In addition to leading OVH Music Access, Elson is a founder, business owner, whose work spans music, media, and mission-driven leadership.

• Founder and CEO of Oasis Voices of Humanity Foundation, Inc.
• Founder and CEO of EMS EFX, Inc.
• Founder and Owner of EGS3 Sound Works

In addition to his work at OVH Music Access, Elson’s experience spans multiple creative and leadership fields including songwriting, music production, publishing, directing, audio editing, digital media, podcast production, animation, and graphic design.

Music has been part of Elson’s life since childhood. His father, Elson Smith Jr., performed bluegrass music connected to Nashville and RCA Studio B alongside Horace Jones and the Country Boys before later stepping away from the music industry following a life-changing motorcycle accident in 1964.

In 1969, Elson began performing with his family band throughout churches, revival tent meetings, and community events across the East Coast, continuing until late 1973 while gaining early experience in music, live sound, and production. At times, he joked that he felt like he was living inside Neil Diamond’s “Brother Love’s Traveling Salvation Show.”

Elson graduated from high school at the age of 16 in Greenville, South Carolina. In 1976, he began working at WAVY-TV 10 in Portsmouth, Virginia, where he served as a sound board engineer, audio editor, and producer. His leadership journey deepened through military service when he joined the U.S. Navy in 1979. He completed his naval career in 1985 as an Electronics Technician First Class (ET1).

Following military service, Elson earned a MBA degree with a minor in Performing Arts and later founded multiple companies, including EGS3 Sound Works and EMS EFX, Inc.

Over the years, Elson transitioned from live performance into focusing primarily on songwriting, producing, arranging, and helping guide creative and mission-driven projects behind the scenes.

Today, Elson and his wife Margaret continue helping guide the growth of Oasis Voices of Humanity Foundation, Inc. and OVH Music Access: helping place music, instruments, access, and opportunity into the hands of students and schools that need them most.

In addition to co-leading OVH Music Access, Margaret Smith serves as co-founder, bringing operational discipline and strategic insight.

• Co-Founder and Secretary of Oasis Voices of Humanity Foundation, Inc.
• Co-Founder and COO of EMS EFX, Inc.
• Operations Manager of EGS3 Sound Works

In addition to her role at OVH Music Access, Margaret’s experience spans operational leadership, communications, administration, content creation, writing, and organizational support.

Margaret also brings 23 years of distinguished military service as a U.S. Navy Chief. She volunteered during the Vietnam era shortly after high school and later served aboard the USS Midway (CV-41) during Operation Frequent Wind as part of Carrier Air Group Five (CAG-5), where she earned her Air Warfare designation wings for her service during the mission.

Throughout her Navy career, Margaret served in high-level communications and leadership assignments, including service as a Flag Writer for Admirals and senior Navy leadership.

During the 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake in California, she assisted with emergency response efforts following the Bay Bridge collapse. Her military service later included Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm alongside Vice Admiral Edwin R. “Rudy” Kohn Jr.

Margaret retired honorably from the Pentagon in 1996 as a U.S. Navy Chief (AW) and continues helping strengthen the mission and growth of OVH Music Access.