UA Little Rock to Host Inaugural Titans of Industry Event with VCC Chairman Alley
The University of Arkansas at Little Rock will welcome VCC Chairman Sam Alley as the first guest of the inaugural Titans of Industry Conversation Series.
Dr. Lawrence Whitman, dean of the Donaghey College of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), will hold an enlightening and informative conversation with Alley at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 3, in the Schueck, Lexicon, McCarty Auditorium in the Engineering and Technology Building on the campus of UA Little Rock.
The new program will highlight industry leaders from across the region and provide opportunities for students and guests to hear from and engage with visionary titans of industry. The first to be featured is Alley, who founded the successful commercial contractor and construction management company VCC in 1987.
“I am thrilled to have a true ‘Titan of Industry’ this October to share with students and other industry practitioners,” Whitman said. “We will discuss his career and the industry’s future. I am sure that this enlightening conversation with Mr. Alley will serve as an inspiration to our students, alumni, and community members. This will be a great kickoff to many of these kinds of events in the future.”
After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Arkansas, Alley was hired as a project manager for a Little Rock construction firm and gained experience as a construction manager. Inspired by his father, an entrepreneur, Alley co-founded VCC on his 31st birthday.
Serving as chairman of VCC, Alley is recognized as one of the top engineering and construction professionals in the country. Under his guidance, VCC has built a reputation as a leading top contractor in the nation and is consistently recognized as the largest retail contractor, Top 15 multifamily contractors, and ENR’s Top 100 contractors. VCC is registered and/or licensed in all 50 states and is able to deliver landmark projects nationwide.
Alley has served a pillar in the community for more than 40 years. Together with his wife Janet, he established the Master of Science in Construction Management program at the University of Arkansas. He also served on the steering committee for Campaign Arkansas and is a member of the Arkansas Academy of Civil Engineering. He was inducted into the U of A’s Engineering Hall of Fame this year.
Alley serves numerous civic groups and founded the VCC Cares Foundation in 2014 that has given millions of dollars to nationwide charities focused on helping women, children, and veterans. He was named a lifetime board member for Youth Home, serves as a Rotarian and a member of Little Rock Fifty for the Future, and was named Arkansas Business Executive of the Year in 2013.
The Titans of Industry event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Lloyd Webre, director of development for the Donaghey College of STEM, at lgwebre@ualr.edu or 501-951-1794.
