MUSIC AS MESSAGE, LLC
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA

Ross knew that he wanted to be a songwriter when his piano teacher told his mother he couldn’t teach him anymore because he was playing by ear and not reading the notes. He discovered his knack for children’s music when he became licensed by National Crime Prevention Council to write music for McGruff the Crime Dog 25 years ago. Since then, Ross has created the Safety Ape, Hearty and is co-creator of Eco the Butterfly. He produced a puppet production on reading and literacy for Coca-Cola and Reading is Fundamental (RIF) for their Story Travelers Tour that featured his original music. His Safety Ape character was used by Liberty Mutual Insurance for their Radio Disney Safety Tour (Safety Ape Press Release 2-06-03). He has a BA in Political Science and a MA in Counseling from the University of Alabama. Ross currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Pensacola Beach Songwriters Festival, where he directs their “Songwriters in the Classroom” Program. Ross resides in Pensacola, Florida with his wife, Kati, and has two grown sons. Donna is an Oscar contending vocalist; Berklee-trained songwriter, and touring artist with 35 years experience in the music industry. Her vast musical and business career has included being an on-air Radio personality, commercial composer & producer, touring artist sharing the stage with members of the Rolling Stones, Al Jarreau, Billy Idol, Martha Reeves and Don Henley, composer for the Songs of Love Foundation with over 150 songs for ailing children, she has worked with Kid Pan Alley’s project, along with notables Delbert McClinton, Cracker, Kix Brooks & Amy Grant. Since 2006, Bukevicz has owned a music publishing company in Nashville that specializes in music production, licensing and song composition for TV, film, corporate branding and artists. At present, she is the Director of Licensing as well as a Music & Clearance Supervisor for Nashville based TV show Nashville Unleashed, released to five major networks in Oct. 2014, totaling 100 million viewers. She is proficient in intellectual property law licensing and clearance. For 18 years, she owned & operated Litigation Support & Legal Video, LLC., where she produced settlement and legal videos for personal injury attorneys in the DC,VA, metropolitan area. She is an avid recycler, cook, she loves to sing and is passionate about “giving back” to make a difference in the world overall but most especially to the community she lives in.