Lunch Hub

Family Business and Leadership

Each month, Haslam’s Lunch Hub series connects students with alumni leaders, offering firsthand insights and real-world perspectives on career growth and professional success. The college recently welcomed father-and-son duo Michael and Chase Strickland of Bandit Lites, Inc., for a session focused on family business and leadership. The Stricklands shared insights on the value of hard work, the importance of strong communication, and how expanding and leaning on a professional network can open doors.

Michael Strickland (HCB, ’77), founder of Bandit Lites, has worked for decades in the music stage lighting industry with acts such as the Beach Boys and Paul Revere and the Raiders. He’s passionate about pouring this experience into the next generation of leaders.

“Lunch HUB provides an amazing opportunity to spend quality time with students and staff,” Strickland says. “For a brief moment, the students get to take a deep dive into real-world opportunities.”

Chase Strickland (HCB, ’22), Bandit Lites’ business manager, also enjoyed the chance to connect with students at the event. “The open, informal setting made the conversations real,” he says. “We shared ideas and engaged with students in a way that doesn’t always happen in more formal classroom environments.”

Alex Hendl (HCB, ’26), a recent marketing graduate from Aurora, Ohio, enjoyed hearing from the father and son alumni. “Michael, as an industry veteran, and Chase, as a rising professional, both shared valuable insights that I will carry into my career after graduation.”

Monroe Harris, a senior management major with a minor in music business from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, also appreciated the opportunity to hear the Stricklands’ industry-specific insights. “What resonated most was how they actively invest in students through initiatives like the Music Industry Club,” she says. “They represent what it means to work hard while being good people.”