SPEAKER

William F. Pickard,Ph.D. Founder/Executive Chairman, Global Automotive Alliance

William F. Pickard, Ph.D., is the Founder and Executive Chairman of Global Automotive Alliance (GAA), GAA New Ventures, Co-Managing Partner at MGM Grand Detroit Casino, CEO of Bearwood Management, and co-owner of five Black-owned newspapers: The Pittsburgh Courier, The Chicago Defender, The Atlanta Daily World, and The Michigan Chronicle. All newspapers have evolved into Real Times Media, a media marketing company (The Memphis Tri-State Defender is no longer part of the Black Newspaper ownership).

Pickard’s 50-year entrepreneurial career began as a McDonald’s franchisee in Detroit, Michigan. Since its founding in 1989, GAA has generated more than $5 billion in sales with eight plants in the U.S. and Canada, servicing corporations such as Boeing, Mercedes Benz, Ford, General Motors, Delphi, Johnson Controls, Starbucks, The Home Depot and Merck & Co. Pharmaceuticals.

He has served on numerous business and non-profit boards, including Asset Acceptance Capital Corporation, Michigan National Bank, LaSalle Bank, Business Leaders for Michigan, National Urban League, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Detroit Black Chamber of Commerce, the Board of Directors of the National Park Foundation and is a lifetime member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity.

He is a philanthropist, supporting education at colleges and universities, including Western Michigan University, The Ohio State University, Florida A&M University, Spelman College, Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College, and other HBCUs.

Among his honors are the Morehouse College 34th Candle in the Dark Award for Entrepreneurship and Philanthropy, The Michigan Lifetime Humanitarian Award. In 2001, Pickard was awarded Michiganian of the Year for his business success, civic leadership and philanthropy.

Pickard is also creating a new generation of entrepreneurs with Surviving the Shift – 7 Proven Millionaire Moves for Embracing Change and Building Wealth. The seven principles of entrepreneurship are vision/attitude, opportunity, relationships, talent/skillset, financial, failure and faith. Pickard will share his undeniable principles anyone can use to become a successful entrepreneur.

Pickard holds a bachelor’s degree from Western Michigan University, a master’s degree from the University of Michigan and a Ph.D. from The Ohio State University.

In his philanthropic efforts he continues to contribute to education, arts, culture, and entrepreneurship. The William F. Pickard Living Center is named in his honor at Grand Valley State University. He has donated over $3M to Western Michigan University which was used to build a new facility on campus, Hall-Archer-Pickard East and Hall-Archer-Pickard West.

In conjunction with Judson W. Pickard, both of LaGrange, Georgia, he committed $2M to Morehouse College to launch a new scholarship to expand Morehouse scholarship opportunities; Over $1M to the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C.; $1M to Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History; $1M to Motown Historical Museum; $500K to Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO) in honor of Arthur L. Johnson and Judge Damon J. Keith and $100K to Wayne County Community College District in honor of Deborah Green Virgiles and Maurene Brown Smith. In March 2021, he partnered with his friend of 50 years, His Excellency Governor General Cornelius A. Smith and launched the Smith-Pickard Friendship and Alliance Scholarship at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) in Tallahassee in March, committing $300,000 to fund scholarships for students from the United States and the Bahamas, studying agriculture.

Program

Olufunke A. Fontenot, Ed.D.

Provost andVicePresident for Academic Affairs

Presiding

Prelude ............................................................................................................................................ Elvis Lewis, Jr.

*Processional ............................................... “Pomp and Circumstance” ........................................... Elvis Lewis, Jr. Sir Edgar Elgar

*Invocation ................................................................................................................................. Rev. Tolan Morgan Pastor,FellowshipBibleBaptistChurch, Warner Robins, Georgia

*The National Anthem .................................. “Star-Spangled Banner” .................Fort Valley State University Choir Francis Scott Key

Selection ................................................... “Lift Every Voice and Sing” .............Fort Valley State University Choir James Weldon Johnson

Welcome ..................................................................................................................................... Paul Jones, Ph.D. 10thPresident,FortValleyState University

Message from the Valedictorian ........................................................................................................... Marian Perez Plant ScienceBiotechnologyMajor

Introduction of Speaker .............................................................................................................. Paul Jones, Ph.D.

Commencement Address .................................................................................................. William Pickard, Ph.D. Founder and Executive Chairman, Global AutomotiveAlliance

Special Presentation and Acknowledgements .............................................................................. Paul Jones, Ph.D.

Selection ............................................................................................................ Fort Valley State University Choir

Presentation of Deans .............................................................................................. Olufunke A. Fontenot, Ed.D.

Presentation of Candidates for Degrees ......................................................................................................... Deans Graduate Studies – Robert Dibie, Ph.D. College of Agriculture, Family Sciences and Technology – Keith Howard, Ph.D. College of Arts and Sciences – Fares Howari, Ph.D. College of Education and Professional Studies – Beth Day-Hairston, Ph.D.

Conferring of Degrees ................................................................................................................. Paul Jones, Ph.D.

Induction of Graduates into the National Alumni Association ................................................... Ashley Ballard ‘99 President,FVSUNationalAlumniAssociation,Inc.

Commissioning of Cadets ................................................................................................... LTC Nicholas Kauffeld ProfessorofMilitaryScience

*The Alma Mater .......................................................................... Fort Valley State University Choir and Audience William H. Pipes and Odessa Hardison McNair

*Benediction ............................................................................................................................. Rev. Tolan Morgan

*Recessional ................................................. “War March of the Priest” ........................................... Elvis Lewis, Jr. Felix Mendelsohn Postlude ........................................................................................................................................... Elvis Lewis, Jr.

*Theaudienceshouldstand. Seepage20forlyricsfor FVSU AlmaMaterand“LiftEveryVoice andSing ”