Getting UnStuck
Stephanie Stuckey, Stuckey's Corporation
Tuesday, June 18 │ 9:00 AM

Whether it’s reviving a nostalgic brand like Stuckey’s or reinventing your business or your personal brand, Stephanie will share stories from her upcoming memoir, UnStuck: Revival of an American Icon, that will provide insights and tips to anyone looking to add new energy to their lives. Stephanie had no entrepreneurial experience prior to taking over her family's business and saving it from ruin. 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.

Stephanie Stuckey is the Chair 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, Georgia 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, revamped its distribution operations, 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.

Candy Clinic
RCI Member Exclusive
Tuesday, June 18  │ 3:30 PM

Get recognized for your creative, new ideas! If you have a clever concept that has worked well in your business, you're invited to share it! This session will give you creative ideas for your store as fellow RCI members share during a short presentation about their best products, packaging and marketing. Attendees vote for their favorite entrants and awards are presented to winners at the Awards Banquet on Wednesday evening. An award will also be given for the President's Choice. 

Categories include:

• Best Summer Idea
• Best Fall Idea
• Best Christmas Idea
• Best Valentine's Day Idea
• Best Easter Idea
• Best Marketing/Merchandising Idea
• Best Packaging Idea
• Best New Piece
• Best Innovation
• Best First-Time Entrant

Roundtable Discussions: Conversations for Candy Businesses
Wednesday, June 19 │ 8:30 AM

You choose the topics that best fit your unique needs and interests. During this 90-minute session, participants will have the opportunity to join up to three different small groups to discuss specific topics relevant to confectionery business. Each small group will have a moderator to guide the conversation and address questions.

Sharing the Magic of Chocolate with All Age Groups
Carmen Romeo, Fascia’s Chocolates
Wednesday, June 19 │ 2:00 PM

Many retail confectioners open their doors to tour groups and while you may have lots of knowledge and experience with chocolate, educating different audiences on the subject can be challenging. Having presented the history of chocolate to over 50,000 people during various types of events, Carmen Romeo shares his tips and tricks for tailoring your message to groups of all ages and interests. In this session, learn how to share the magic of chocolate with all age groups, including ways to craft your own narrative of chocolate’s journey from bean to bite, the importance of tempering and techniques used to transform chocolate into delicious confections. Showcase your expertise and passion, while fostering a deeper appreciation for your confections and creating lifelong customers.

Carmen Romeo is the son-in-law of John and Helen Fascia, founders of Fascia’s Chocolates in Waterbury, Connecticut. An engineer by training, Carmen has extensive manufacturing management and technical sales experience. Carmen joined Fascia's in 2009 after the business was forced to suddenly move from its location of 18 years into an industrial park. While re-growing Fascia's retail and wholesale business, Fascia's started to host birthday parties and truffle-making classes. In 2013 Fascia's purchased a building and outfitted it as a tourist destination that has since drawn over 50,000 visitors to learn about the origins of chocolate and how it gets from bean-to-bar and bar-to-box. Carmen hosts each of the sessions in-house and leads off-site beverage and chocolate pairings.

Transform Likes to Sales with Irresistible Social Media Content
Jayni Wunderlich, Graham’s Chocolates, Ltd.
Wednesday, June 19 │ 2:00 PM

In this era of tweets and memes, social media has become a powerful tool for businesses to connect with their audience and reel in sales. For candy businesses looking to boost brand loyalty and increase store foot traffic, leveraging platforms like Instagram Reels and Facebook can be a game-changer. Learn how to transform likes into sales with engaging video content that showcases your products, captures the attention of potential customers and keeps them coming back for more.

Jayni Wunderlich is the CEO of Graham’s Chocolates, Ltd. based in Geneva, Illinois. As the daughter of Robert and Beckie Untiedt, who founded Graham’s Chocolates in 1987, Jayni grew up in the family business which has been voted as one of the best shops for homemade chocolates, candy and ice cream in the Chicagoland area. Since her dad’s passing in 2021, Jayni picked up the reigns and continues to move their shops forward. Jayni earned a bachelor’s degree from Columbia College Chicago in advertising art direction and is responsible for all the graphic design, branding, marketing, advertising, website management and social media.

Create a Lasting Legacy: Strategies for Business Succession
Larry Oxenham, American Society for Asset Protection
Wednesday, June 19 │ 3:00 PM

Discover strategies and tools from one of the nation’s top business succession and estate planning advisors. Learn succession strategies that can protect your legacy by ensuring the continued success of your candy business through the next generation of leaders. Gain insights on how to structure your organization to minimize taxes on sale or transfer and shield your business from the potentially detrimental impacts of estate and gift taxes.

Larry Oxenham is one of the nation’s top business succession and estate planning advisors with over three decades of experience. He is the author of numerous articles and books and is a nationally recognized speaker who has trained thousands of professionals at hundreds of conventions, conferences and meetings across the country, having worked for decades as a merger and acquisitions consultant for mid-size businesses, there is no one better to teach you how to maximize the value of your business and create a successful business succession plan.

Kettle Talk
RCI Member Exclusive
Wednesday, June 19 │ 4:00 PM

Unlock the secrets to making exceptional confections during this open forum discussion. Come with your questions and expect to cover topics ranging from production, marketing and merchandising to business operations and more. Participants may submit questions at the registration desk in advance or pose questions directly to the group during the session.