Stephanie Stuckey, from LinkedIn
At the conferences I attended this past week there was such a wonderful group of old and young. The old timers like myself talked about everything from the cost of gas 20 years ago to Hurricane Andrew 30 years ago! In a group I hosted for a great evening meal, I reminisced about taking trips from Tallahassee to central Florida and how I love to travel Highway 19/98 as it’s known in these parts, through Chiefland and Homosassa Springs down to Hillsborough County. Yes, there are more strip malls and concrete but much of it still looks a lot like old Florida.
One such landmark is Stuckey’s, and I read a recent article authored by lawyer and University of Georgia graduate Stephanie Stuckey in The Demotech Difference magazine (see page 18 here). Stephanie is Stuckey founder Sylvester Stuckey’s granddaughter. In her 50’s with a long stint as a member of the Georgia legislature, she has been working hard since 2019 to revive the Stuckey’s brand. She has been mass producing those wonderful Stuckey’s snacks and sweets from pecan log rolls to coconut yummies. When she broached the subject with her father of taking over and reviving the business since it has been dormant for decades, her dad said to her, “You’ve never even run a lemonade stand. What makes you think you can run Stuckey’s?”
Her answer to that question was that she knew only one thing…that she loved her grandfather who she affectionately called “Bigdaddy.” I hope that readers will take a minute and recall that special family member who inspired you, who encouraged you, who perhaps was “mean” to you but who made sure you did what you needed to do to succeed. Stephanie talks about how family businesses often have lost their way, consumed by the large corporations who are strictly balance sheet professionals. She is an inspiration to us all about sticking to what matters and that all of us have the power to change our stories…forever!
See you on the trail and perhaps at a Stuckey’s near you!
Lisa
