Strickland's work, based largely out of Pittsburgh, has brought him a Grammy award, an invitation to lecture at Harvard University, a MacArthur Genius grant and a seat on the board of the National Endowments for the Arts. Strickland strikes a universal chord, mesmerizes audiences and brings them to their feet in appreciation with his presentations. Strickland feels that if you give people the tools they need and treat them with respect they will perform miraculous deeds.

Bill Strickland is the President and CEO of Manchester Craftsmen's Guild and Bidwell Training Center, Inc. Strickland's duties include: developing and implementing major fund-raising plans of action; encouraging participation of corporate executive officials from major multi-national corporations; and working with Boards of Directors and an Industrial Advisory Board.

He has served as Chairman of the Expansion Arts Panel of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) in Washington, D.C. and served a six-year appointment as a Council Member to the NEA. He was also a Council Member on the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts and the Pennsylvania State Board of Education, a trustee at the Carnegie, and a Consultant with the British/American Arts Association in London.

Strickland has excelled in cultivating collaborative partnerships in Pittsburgh, San Francisco, Baltimore and Kansas City. He has developed successful relationships with prominent foundations such as the ALCOA Foundation, Helen Bader Foundation, Ford Foundation, The Forbes Fund, W. K. Kellogg Foundation, Social Venture Partners, Pittsburgh Foundation, Heinz Foundation, R.K. Mellon Foundation and Pew Charitable Trust.