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CONCORD, NORTH CAROLINA (July 28, 2026) – Cathy Pryor, a member of the Sporting Goods Industry Hall of Fame and former Board Chair of the National Sporting Goods Association (NSGA), has been appointed as the Chief Operating Officer of SHOE SHOW, INC. Jay Manning is retiring as COO on November 2, 2026 after 40 years with SHOE SHOW.
Pryor was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2024 after a successful 32-year career with Hibbett Sports. She progressed from District Manager to Director, Vice President of Store Operations and Senior Vice President of Store Operations and Executive Officer.
Pryor was the first woman to serve as NSGA Board Chair and was a member of the NSGA Board of Directors from 2012-20. She was a member of the Sporting Goods Industry Hall of Fame Committee and also served as chair.
“Known for her collaborative leadership style and relentless pursuit of excellence, Cathy believes exceptional organizations are built by investing in people, embracing innovation, and continually challenging the status quo,” SHOE SHOW said in a statement on its LinkedIn page. “She is passionate about developing leaders, fostering cultures rooted in trust and accountability, creating environments where teams are empowered to achieve extraordinary results.”
Pryor began her career in sporting goods retail in 1985 with Robby’s Sports in Florida and was a Store and District Manager before joining Hibbett in 1988. She helped expand Hibbett’s footprint to more than 1,000 stores. She was chosen as Sporting Goods Woman of the Year, received the Retail Innovator Award from Retail TouchPoints and was recognized as one of the top businesswomen in Birmingham, Alabama during her time at Hibbett.
Manning began his retail career in 1977 and joined SHOE SHOW in 1986 as a buyer. His responsibilities expanded in 1994 into what became the COO role and he has “provided guidance across store operations, logistics and numerous strategic initiatives,” according the LinkedIn statement.
SHOE SHOW was founded in 1960 in Kannapolis, North Carolina and provides footwear, bags and accessories for the entire family. SHOE SHOW’s portfolio includes Burlington Shoes and it has nearly 1,000 stores in 47 states. The SHOE SHOW headquarters and distribution center is located in Concord, North Carolina.
Cathy Pryor and Mickey Newsome of Hibbett Sports are members of the Sporting Goods Industry Hall of Fame.
