Michael T. Strickland started Bandit Lites in 1968. The company grew into a global leader. Along the way he founded and owned Thomas Engineering US, Tomcat Engineering, US Avolites US, Best Techs, Gear Park, Authentic Stars, Vol Air, BPH and GRNLite. He also acquired Lights Up, Meteorlites and DPH Lighting, as well as having an interest in Skycam. Strickland and others started We Make Events, Red Alert Restart and COVAID. Strickland won many prestigious awards over the years including CNN USA Today Entrepreneur of the Year and was only the second non musician to win the Academy of Country Music ACM Milestone Award. Strickland has won numerous industry awards including the Parnelli Visionary Lifetime Achievement Award, The Pollstar Impact 50 Award, the Pollstar Heroes of Live Award, and he is in numerous Hall of Fames. The University of Tennessee named him Distinguished Alumni of both the College of Business and of the entire University of Tennessee. Bandit Lites has been named Lighting Company of the Year an industry leading 27 times. From 2020 up to today Strickland has been a fierce advocate for the entire entertainment industry before Congress, the media, and the industry. Strickland was key to passage of The Cares Act, PPP, PPP2, Enhanced Unemployment, Save Our Stages and is now working on passing The MUSIC Act and formation of The Entertainment Association. Strickland has appeared nonstop on network television and testified before the Senate on behalf of the industry.