The heir and current CEO of an iconic, family-owned company will be the keynote speaker at the third annual conference of Anderson University’s Kim S. Miller Family Enterprise Institute of South Carolina Nov. 2 at The University Center in Greenville.
Stephanie Stuckey is the third generation of her family to helm Stuckey’s, whose pecan snacks and candy were synonymous with the American road trip for decades before the company began slowly declining through the closing years of the 20th century.
Taking over as CEO in 2019, Stuckey has guided the revival of the company her grandfather founded in Georgia in 1937.
Conference attendees will hear how Stuckey’s dynamic and innovative leadership has brought new life to the 86-year-old company, according to Brad Bechtold, institute executive director.
He said among Stuckey’s remarkable successes is the way she has used guerilla marketing through social media and word of mouth to tell her company’s story and reinvigorate the Stuckey’s brand.
“I’ve not seen anyone do it better,” Bechtold said.
The conference is the highlight of the year for the institute, which is dedicated to providing family businesses — and the wider enterprises they often grow into — the resources and expertise they need to thrive. Among those resources are help devising systems of governance, succession planning, and tax and estate planning.
Among the conference’s other speakers are:
- Jean Meeks-Koch with Positively People, who will lead a session on family governance
- Attorneys from Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd PA, who will give a legal update
- Cassie Thompson with Infinity Marketing, who will lead a session on artificial intelligence
After lunch, a number of speakers will lead breakout sessions on various topics designed to equip family business leaders for success in their family enterprises.
For more information, visit familyenterpriseinstitutesc.org.
