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<\/a>Pickard is chair of Global Automotive Alliance, a co-managing partner of MGM Grand Detroit Casino, CEO of Bearwood Management Co., and co-owner of five newspapers.<\/p>\n\u201cWe are excited to have Dr. Pickard as our featured speaker this year,\u201d David Young, UT director of Toledo Excel and Special Projects, said. \u201cHe will talk about achieving success despite the odds.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pickard\u2019s career started with a McDonald\u2019s franchise in Detroit. In 1989, he founded an automotive manufacturing company, which became Global Automotive Alliance. The holding company for some half dozen businesses has about 1,600 workers and approximately $500 million in sales. One of the nation\u2019s leading minority-owned companies, Global Automotive Alliance supplies plastic parts to the top three automakers in the United States.<\/p>\n
During his more than 40-year career, Pickard has mentored African-American business owners and published a book, \u201cMillionaire Moves: Seven Proven Principles of Entrepreneurship.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI fully embrace the mantra: \u2018Each one, reach one, teach one.\u2019 These words get me fired up,\u201d he wrote in the introduction of his 2017 book. \u201cThey also explain the purpose of this book. This is my way of saying that whatever I\u2019ve done, you can do it, too.\u201d<\/p>\n
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<\/a>Pickard<\/p><\/div>The entrepreneur and philanthropist shares his leadership skills on the board of the National Urban League and as a member of the Detroit branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. In 1982, President Ronald Reagan appointed Pickard to be the first chair of the African Development Foundation, and President George Bush tapped him to serve on the National Advisory Committee on Trade Policy Negotiations in 1990.<\/p>\n
Pickard received a bachelor\u2019s degree from Western Michigan University, a master\u2019s degree from the University of Michigan, and a doctorate from Ohio State University.<\/p>\n
In addition to Pickard\u2019s talk, the University will celebrate this year\u2019s theme, \u201cEmbracing Our Power \u2014 Honoring Our History,\u201d with several events during Black History Month. Listed by date, events will include:<\/p>\n
\u2022 Tuesday, Feb. 5 \u2014 Black Student Union Comedy Show, 7 p.m., Thompson Student Union Ingman Room.<\/p>\n
\u2014 A UT student leader will be honored with the Black Excellence Award during halftime of the men\u2019s basketball game against Akron at 7 p.m. in Savage Arena. In addition, African-American students will be highlighted during the game. For tickets, go to the Toledo Rockets website<\/strong><\/a>, call 419.530.GOLD (4653), or stop by the UT Athletic Ticket Office in Savage Arena. UT employees and retirees may purchase tickets at half-price; UT students are admitted free with ID.<\/p>\n \u2022 Wednesday, Feb. 6 \u2014 Jerome Jenkins, former basketball coach at California State University at Sacramento, will give a talk, \u201cThe War Within,\u201d at 6:30 p.m. in Thompson Student Union Room 2592. <\/p>\n \u2022 Thursday, Feb. 7 \u2014 Black History Month Film Series: \u201cMoonlight,\u201d 7:30 p.m., Center for Performing Arts Room 1039.<\/p>\n \u2022 Monday, Feb. 11 \u2014 Step Afrika! will perform at 7 p.m. in the Thompson Student Union Auditorium. The dance company dedicated to the African-American tradition of stepping tours around the globe.<\/p>\n \u2022 Thursday, Feb. 14 \u2014 Black History Month Film Series: \u201cCreed,\u201d 7:30 p.m., Center for Performing Arts Room 1039.<\/p>\n \u2022 Friday, Feb. 15 \u2014 Dr. Derek Alderman, professor of geography at the University of Tennessee, will give a talk titled \u201cThe Maps Behind the Movement: African-American Freedom Struggles as Geographical Work\u201d at 2:30 p.m. in Snyder Memorial Building Room 2110. <\/p>\n \u2022 Thursday, Feb. 21 \u2014 Black History Month Film Series: \u201cPariah,\u201d 7:30 p.m., Center for Performing Arts Room 1039.<\/p>\n \u2022 Friday, Feb. 22 \u2014 Black Student Union Fashion Show, 6 p.m., Thompson Student Union Auditorium. Ticket prices to be announced.<\/p>\n \u2022 Monday, Feb. 25 \u2014 \u201cBlack GirlZ Rock,\u201d 6 p.m., Thompson Student Union Ingman Room. The National Pan-Hellenic Council will honor women on campus who have made an impact on UT students. <\/p>\n \u2022 Thursday, Feb. 28 \u2014 Black History Month Film Series: \u201cGet Out,\u201d 7:30 p.m., Center for Performing Arts Room 1039.<\/p>\n All events are free unless otherwise noted.<\/p>\n