Dr. William “Bill” F. Pickard

William F. Pickard, Ph.D. is Founder and Executive Chairman of GAA Manufacturing and Supply Chain Management (GAA), GAA New Ventures, Co-Managing Partner at MGM Grand Detroit Casino, and co-owner of four Black-owned newspapers which evolved into Real Times Media, a media marketing company. Pickard’s 50-year entrepreneurial career began as a McDonald’s franchisee in Detroit, Michigan. Since 1989, GAA has generated more than $5 billion dollars in sales with eight plants in the U.S. and Canada, servicing Boeing, Mercedes Benz, Ford, General Motors, Delphi, Johnson Controls, Starbucks, The Home Depot and Merck & Co. Pharmaceuticals. Black Enterprise honored Dr. Pickard as one of the 50 most Influential Black Entrepreneurs over the past 50 years.

Dr. Pickard holds an Associate Degree from Mott Community College, Bachelor’s Degree from Western Michigan University, Master’s Degree from the University of Michigan, Ph.D. in Education, from The Ohio State University, Honorary Doctorates from Clark Atlanta University (CAU) and Florida A&M University FAMU. He is a philanthropist, supporting education at Wayne County Community College District, Spelman, Morehouse, Clark Atlanta, Fort Valley State University, The Ohio State, Florida A&M University and other HBCUs.