Inspiring Children's Gym Owner Recognized for Company and Community Contributions Spanning Two Decades FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE / PRURGENT
The Little Gym International, the world's premier children’s enrichment and development franchise that offers movement-based learning and imaginative play, announces Karalyne Ley of West Knoxville-Farragut, Tennessee, as the recipient of the 2018 Annual Franchise Owner of the Year Award. Karalyne was recognized for her outstanding contributions to The Little Gym at the company's recent Reunion, an annual 3-day conference filled with brand building workshops and inspiring presentations. The Reunion is attended by hundreds of franchisees representing many of The Little Gym locations, which span 32 countries. This year's event was held in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
When Karalyne and her family first discovered The Little Gym, they realized that becoming part of the franchise family was the perfect opportunity. When her brother suggested looking into a family business, he and their mother found The Little Gym and together they all took the leap into entrepreneurship. Karalyne, a college student at the time, moved to Raleigh, North Carolina, to help open their first location in 1996. Since then, the family business has grown to include The Little Gym locations in West Knoxville-Farragut, Tennessee; Greensboro, North Carolina; and Charleston-Mount Pleasant, South Carolina.
As a business owner and leader, Karalyne has successfully managed several The Little Gym locations, and while she’s based out of the West Knoxville-Farragut area, she has ties to all four communities where her gyms are located. She also looks beyond her own locations to support The Little Gym as a whole, especially when it comes to helping those in need. When Hurricane Harvey hit in August 2017, three gyms in the Houston area were severely impacted. To help, Karalyne organized a fundraiser within The Little Gym franchise system, encouraging other gym owners to contribute to the franchisees affected by Hurricane Harvey. With those donations, the Houston owners were able to purchase new equipment and rebuild their gyms.
“I am honored to receive this award, especially because there are so many talented gym owners in our system,” said Karalyne Ley, owner of The Little Gym of West Knoxville-Farragut. “It's sometimes easier to see what kind of impact you have in your own gym, but when you’re recognized as a leader in the entire franchise community, it's an incredibly special moment. I know that I'll always remember that special feeling—it will only continue to motivate me to serve The Little Gym.”
“Karalyne is the perfect model of a giving, forward-thinking and collaborative partner, as she’s proven in her two decades of commitment to helping The Little Gym grow roots in new communities,” said Alex Bingham, President and CEO of The Little Gym International. “She’s an integral part of our franchise community, and it's inspiring to see the impact she makes in The Little Gym family and the communities around her.”
Karalyne has served as a Field Consultant for The Little Gym for more than 11 years, a position in which she mentors other franchise owners and shares her expertise. She recently joined the Inspire Group, a collection of tenured owners that help guide The Little Gym International.
For more information on The Little Gym, please visit www.TheLittleGym.com.
About The Little Gym
The Little Gym is an internationally recognized program that helps children build the developmental skills and confidence needed at each stage of childhood. The very first location was established in 1976 by Robin Wes, an innovative educator with a genuine love for children. The Little Gym International, Inc., headquartered in Scottsdale, Ariz., was formed in 1992 to franchise The Little Gym concept. Today, The Little Gym International has over 390 locations in 32 countries. For more information, visit The Little Gym at www.TheLittleGym.com. | 
