Alum Bobby Ukrop speaks to students in "C-suite Conversation"

Bobby Ukrop of Ukrop's Homestyle Foods said he enjoyed friendly competition, but preferred outcomes that were win-win for both parties, during his talk at the Robins School of Business on Thursday.

"We've been lucky," Ukrop said of his company's success, "but the harder you work, the better luck you have."

Ukrop played basketball for Richmond in the 1960s and said he had applied his knowledge of teamwork to his stores. His college roommate and former teammate was in the audience.

Passion, an understanding of retail and quality food are what make the Ukrop's stores successful, Ukrop said. "Once we decided to do something, we did it, and we obsessed over it," he said.

Keeping competition friendly is also important to Ukrop. He said he had never burned bridges because he had often worked with the same people later on.

Senior Associate Dean Richard Coughlan interviewed Ukrop as part of a series of "C-Suite Conversations" that will continue this year. According to the Robins School website, Coughlan will talk with prominent leaders and decision-makers in the community during these hour-long conversations.

The Ukrop Auditorium was full Thursday, and the audience was made up of mostly professors and faculty. Many professors from the Robins School of Business and the Jepson School of Leadership attended the talk.

Senior Lauren Graf went to the lecture because she is on the executive board of Alpha Kappa Psi, a business fraternity on campus. She said she had enjoyed hearing Ukrop speak about his dedication to both his company and his community.

"I find his passion and dedication very inspiring," Graf said. "Those are traits that all people should have, especially when trying to succeed."

Contact staff writer Molly McGrath at molly.mcgrath@richmond.edu