Todd Women Step Up to the Plate

From cleaning tables to greeting customers to managing employees, Becky Todd and her sister-in-law Judi Todd Darnell have done it all.

“I’ve always been involved in the day-to-day operations, but never in the store. I’m starting to do more of this,” said Becky, who has been in charge of Todd Restaurants, Inc. for a few short weeks. “It’s not difficult for me to step into this position.”

After her husband Jeff passed away in a car accident in August, Becky stepped in as president and CEO of Todd Restaurants Inc. She now oversees the daily operations of Roy Rogers restaurants located in Belle Haven, Manchester Lakes, and Woodlawn. Judi helps Becky fill the gaps.  

Becky earned her degree in hospitality management at Northern Virginia Community College and was in charge of Accounts Payable and payroll for Todd Restaurants. Judi has a degree in environmental science and works as an industrial hygienist for a government contractor.

“That’s my labor of pay, but this is my labor of love.” Judi said of helping Becky run Todd Restaurants.

Although Becky was in charge of Todd Restaurants' accounts payable and payroll, she helped out in the trenches. She remembers a time early in her relationship with Jeff when he asked her to pick up 26 boxes of chicken from a distributor in Aberdeen, Maryland for an event in Hybla Valley. She returned to Virginia with “26 boxes of chicken squeezed into her Honda Civic and the A/C blasting,” she recalled with a laugh.  

On the other hand, Judi learned about many aspects of the business through "osmosis" as a result of growing up in a family so involved in the restaurant industry.

“I think quite frankly, Becky and I surprise people," commented Judi. 

Juggling Roy's and Family

The biggest challenge for Becky is balancing business and family. Becky tries to go to all three restaurants three times a week, and her employees are happy to help when she has questions about the business.

“Every family does this: juggling kids and work,” said Becky. “I’m no different than any other parent.”

Both Becky and Judi agree that their employees are “truly a family.” Some employees have been with the company for nearly 20 years. According to Becky, the company’s turnover rate is 3.2 percent, a rate relatively unheard of in the fast food industry.  

“A family-owned business is a blessing and a curse,” said Judi. “It makes you get up in the morning but it also doesn’t allow for personal grief. It’s a 24-hour, seven-day job. On a personal note, we all grieve together. While we recognize how strong we are, we don’t want to overwhelm each other. We grieve personally and together.”

"Community is huge." 

Both Becky and Judi are appreciative of all of the support they’ve received from the Mount Vernon community, the Mount Vernon-Lee Chamber of Commerce, and their own employees.

“Community is huge,” remarked Becky. “That’s what keeps you going. They’ve helped me tremendously to cope and to deal.” 

Added Judi, “We have that sense in that we’re not alone. Everyone shares our grief.”

“We all have to help each other,” said Becky. “[Jeff] always used to say, ‘I’m not the smartest person in the world, but I know some smart people.’”

Becky has some very big shoes to fill in terms of Jeff's legacy of giving back to the community. When asked whether she was going to keep up Jeff’s tradition of giving back to the community, Becky replied, “I’m going to try. There’s no way I could do what he did. I’m finding out more about what he did, why he wasn’t home much. The people he touched, it’s just amazing and now I get to hear all their stories.”

Becky added that she will continue to feed local high school football players after games this fall.

The one thing Becky and Judi want the community to know is that they — and the restaurants — are here to stay.

Said Judi. “We want everyone to be assured that the businesses will continue to run indefinitely. “

One in a continuing series on how local residents are pursuing their version of the American Dream.