When Lulie Ebaugh ’22 decided to restart her career after a season at home with her son, she was looking to further her education while exploring new career options and chose the Berry College MBA program. She had gotten to know Berry when she and her son attended Kindermusik on campus. Also, during her time as Junior Service League president and as a Chieftains Museum board member, she experienced Berry’s involvement in the community.
“The more I got to know Berry, the more I realized it was inextricably tied to the local culture, and I appreciated that,” says Ebaugh. “The trails, the beauty, etc. — it all drew me to apply to the MBA program.”
As Ebaugh progressed in her graduate studies, she began managing Riverside Gourmet, a culinary shop in downtown Rome, Georgia, and took a job as the executive director of the Rome Area Council for the Arts. Thanks to the MBA curriculum’s design for working professionals, she was able to juggle her professional commitments and continue her education.
She strengthened her understanding of effective leadership and learned how to make critical business decisions. Marketing classes opened her eyes to understanding different markets and building lasting relationships with customers.
Ebaugh graduated in May 2022 and purchased Riverside Gourmet, now Lulie’s Riverside Gourmet, in October of 2023. She celebrated the shop’s grand reopening just before the new year. She's enjoyed moving from a role where she shared products with customers to selecting unique merchandise such as cookware, tabletop decor, premium beverages and treats like the fantastic flavors of Vosges Haut-Chocolat. In fact, a full-circle moment for Ebaugh has been serving Berry families, classmates and faculty in her shop.
“The Berry MBA program took away the fear of owning and running a business,” says Ebaugh. “It gave me confidence. I now see how the coursework applied to a variety of circumstances. All businesses are different, but it’s always about trying to figure out how to meet the needs of your community.”
