Events | News | Business and IndustryJune 22, 2023

Stuckey's CEO to Speak to Family Enterprise Center

Stephanie Stuckey, CEO of Stuckey's, visited the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith Family Enterprise Center on Thursday, June 29, at the Center of Economic Development at the Bakery District. She spoke about being resilient and a brand on the "comeback". More on Stuckey's visit on Talk Business & Politics.

"Stephanie Stuckey is a nationally recognized speaker on the family business, sharing her story of resiliency and the Stuckey’s comeback journey,” said Justin Smith, director of the FEC. “She has put all of her energy into revitalizing a once very well-known brand that fell in and out of family ownership. Attendees always take something back from her story, and I think her energy will resonate with our family businesses here in Arkansas.”

Stuckey, lauded for revitalizing the once-popular roadside stop known for its pecan log rolls and unique souvenirs, has returned the brand to the business her grandfather established. Her involvement has brought new vitality to the Stuckey’s name, inspiring many within the family business sector.

"We’re delighted to introduce Stephanie to the River Valley,” Smith added. “Our quarterly breakfasts are always impactful, but to host a speaker of this caliber in Fort Smith is truly exceptional. Plus, she’ll be bringing some Stuckey’s sweets for attendees to sample!” 

Founded in 1937 by Stuckey’s grandfather, W.S. Stuckey, Sr., in Eastman, Georgia, the brand was sold in more than 350 stores nationwide at its peak in the 1970s. Under a series of corporate owners, sales languished, and the brand faced rapid decline. Stephanie Stuckey purchased the company in November 2019, returning her family business to its roots and its values. In the years since, the company acquired a pecan snack and candy plant in Wrens, Georgia to produce Stuckey’s branded snacks and sweets – including the iconic pecan log roll – and the snacks are now sold in nearly 5,000 retail stores nationwide.

Stuckey's success has been featured in high-profile publications, including The New York Times and The Washington Post, and her innovative approach to revitalization is sure to inspire the Fort Smith community. Before taking over the company, she worked as a trial lawyer, state representative, and environmental law firm manager, and served as Atlanta’s director of sustainability. She taught as an adjunct professor at the University of Georgia School of Law.

 

About the Family Enterprise Center (FEC):

The FEC, based at the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith’s Center for Economic Development, addresses the unique needs of the River Valley’s family-owned businesses. Providing a dynamic learning environment that caters to the unique requirements of family businesses, the FEC’s primary goal is to foster learning across generations, bridging gaps between family and non-family professional managers and family members not directly involved in the enterprise. The center’s membership offers access to practical educational programs and resources, and it provides a community of fellow family business owners who can share their experiences in confidence.

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