As a child, Ashley Boggs Robilio spent weekends at Huey’s helping with prep, salads, and onion rings. After turning 18, she became a server, eventually trying her hand at bartending, though, as she puts it, she “wasn’t good at that at all.” She served for five years, even during college, when she would come home a few weekends each semester to pick up shifts and earn spending money.
After graduating from the University of Alabama with a degree in Hospitality Management and spending time traveling, she returned to Memphis, where her father placed her into what he called a “manager training program,” unstructured, unwritten, and completely hands-on.
In 1991, she helped open Huey’s East at the Apple Tree Center in East Memphis and became General Manager at just 25. She went on to lead multiple locations and rise through the organization as Area Manager, Vice President, COO, and now President of Huey’s Restaurants, working alongside CEO Lauren Boggs.
Ashley’s leadership is built on that foundation, shaped by years of experience at every level of the business and a clear understanding of what it takes to operate successfully day in and day out.
“This industry is hard. Your schedule is crazy and always changing. I was newly married and working three doubles a week with only one day off. We all did that for a very long time.”
She is direct about what drives success behind the scenes, pointing to the discipline and systems required to sustain operations over time.
Ashley’s leadership is disciplined, direct, and grounded in experience—but it’s also deeply rooted in people. She believes in building teams that trust each other, telling the truth even when it’s hard, and creating an environment where hard work and loyalty still matter.
“If you say you’re going to do something—do it. And if you mess up—and you will—fix it and move on.”
That same clarity carries into her leadership philosophy, where accountability and follow-through are non-negotiable, and where difficult decisions are part of the responsibility.
During COVID, those decisions became even more significant, as Huey’s chose to keep its employees whole, a decision that reflected the company’s values even at a financial cost.
Ashley remains deeply connected to the Memphis restaurant community and the relationships that define it, believing strongly in the importance of supporting one another and continuing to grow that network.
“It means the world to me. I was truly so surprised and so honored. It’s also very cool because both my dad and my sister have won it, so it’s come full circle.”
Profoundly respected by her peers and fiercely committed to her team, Ashley leads with both strength and humility. She believes in surrounding herself with people who tell the truth, taking calculated risks, and never losing sight of the importance of enjoying the work.
Being named the MRA Distinguished Restaurateur of the Year reflects not only her leadership, but the respect she has earned across the Memphis restaurant community.
