Moses Uvere
Born and raised in Dallas Texas, Moses Uvere was the first born to Patience and Gabriel Uvere, immigrants who came to America to seek “the American Dream.” Being brought up by parents from a different country, Moses witnessed firsthand what “the American Dream” was all about and the struggle to achieve a better life. Living in poverty-stricken areas Moses had an up-close view of growing up poor, sharing clothes with his brothers, wearing hand-me-downs, and not getting much during the holidays. Moses was an active kid who always played sports and was a fine football prospect in high school where his career was cut short. Due to the fact that his mom left the family, he the eldest of the four had to grow up quickly to help his dad raise his two little brothers and his little sister. “The things in my life didn’t break me, but made me the man I am today.” Music had always been a part of his life and after being in the group minority authority for a few years, Moses struck out on his own. He met up with Dustin Cavazos who produced his first release, From Worse to Better. (2008) The album is a reflection of past experiences that he has seen and lived. A few years later, (2011) Uvere signed a record deal with Universal / Motown producer Geoff Rockwell under the imprint of chaos creative and released an album entitled Mind the Gap which received critical acclaim. Following that album, Uvere had his highest-profile release yet with Never Been Better which led him to be in front of 13.9 million people (according to anchor marketing), with his latest release Kingdom of the Fallen. The album reached the top 100 of the iTunes charts and was followed up with a performance at the historic Klyde Warren Park as the first Christian hip hop artist in its history to be invited as a headliner. Each project of his musical offerings was influenced by artists such as Kanye West, Common, Pigeon John, Issac Hayes, and Musiq Soulchild. He is a husband, a father of three, and currently the Lead Pastor at the Vine of Life in Garland, TX.
Steve Dean
Nashville songwriter Steve Dean has co-written six number one hits, including the most played song on country radio in 2007, “Watching You” for Rodney Atkins, the Grammy nominated “It Takes A little Rain” for The Oak Ridge Boys, “Southern Star” for Alabama, “Round About Way” for George Strait, “Walk On” for Reba McEntire and “Heart’s Aren’t Made To Break” for Lee Greenwood.
Among Steve’s musical influences are The Beatles, The Byrds, The Eagles, Buck Owens,
Johnny Cash, and Roger Miller.
Steve’s songs have been recorded by LoCash Cowboys, Joe Nichols, Dierks Bentley, Lee Ann Womack, Waylon Jennings, The Roys, Pure Prairie League, John Michael Montgomery, Point of Grace, Conway Twitty and others.
Steve has earned eight BMI Songwriter Awards, two BMI Publisher Awards, two BMI 2 Million Air Awards and three BMI 1 Million Air Awards.
Steve’s song “Walk On” is on the Grammy winning CD, Reba’s Greatest Hits Volume 2.
Steve’s song “Expecting Good Things”, is the title track to Jeff and Sheri Easter’s Grammy nominated CD “Expecting Good Things”.
As a singer/songwriter, Steve lets his audience in on a behind the scenes look at, and a unique opportunity to hear the stories surrounding the inspiration for and why these songs were written.
Wil Gravatt
From a very early age, music was an integral part of Wil Gravatt’s life. Wil’s mother worked for the legendary Capitol Records; and he was exposed to the sounds of the Beatles, Janis Joplin, Buck Owens, and Waylon Jennings to name a few. His first love was the drums; teaching himself to play and forming his first band when he was only 14. More of a rocker in the early years, Wil switched to country music in his late teens while in college. He bought an acoustic guitar and taught himself to play by listening to BB King, Bruce Springsteen, and others.
Wil released a solo record “Ready to Cross That Line” in the late 90’s to critical acclaim. In the early 2000’s Wil put together a band of high-caliber musicians and started performing many energetic shows to a packed house at the now-defunct Whitey’s in Arlington, VA. Eventually they released “Live at Whitey’s.” It’s a staple of the collection of many country music fans.
In 2005 and 2009 the band was invited by Presidents Bush and Obama to perform at their respective Inaugural Balls – quite an honor for any band. The Wil Gravatt Band has shared the stage with Robert Earl Keen, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Pat Green, Little Big Town, ZZ Top and myriad other renowned artists. Based in Washington, DC they continue to perform 75+ shows a year to long-time fans and new recruits to their unique brand of high-energy Honky Tonk music.
The band features former Danny Gatton sideman Steve Wolf on bass, Gary Crockett on drums and vocals, Jimbo Byram on steel guitar, Bobby Spates on fiddle, and Wil on vocals and guitar. A new album of original music recorded in Nashville is slated for release in late 2016.
Brandon Vanderford
Brandon Vanderford is the CEO of Vanderford Capital Research Group and a Crypto-Economist. Brandon is currently doing research and forecasting analysis of crypto-currency / commodity markets.
Brandon has owned and operated a state-of-the-art recording studio and video production company in the DFW area for nearly 16 years. In that time he has worked with top local and national artists producing audio and video recordings.
Brandon’s Noteworthy Clients Include:
Janine Turner (Cliffhanger, Northern Exposure), Adam Sandler (‘Bench Warmers’ IMDB Reference Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0437863/soundtrack), Casey Donahew Band, Drew Pearson, Richard Dreyfuss, Jerry Jones (Dallas Cowboys), Troy Aikman, Free Reign (Metal band consisting of 3 Dallas Cowboys Players), Kid Craddick 106.1 KISS FM, Chaz (KDGL The Eagle), KNTU, Ascendance International Armored Vehicles, Various Contract TV Commercials for Fox / Fox News / Comcast Cable / Charter Cable and Many More…
Gail MacKinnon
Gail MacKinnon joined the Motion Picture Association (MPA) in November 2017 and is the current Senior Executive Vice President for Global Policy & Government Affairs. A skilled senior executive with experience in public policy advocacy, issues management, and strategy development, Gail oversees the MPA’s government relations portfolio and policy agenda, as well as its international advocacy and policy, including in the APAC and EMEA regions.
Previously, Gail served as Executive Vice President, Government Relations for Time Warner Cable, where she led all aspects of federal, state, and local government relations for the telecommunications company. She positioned the company as a trusted advisor to government leaders on a range of public policy issues; including video reform, cybersecurity, tax, and privacy.
Prior to her role at Time Warner Cable, Gail was Senior Vice President of Government Relations at the National Cable & Telecommunications Association. She has held senior positions at Viacom, CBS Inc., Telecommunications Inc., and Turner Broadcasting. She began her career on Capitol Hill, serving as Legislative Director for Congressman Jack Fields (R-TX).
In 2016, Gail helped co-found WE Capital, a consortium of women in the Washington, D.C. business community investing in female-led startups focused on social impact work. She was named one of Washingtonian’s Most Powerful Women in 2019. Gail received a Bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University.
Mark Rodgers
Mark Rodgers is the Principal of The Clapham Group, a company that seeks to influence culture upstream of the political arena. Mark served as the third-ranking Republican leadership staffer in the U.S. Senate for six years overseeing strategic planning and strategic communications. He also served as a high profile chief of staff to Senator Rick Santorum, working on Capitol Hill for a total of 16 years. He was known on the Hill for his work on such issues as poverty alleviation and global AIDS, as well as protecting life at its most vulnerable stages. Mark is a published writer and a speaker at large and small gatherings on the topics of faith and public life, culture and caring for the least of these. His work over the years has involved consulting with some of the largest foundations in the world, Fortune 500 companies, internationally known music artists and filmmakers, and even famous comic book creators. He is a published writer and a speaker on the topics of faith and public life, culture and caring for the least of these. His work over the years includes outreach to “culture creators,” and he has worked closely with artists from diverse fields including computer gaming, graphic novels, film and music. Mark is also a social entrepreneur, and enjoys finding ways to help people “do good while doing well.”
He earned a bachelor’s degree in petroleum engineering from Penn State, and attended Trinity Episcopal School for Ministry. Mark is married to Leanne, and together they have four children and four grandchildren. Mark resides in Burke, Virginia.
Shane Tews
Shane Tews is a nonresident senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, where she focuses on cybersecurity issues, including privacy and data protection, next-generation networking (5G), the Internet of Things, international internet governance, digital economic policy, information and communications technology, artificial intelligence (AI) and the metaverse, cryptocurrency and non-fungible tokens, and emerging technologies. She is also president of Logan Circle Strategies, a strategic advisory firm.
She is vice chair of the board of directors of the Internet Education Foundation; chair of the Internet Society’s Washington, DC, chapter; member of the board of SeedAI; chair of the board of directors at TechFreedom; and chair of the Dynamic Coalition on the Internet of Things of the Internet Governance Forum.
Previously, Ms. Tews served as co-chair of the Internet Governance Forum USA. She was a member of the board of the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, the Information Technology Industry Council, and Global Women’s Innovation Network. She also managed internet security and digital commerce issues as vice president of global policy for Verisign. She began her career in the George H. W. Bush White House as a deputy associate director in the Office of Cabinet Affairs and later moved to Capitol Hill as a legislative director for Rep. Gary Franks (R-CT).
Ms. Tews studied communications at Arizona State University and American University, where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in general studies with an emphasis on communications and political science.
Experience
- Logan Circle Strategies: President, 2014–present
- Vrge (formerly 463 Communications): Outside Policy Consultant, 2015–19
- 463 Communications: Principal and Chief Policy Officer, 2012–15
- Internet Education Foundation: Vice Chair, Board of Directors, 2011–present; Member, Board of Directors, 2004–11
- Verisign: Vice President of Global Public Policy and Government Relations, 2001–12
- Distilled Spirits Council of the United States: Vice President for Federal Affairs, 1997–2001
- Citizens for a Sound Economy and Citizens for a Sound Economy Foundation: Director of Government Relations, 1995–97
- Office of Congressman Gary A. Franks (R-CT), US House of Representatives: Legislative Director, 1992–95
- The White House: Deputy Associate Director, Office of Cabinet Affairs, 1991–92
- US Department of Transportation: Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary for Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs, 1991; Staff Assistant to the Secretary of Transportation for Scheduling and Advance, 1989–91
Education
BA, public relations and political science, American University
Attended Arizona State University
Peter Roff
Peter Roff is a longtime Washington, D.C. writer and commentator whose work has appeared in U.S. News & World Report, Newsweek, and other publications. He appears frequently on radio and television and holds fellowships with several public policy organizations. He can be reached by email at RoffColumns@GMAIL.com. Follow him on Twitter @PeterRoff.
At one time the political director of Newt Gingrich’s GOPAC, Mr. Roff planned and directed political education programs that trained tens of thousands of candidates for public office and political activists. Prior to his years at GOPAC, he spent nearly five years as executive director of Americans for Tax Reform, the organization that created the “Taxpayer Protection Pledge.”
Leaving politics in the late 1990s, he began a new career as a journalist, spending five years as the senior political writer for United Press International.
While at UPI he regularly filled the wire with breaking news and analysis, working on some of the biggest political stories of the 20th century including the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack and the election of George W. Bush in one of the narrowest political contests in U.S. history.
A frequent commentator on politics and public issues, Mr. Roff has appeared on a variety of radio and television programs including “CBS News Overnight,” “Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher,” “The Dennis Miller Show,” “Hannity & Colmes,” “The O’Reilly Factor,” “C-SPAN’s Washington Journal,” and even once appeared as himself on the hit ABC comedy “Spin City.”
Mr. Roff’s observations have been quoted in major publications including USA Today, The New York Times, the online version of The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Times, The Christian Science Monitor, and National Review.
A 1988 graduate of The George Washington University, Mr. Roff has lived in Northern Virginia for much of the last 25 years along with his children and his beagle Watson.
Keith Nahigian
In 2000, Keith realized his vision for a multidimensional communications strategy firm that not only focused on the public relations needs for clients but also designed growth strategies for companies and organizations ranging from small start-up businesses and nonprofits to multinational corporations.
Keith believes that every organization has a story to tell. When the story is told well and strategically, that organization will be better equipped to reach its goals.
A 27-year veteran with top-level experience advising, designing, and managing some of the largest campaigns in US history, Keith has worked for governors, members of Congress, and served in the White House under the first Bush Administration. His work has taken him around the world to dozens of countries and almost every state in the nation. Among other roles, Keith has served as Special Assistant to the Vice President of the United States, Special Assistant to the Governor of New Jersey, consultant to the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), consultant with top-secret security clearance to national security agencies, and campaign manager to Congresswoman Michele Bachmann in the 2012 presidential campaign.
Among his many career achievements, Keith has worked for six presidential campaigns, managed the messaging priorities for HHS at the request of the Secretary, and orchestrated both the Medicare Part D prescription drug enrollment campaign and the HHS Prevention and Value Driven campaign.
Keith has significant experience working with the media and has been a frequent source of commentary for national news outlets, including the Washington Post, New York Times, Boston Globe, Wall Street Journal, ABC, CNN, NBC, CBS, Fox News, NPR, and others.
Keith is married to his wife Courtney and holds a B.A. in History from the College of Wooster.
Ken Nahigian
Ken has spent more than two decades working at the highest levels of national policy and communications. He serves as the policy translator for the firm’s communications strategies to ensure that complex issues in areas such as healthcare, transportation, technology, homeland security, and many others, are understandable and actionable for clients’ intended audience(s).
Prior to joining the firm, Ken served as Chief Counsel and Deputy Staff Director of the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee where he served under then-Chairman Ted Stevens of Alaska. Ken also served under Committee Chairman John McCain. Ken joined the Committee after serving as an attorney in the Issues and Appeals Division of the law firm Jones Day, and also as Senior Law Clerk to the Honorable Donald Ivers on the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans’ Claims.
Ken is a graduate of Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, and Capital Law School in Columbus, Ohio. He is a proud-native of Cleveland, Ohio, and he is married with two teenage children.