C.T. Strickland is an entrepreneur with over 40 years of experience in arts, crafts, manufacturing, design, and engineering. He is the founder of Designer Leatherworks and CT Music Straps and has designed and built custom pieces for clients in the US and internationally. His clients include top award-winning artists in the country, bluegrass, and gospel genres, such as Norah Jones. C.T. Strickland specializes in true custom, made-to-order, fitted pieces, and custom instrument straps. His company's focus is on enhancing the artist's instrument and image through traditional handcrafted designer instrument gear and accessories.

Aside from designing and crafting, C.T. Strickland is also a musician who has been singing and performing locally in churches since the late 1960s. He is experienced in guitar and banjo playing and as an artist in various mediums. He has also worked in the manufacturing industry, spending time as an estimator at Topsider Homes, a CAD designer at AC Corporation, and a sheet metal worker and welder at AC Corporation and Newport News Shipbuilding, a division of Huntington Ingalls Industries.

C.T. Strickland's education includes studying Architectural Engineering at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, a manufacturing process/CAD certificate at Rockingham Community College, a BA in Biblical Education at Tabernacle Baptist College & Theological Seminary, and a machinist program at Beaufort County Community College. He also studied art and design at East Carolina University.