We are pleased to welcome Stephanie Stuckey, chair of Stuckey’s Corporation, as our keynote speaker for this year’s convention. If you don’t know Stuckey’s, they are the home of the original pecan log roll and makers of other delicious pecan snacks!

Stephanie is the Chair and granddaughter of Stuckey’s Corporation founder WS “Sylvester” Stuckey, Sr. She holds a JD and has served in various public sector roles, giving her a unique perspective about rebuilding a company and restoring profitability in a rocky climate. We can’t wait to see what she has in store for us (hopefully some pecan log rolls)!

Heather Bailey

Heather has over 24 years of experience representing management in labor and employment counseling and litigation, including discrimination, trade secret, FLSA class actions, labor negotiations, and arbitration. Drawing on her background in office administration and HR, she brings efficiency, respect, and attention to detail to her practice. Heather advises on daily HR and management decisions, employee policies, and training on issues such as FMLA/ADA, harassment prevention, and union avoidance. As co-chair of her firm’s Labor & Employment & Benefits Service Group, she is also a recognized thought leader, frequently publishing and presenting across the U.S., particularly in the vending industry.

Her presentation is entitled, “HR & AI: Redefining HR for the Digital Age.”

Bridget Moone

Bridget brings over 28 years of service to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), where she currently serves as an Economic Development Specialist, SCORE Liaison, and Veteran Business Development Officer for the Dallas/Fort Worth District Office, covering 72 counties in North Texas. Her career began as an SBA Disaster Loan Officer, later advancing to supervisory roles in loan underwriting and as a Public Information Officer, leading disaster recovery efforts nationwide. With a degree in Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management and more than three decades of entrepreneurial experience, Bridget is dedicated to mentoring business owners, guiding startups, and driving economic growth.

Her presentation is entitled, “Fueling Small Business Success with the SBA.”

Linda Saldaña

Linda Saldaña is the visionary Co-founder and CEO of Seventh Wave Refreshments, an Atlanta-based refreshment services company on a mission to bring JOY to the workplace. Since launching in March 2020, Linda has scaled the business from a bold idea into a rapidly growing company generating over $18M annually, serving some of the region’s most dynamic workplaces with markets, pantry services, and premium coffee programs.

Her presentation is entitled, “Bringing Joy to the Workplace: One Word at a Time.”

Sonya Lehner

Sonya Lehner is the Director of Marketing, Brand & Communications at Cantaloupe, Inc., where she leads brand strategy, content marketing, public relations, and social media marketing. She has more than a decade of experience building content and brand programs that fuel lead generation, customer education, and thought leadership. With marketing leadership roles at small startups and Fortune 500 companies, Sonya has developed a passion for brand storytelling and the role of content in shaping the customer journey across digital channels.

Her presentation is entitled, “Stand Out Online: Marketing Fundamentals for Operators.”