What a treat we have on Thursday! Stephanie Stuckey will be joining us and her presentation is sure to be amazing! Who doesn't know the iconic big red Stuckey's brand or stopped for a pecan log when on a road trip? Good times and memories! 

Stephanie Stuckey is Chair of Stuckey’s, known as a highway oasis serving up pecan log rolls, rubber alligators, and snow globes to generations of Americans. Founded in 1937 by her grandfather, W.S. Stuckey, Sr. in Eastman, Georgia, Stuckey’s grew into over 350 stores nationwide by its peak in the 1970’s. The company was sold and sadly declined for decades under a series of outside corporate owners. Fortunately, Stuckey’s returned to family hands in 2019 when Stephanie acquired the then-failing brand. In 2020 she joined forces with her business partner, R.G. Lamar, Jr., a pecan farmer from Middle Georgia.

Stuckey’s acquired a pecan snack and candy manufacturing plant in Wrens, GA in January of 2021. Since then, sales of Stuckey’s pecan snacks and sweets have grown from $2 to 14 million. Retail outlets selling Stuckey’s products – including TA, Wawa, and Food Lion – have increased from several hundred to several thousand. Stuckey’s also operates a distribution center, a fundraising business, a corporate gift program, and an online store.

Stephanie received both her undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Georgia.  She worked as a trial lawyer, was elected to seven terms as a state representative, served as Director of Sustainability for Atlanta, and taught at the University of Georgia School of Law.  Stephanie’s achievements include being named one of the Most Admired CEOs of 2022 by the Atlanta Business Chronicle, 100 Most Influential Georgians by Georgia Trend Magazine and a graduate of Leadership Atlanta. She serves on the corporate board for Bealls, a Florida-based retailer with more than 550 stores, and Full Course, an Atlanta-based firm that offers investment and consulting support for minority-owned restaurants.

The Stuckey’s story has been featured recently in the New York Times, the TODAY Show, The Washington Post, and a tweet by Martha Stewart. Stephanie’s book, “UnStuck: Rebirth of an American Icon,” was released in April of 2024 by Ben Bella Publishers and favorably reviewed by The Wall Street Journal. When she’s not running Stuckey’s, Stephanie enjoys road tripping across America, pulling over at every boiled peanut stand, petting zoo, and World’s Largest Ball of Twine.