AND THE WINNER IS — A native of Waynesboro, Mississippi and the owner of Jay Lo Fitness in Olive Branch, Mississippi, Johnny Loper’s notable entrepreneurship resume appropriately found its way on a much larger platform, considering he has been nominated as a finalist in seven categories in the upcoming “DeSoto Times-Tribune’s Best 2017” awards ceremony. A former Arena Football League star, Loper is pictured with his wife, Weslynne Loper.
Surely, he was a team player during his football playing days, most notably for Wayne County High, South Carolina State University, as well as during his stellar career in the Arena Football League.
To his distinctly unique credit, even after calling it a playing career, Loper has gone to great lengths to demonstrate the proverbial team player concept, especially as a thriving, progressive entrepreneur.
A native of Waynesboro, Mississippi and the owner of Jay Lo Fitness in Southaven, Mississippi, Loper’s notable entrepreneurship resume appropriately found its way on a much larger platform, considering he has been nominated as a finalist in seven categories in the upcoming “DeSoto Times-Tribune’s Best 2017” awards ceremony.
Voting for nominees began on December 11 and runs through January 11, 2018.
A competition that is comprised of approximately 200 categories, voters will be allowed to cast their ballots on an assortment of categories, most notably their favorites in food and drink, automotive, shopping, services, community, health, and beauty and fitness, among others. The votes will determine the best of the best in DeSoto County, the third-most populous county in Mississippi with a population of 161,252, according to the latest U. S. census.
For Loper, 41, a fitness guru whose experience spans more than 20 years, he has been named a nominee in seven categories: Best Gym And Fitness Center, Best Place To Sweat, Best Personal Trainer, Best Zumba Class, Best Yoga Class (DwiPada Yoga), Best Spin Class, and Best Facebook Page.
ALL AMERICAN BUSINESS OWNER — For Loper, 41, a fitness guru whose experience spans more than 20 years, he has been named a nominee in seven categories: Best Gym And Fitness Center, Best Place To Sweat, Best Personal Trainer, Best Zumba Class, Best Yoga Class (DwiPada Yoga), Best Spin Class, and Best Facebook Page.
“This is not about me at all,” Loper, during an interview this week with Making Headline News, said when asked what’s so intriguing about his latest array of honors. “This is totally about the team of people that trust us to keep them inspired while keeping the gift of health affordable. I’m praying that the recognition we receive for being champions for our community inspire others to go after their passion with a purpose drive mindset.”
Located at 1310B Goodman Road Southaven, Mississippi, Jay Lo Fitness is widely known as a brand that demonstrates love, unity, diversity, opportunity and hope, Loper explained.
In addition, its fitness and nutrition entities are deemed a “small fraction” for what Jay Lo Fitness stands for. Interestingly, Loper’s venture offers fitness, nutrition, youth sports training, Zumba and dance, spin, yoga and motivational speaking seminars.
All things considered, Loper doesn’t away from the notion that his business would not have enjoyed sustained success if not for the valiant, unyielding support of his wife and featured team player, Weslynne Loper.
The couple has two children, both of whom are student athletes (Seven-year-old JT Loper and five-year-old Jalynne Loper).
“My wife’s support has been everything to our success,” Johnny Loper said. “This process has not been easy, and there have been a lot of sleepless nights. Our faith never wavered, and (it means a lot) to hear her say, ‘Just keep going, Johnny… ‘Do you believe in what you doing Johnny? Well Just Keep Going.’”
Long before he became an entrepreneurial success, Loper was a multi-sport athlete at Wayne County High, most notably in football, which ultimately led to him signing a National Letter of Intent to play at South Carolina State.
MAD SKILLS — Long before he became an entrepreneurial success, Loper was a multi-sport athlete at Wayne County High, most notably in football, which ultimately led to him signing a National Letter of Intent to play at South Carolina State University.
His collegiate stint was highlighted by him earning Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference All Conference honors as a kick and punt returner, as well as being named the team’s Most Valuable Player for his position three times.
For what it’s worth, Loper emphasized that his past athletic success, in some aspects, has brought about a solid competitive drive, or sorts, as a longtime and accomplished business owner.
“Being competitive in sports is a lot different than being competitive in business,” Loper said. “In my sports, it was just using my talents and gifts that I was given in order to get to a certain point in my life. In my business, it’s all about now fulfilling my purpose in life and that’s to serve and inspire others.
RETURNING THE FAVOR — To his credit, Loper not only has inspired countless individuals with whom he has crossed paths through his business but, for his immeasurable efforts, it seem they are destined to extend to him a vote of thanks — by way of the forthcoming “DeSoto Times-Tribune’s Best 2017.”
To his credit, Loper not only has inspired countless individuals with whom he has crossed paths through his business but, for his immeasurable efforts, it seems they are destined to extend to him a vote of thanks — by way of the forthcoming “DeSoto Times-Tribune’s Best 2017.”
“Being a leader in this community, it’s very important that we keep doing what we are doing, because the importance of fitness is being lost with the ‘I’ mentality,” said Loper, who has business-related event scheduled in Jackson, Mississippi on January 13. “With the help of social media, there are so many fitness experts, motivational speakers, and look at me…I’m fit (for those) type of trainers. I feel that the people that struggle with weight loss, eating disorders, low self-esteem, and comparison, leave most people feeling like failures. Therefore this person would rather not even try, because no one likes to feel defeated.”
By and large, through Jay Lo Fitness, everyone wins, Loper acknowledged.
“What I’m most grateful about today are all the people that have allowed me to continue building Jay Lo Fitness while at the same time being a husband and a hands-on dad with my kids,” Loper said.
Yep, there’s no other way to put it.
Johnny Loper has always been a team player.
JOHNNY LOPER’S NOTABLE ACCOLADES
Published Author of book, “Fired Up, Ready To Go”
Nike Contract for Eight Years
Featured as Memphis’ Fox 13 and News Channel 3 Fitness Expert (2005- through 2013)
Member of Olive Branch Chamber of Commerce
Keynote Speaker for Desoto County Business Women’s Association (two years in a row)
AdvoCare’s Rising Star Award
Four-time winner of Desoto County Best “Personal Trainer Award”
Producer of Jay Lo Fitness Express Workout DVD
Starred in Advocare Nutrition Can U 24 Workout DVD
Pinnacle Professional Member in Who’s Who in Health And Wellness
Featured in New York ICE Magazine as one of the top Fitness Professionals in America
EDITOR’S NOTE: If you are an entrepreneur, business owner, producer, author, athlete, musician, barber, life coach, motivational speaker, cosmetologist, tax preparer, model, or pastor/minister who is seeking exposure and would like to share your story with an in-depth news feature, call Reporter Andre Johnson at 901-690-6587 or Facebook message him under “Andre T. Johnson” for details.
Andre Johnson is the Founder and Publisher of Making Headline News. A 2000 graduate of the University of Memphis School of Journalism and a former reporter of sports for the Memphis Commercial Appeal newspaper, Johnson covers the NBA Southwest Division from Dallas, Texas. To reach Johnson, call him at 901-690-6587 or send email to [email protected] or [email protected]. Also, follow him on Twitter @AJ_Journalist.
ABOUT ANDRE: Andre Johnson is a longtime sports journalist and a 2000 graduate of the University of the Memphis with Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism. A native of Memphis, Johnson is a former sport reporter Memphis Commercial Appeal newspaper and Memphis Sport Magazine. He worked as full-time staffer for The Commercial Appeal from 2000-2002, in which he was the beat reporter for the Memphis Houn’dawgs of now-defunct American Basketball Assocation and the Memphis Xplorers of the arenafootball2 league. He has interviewed numerous sports personalities, most notably Archie Manning, LeBron James, George “Iceman” Gervin, Issac Bruce, Laila Ali, Vince Carter, Paul Westphal, Phil Jackson, Ken Hamlin, Cortez Kennedy, Michael Oher, Kobe Bryant, Chris Douglas-Roberts, Marc Gasol, Dwight Howard, James Harden, Patrick Willis, Stanley Morgan, Dirk Nowitzki, Rick Carlisle, Mark Cuban, Carmelo Anthony, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Rudy Gay, John Force, Lamar Odom, Alexandra Stevenson, Derek Fisher, Penny Hardaway, Phillip Rivers, Colin Kaepernick, Jim Harbaugh, Tyreke Evans, Kirk Ferentz, and O. J. Mayo, among others. To reach Johnson, send email to: [email protected]. Also, follow him on Twitter @AJ_Journalist.
Andre Johnson 
A competition that is comprised of approximately 200 categories, voters will be allowed to cast their ballots on an assortment of categories, most notably their favorites in food and drink, automotive, shopping, services, community, health, and beauty and fitness, among others. The votes will determine the best of the best in DeSoto County, the third-most populous county in Mississippi with a population of 161,252, according to the latest U. S. census.
EDITOR’S NOTE: If you are an entrepreneur, business owner, producer, author, athlete, musician, barber, life coach, motivational speaker, cosmetologist, tax preparer, model, or pastor/minister who is seeking exposure and would like to share your story with an in-depth news feature, call Reporter Andre Johnson at 901-690-6587 or Facebook message him under “Andre T. Johnson” for details.
