Stephanie Stuckey is the CEO of Stuckey’s, the roadside oasis famous for its pecan log rolls. The company was founded by Stephanie’s grandfather, W.S. Stuckey, Sr., as a pecan stand in Eastman, GA in 1937 and grew to over 350 stores across the country. The company was sold in 1964 but is now back in family hands and making a comeback.
Stephanie took over the company in November of 2019 and, under her leadership, Stuckey’s has purchased a pecan-shelling and candy-manufacturing facility in Wrens, GA, revamped its distribution operations based in Eastman, GA, acquired a healthy pecan-snack company, rebranded its products and website, added four new franchised stores, expanded its B2B retail customer base, and increased online sales 550% — all while weathering the COVID-19 pandemic.
Stephanie received both her undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Georgia. She has worked as a trial lawyer, was elected to seven terms as a state representative, ran an environmental nonprofit law firm that settled the largest Clean Water Act case in Georgia history, served as Director of Sustainability and Resilience for the City of Atlanta, and taught as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Georgia School of Law. Stephanie’s achievements include being named one of the 100 Most Influential Georgians by Georgia Trend Magazine, as well as graduating from Leadership Atlanta. A longstanding member of Glenn Memorial United Methodist Church, she is active in her community and serves on many nonprofit boards, including the Initiative for Affordable Housing, EarthShare of Georgia, and her local zoning review board.
Stephanie had no entrepreneurial experience prior to taking over her family’s business and saving it from ruin. And she in no way resembles your typical CEO, being a woman who wears Stuckey’s t-shirts rather than power suits. How does she do it? She embraces her weaknesses as opportunities to learn, and she celebrates her strengths. She treats every day as an adventure in which the unexpected is likely to happen. And she gets up at 5 a.m. every morning and follows her grandfather’s and father’s ideals: Work hard, be fair, and have fun.
