Antonice Strickland is an award-winning public relations and strategic communications professional with an immense passion for service, education, and diversity advocacy in corporate spaces. Named as one of Huff Post’s “Top African American PR Millennials to Watch,” was awarded the Emerging Leader Award in 2017 from the Washington Women in PR (D.C.) and featured in PRWeek’s Black History Month Docuseries “What it’s Like to be a Black PR Pro.” Strickland brings an array of skills, strategies and experiences to any project that comes her way. She has developed and managed national campaigns, organized internal processes for small and mid-level organizations and has landed coverage in print and broadcast outlets, including FOX, ABC, MSNBC, CNN, Reuters, Huff Post, Crain’s Detroit Business, and more.

Currently, Strickland is the Vice President of Public Relations and Business Development at 98Forward, Michigan’s largest Black-owned and woman-led public relations and communications agency. Along with managing a large portfolio of clients, including Focus: HOPE, Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan, MGM Grand Detroit and Michigan Supreme Justice Kyra Harris Bolden, she also leads business development efforts that increases financial growth and positions the agency as Detroit-based with national reach.

Prior to joining 98Forward, she served as the Senior Director of Marketing and Public Relations for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan, where she continued to develop, manage and organize strategic communications for the organization’s activities and expansion during the COVID-19 pandemic. From BGCSM’s partnership with an entrepreneur and small business incubator to the announcement of the world’s first Industry-based Club in partnership with Bedrock Detroit and Detroit is the New Black, her efforts helped BGCSM become top-of-mind locally and garner national coverage around its work and impact to ensure youth are career, start-up and homeowner ready when they leave the Clubs. She was also previously a Senior Account Executive at Truscott Rossman, where she advised local and national clients such as Deloitte, Chemical Bank/TCF Bank, and others on effectively communicating their brand.

A Michigan native, Antonice began her career in Washington, D.C. working for nonprofit agencies including Becky’s Fund and the National Black Public Relations Society - Washington, D.C. While working at the Black Women’s Health Imperative, Antonice managed internal and external communications and marketing efforts. She also worked in communications roles at the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and she spent time working in the music and entertainment industry for area recording studios, musicians and music festivals. A strong believer in building organic and authentic relationships with community members and media partners in any city she works in and abroad, Strickland has built and maintained true relationships across the country.

Along with her professional experiences, Strickland serves on the Executive Board for the Public Relations Society of America, Detroit Chapter and formerly served as president of the National Black Public Relations Society, Washington, D.C. She is also a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated and an Associate Member of The Recording Academy. She is an active volunteer in the community serving as vice president of youth serving nonprofit Determined Exceptional Fearless Youth (DEFY) and is a past mentor and tutor for Upward Bound, volunteer teacher for Junior Achievement USA, and guest speaker and student mentor at American University, Bowie State University, Eastern Michigan University, Howard University, Michigan State University, and Wayne State University’s public relations and communication programs.

Strickland earned her Bachelor's degree in journalism from Michigan State University and Masters degree in public relations and corporate communication from Georgetown University. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time hosting family gatherings, managing her youth-serving nonprofit in Ypsilanti with her brother’s called the DEFY Program, relaxing by the water, practicing yoga and attending concerts and sporting events.