Summary
- This month, we focus on legacy-minded lawyer, business owner, author, and public speaker Stephanie Stuckey.
Stephanie Stuckey, owner of Stuckey’s, was our GPSolo Women’s Initiative Network (WIN) featured speaker at the Ninth Annual Present & Powerful Women’s Speaker Series in February 2024, held during the American Bar Association Midyear Meeting in Louisville, Kentucky. She gave us a compelling presentation about her journey to buying back Stuckey’s, her grandfather’s company, and her efforts to restore it to its prior glory. In the meantime, we learned some great lessons about the importance of your roots and doing business today with the highest integrity. Stuckey’s has evolved from a small pecan stand to a beloved symbol of the American road trip and a legacy of family resilience. With Stuckey at the helm, the brand’s revival is more than just a business comeback; it is a celebration of Americana, inclusivity, and sustainable, family-focused business. The enduring appeal of Stuckey’s reflects a longing for connection, nostalgia, and comfort, underscoring why its resurgence today is both culturally significant and heartwarming. I recently had the opportunity to talk to Stuckey about her journey.
Stuckey grew up in Washington, D.C., and was the daughter of a U.S. Congressman from Georgia, Billy Stuckey. She says, “I grew up in a town of lawyers. A town where laws were being debated, made, and this concept was very influential for me. It gave me an understanding of how to make good laws, how to change laws. I found it very inspiring and decided I wanted to do public service through my work in the law.” Her paternal uncle was a lawyer, Gene Mack Winburn, and he encouraged her to go to law school. She went to the University of Georgia law school and graduated in 1992. Stephanie says, “I had a lot of good professors in different areas of the law. I made an A in tax law, and I loved the University of Georgia School of Law.” Stuckey was a public defender for a decade in Fulton County. She worked at the University of Georgia Law School clinic and worked closely with students representing inmates in the Georgia prison system. She filed many habeas corpus motions. One way she learned the ins and outs of trying cases was by doing appellate work. Stuckey learned what objections she needed to make by reading all the transcripts, and she laughs when she remembers her trial days. “I was a constant objector during trial because I knew how to preserve the errors.”
When I asked her what she would say to young lawyers, she said, “Law is all about options. I tell young lawyers to give themselves grace, set reasonable expectations, and realize you are not perfect.” Stuckey recalls a judge who once told her during a hearing, “Toughen up, Buttercup.” At the time, she thought it was harsh of the female judge to tell her that, but now, looking back, she realizes the judge was right. Years later, the judge told her that she was only tough on her because she saw so much potential in her. It’s great to have mentors like that, and Stuckey says she was blessed with many mentors all the way along in her career. Stuckey believes in the Socratic method. She says, “A background in law informs the way you think, how you break down issues, and how you manage solvable problems. What’s the rule? How do we get there and break it down to the root of the matter? You learn to think quickly on your feet.”
A major defining moment came for Stuckey when, at the end of ten years, she decided to run for public office. She says, “I was upset about the reduction in funding in the criminal court system and how some of the laws, such as the minimum mandates for sentencing, were applied in the courtroom. I also did not like the ‘two strikes you are out’ laws, which provided for mandatory life without parole for some crimes. I wanted to go into the state house and see what I could do to make some changes.” She served in the Georgia House of Representatives for 14 years, doing seven two-year terms while raising her kids. And in the course of her work, she realized how hard it is to change things, especially in a conservative state such as Georgia. She went back to law, running a nonprofit environmental firm doing Green Law. She focused on clean air and clean water with the Sierra Club and the Riverkeepers.
Stuckey says, “A little while later, the mayor of Atlanta called and asked me to come and head up sustainability for the city of Atlanta. I spearheaded the environmental initiatives for Atlanta. We did things like sustainable policy, efficiency, recycling, education, implementing solar energy on city buildings, and green infrastructure.” Stephanie was able to combine her environmental law and legislative background for a great combination that greatly benefitted the city of Atlanta. She says, “I took my skills and my desire to change things for the better. I felt like there was no greater issue than the environment.” From 2015 to 2020, she did that important work for the city of Atlanta.”
About that time, with all that great experience under her belt, her fate and her legacy coincided. She got a call from an accountant who worked for one of the owners of Stuckey’s about coming in and buying the company. It was in the red, and the owners were out of fresh ideas for pulling the company back into the black. The company, in the years since her grandfather had sold it to the Pet Company, had faced challenges, including changes in travel patterns, increased competition, and several ownership changes that saw Stuckey’s drift away from its roots. Stuckey says, “When I got the call, I had a lot of questions. I wasn’t exactly sure what I needed to know, and I spent six weeks vetting the business. I went to three financial advisors, two of whom said no, and the third said yes. His yes was based on the goodwill of the brand value.” Stuckey thought about her connection to her grandfather. She says, “I loved what he did, and I wanted to bring it back. I took on the challenge, invested my life savings, and decided to rebuild the business in honor of my grandfather.” Stuckey was determined when she took over the company to revive the brand and restore its connection to American nostalgia.
Stuckey’s began as a modest roadside stand in Eastman, Georgia, in 1937, founded by her grandfather, W.S. “Sylvester” Stuckey Sr. Initially selling pecans—a plentiful crop in Georgia—the stand quickly grew to offer candies, snacks, and souvenirs. The business expanded rapidly, fueled by the rise of the American highway system, and became a beloved stop for travelers during road trips. At its peak in the 1960s and 1970s, Stuckey’s had more than 350 locations across the United States and became synonymous with the American road trip experience. Today, there are still many people whose fondest childhood memories are of stopping at Stuckey’s on family road trips.
Stuckey’s success was rooted in family values, with Sylvester Stuckey and his family deeply involved in every aspect of the business. The company’s evolution through the decades reflects the resilience of the Stuckey family, who maintained their entrepreneurial spirit even during tough times. Today, Stephanie Stuckey’s efforts to revive the brand are a continuation of this legacy, demonstrating the enduring power of family-driven business and her personal commitment.
Stuckey’s revitalization of the company is not just about business; it’s about reconnecting with a cherished part of American culture. By bringing back classic treats such as the famous pecan log roll and highlighting the company’s history, she taps into a collective nostalgia, reminding people of a simpler time of family road trips and unplanned stops at roadside stores. This revival resonates today, when people need and seek connections to each other and authentic experiences and traditions.
The most compelling piece of this story for me was learning how Stuckey’s was unique for its inclusive approach: Sylvester Stuckey did not segregate his establishments at a time when such practices were common in the South. He welcomed all travelers, fostering a spirit of hospitality that contrasted with societal norms. This inclusive approach set Stuckey’s apart and represented a progressive mindset that viewed every traveler as a friend, regardless of their background. This legacy of inclusivity resonates today as a reminder of the importance of embracing diversity and openness.
Under Stephanie Stuckey’s leadership and her commitment to the green movement, the brand emphasizes sustainability and supporting local farmers, especially pecan growers, preserving a key aspect of the South’s culture and economy. Stuckey’s legacy is intertwined with Georgia’s pecan industry, and the company’s products continue to highlight the importance of local agriculture. This commitment to using Georgia-grown nuts and locally sourced ingredients highlights the importance of sustainable practices in today’s market, aligning with modern values around food transparency and environmental responsibility.
While all of this was going on, she wrote a book, UnStuck: Rebirth of an American Icon, and became a sought-after public speaker. Stuckey explains, “It all happened organically. It started with using my law degree and the word-of-mouth referrals from satisfied clients.”
Some of the best life lessons she learned are from her grandfather, who taught her to “Treat everyone like a friend. Treat them with respect and dignity no matter what their station in life. Listen to people. Connect with grace and forgiveness.” Not only did I learn a lot from her keynote address at the WIN event in Louisville, but I also learned a lot in our interview. What an interesting life she has lived so far, and the future is bright for Stephanie Stuckey, a woman who exemplifies all the elements of the Defining Moments: Insights into the Lawyer’s Soul, LEAD line: Legacy, Excellence, Authenticity, and Determination. Pick up a copy of her book, retain her to speak at your next event, and do what you can to treat everyone like a friend. GPSolo is honored to call her a friend.
Please contact me with your questions or comments at [email protected].
Defining Moments: Insights Into the Lawyer’s Soul
By Melanie Bragg
ISBN: 9781641054195
Product Code: 1620777
2019, 241 pages, paperback and e-book
$29.95; member price $23.95