching my daughter play her sports. What’s one thing you wish you’d known when you started working at Fleet Feet or what advice would you give to a newbie? You are a HUGE key piece in driving traffic in your store. Must have creative ideas to bring new people in
🌟 Employee Spotlight: Grant Fletcher🌟 We are thrilled to shine the spotlight on one of our outstanding team members, Grant Fletcher! Grant has been an integral part of our Fleet Feet Syracuse team for nearly 4 years. Thank you for your dedication to the Fleet Feet Team and our customers. Learn more about Grant below: What’s one professional skill you’re currently working on? Delegation. I take such pride and ownership of projects that sometimes it is hard for me to delegate roles to others. What behavior or personality trait do you most attribute to your success, and why? Hard work. I started working at 13 on a family farm. I learned very early how hard you have to work to see results. What’s a work-related accomplishment that you’re really proud of? I was honored with a Pacesetter Award in 2023. I can't thank my OP enough for the nomination. The experience has empowered me to think big about my role within FF. What’s one thing you wish you’d known when you started working at Fleet Feet or what advice would you give to a newbie? Take pride and ownership in every fit you have. You are the expert, and these people came in for our expertise. What’s one item you can’t leave home without? Sunglasses. My eyes are really bad, and my eye doctor tells me all the time, if you are squinting you are damaging your eyes. What world record do you think you have a shot at beating? Not sure if it is a world record, but I want to be able to finish dead last in a race and still win m
“Exec: 2024 Look Ahead – Retailers and Brands Define Issues and Opportunities” SGB Media featuring insights from John Rogers, owner and president of Fleet Feet Maine Running in Portland, ME where he provides a specialty store view on building customer relationships in the years ahead. Find out more about the three things John and team are focusing on to help continue to grow the business. hashtag#specialtyretail hashtag#growthmindset hashtag#franchising
🌟 Employee Spotlight: Victoria Patterson 🌟 We are thrilled to shine the spotlight on one of our outstanding team members, Victoria Patterson! Victoria has been an integral part of our Sales Operations team for nearly 2 years. Thank you for bringing your unique skills and dedication to the Fleet Feet Team. Learn more about Victoria below: 1. What are you currently excited about in your job? Currently, @Share the Run! I am so proud and excited about the mission for this year and the teamwork that has taken place to make it come alive. 2. What’s one professional skill you’re currently working on? Leading with confidence. This could mean being more confident in my presentation skills, in my ability to suggest ideas and more. 3. Outside of work, tell us how you sweat and live passionately. By staying curious and always exploring new interests. If I have even a small thought of something I might want to do, I try it out. Explore everything, you never know what you might fall in love with. #EmployeeSpotlight #EmployeeRecognition #leadwithconfidence #staycurious
This February, we're teaming up with Saucony, Black Girls RUN! and you (we hope) on a mileage challenge to inspire our communities to move, to promote active allyship and to raise funds for BGR! Registration is free!
