Catawba Valley Community College

For Immediate Release

01.02.2012

CVCC Alumnus Named Small Business Owner of the Year

Has anyone told you lately that "it can't be done?" That's exactly the push CVCC alumnus and DeFeet International owner Shane Cooper needed to prove it could be done, and he would be the one to do it!

Business North Carolina Magazine named Cooper the 2011 Small Business Owner of the Year. DeFeet makes cycling socks worn by Tour de France winners Greg LeMond and Cadel Evans. Against all odds, his business has survived and even thrived while many U.S. hosiery manufacturers threw in the towel.

Supported with technical assistance from CVCC's Manufacturing Solutions Center (formerly the Hosiery Technology Ctr.), his business returned after a fire, a flood and a major theft. Today, he's still turning a profit, and exploring unique ways to market his even more unique products.

Read the entire story at:

www.businessnc.com/index.php?src=directory&view=articles&srctype=detail&refno=1552&category=2011-12