Our Mission Statement & Shared Values

Mission Statement: ParaNexus is an exclusive association of dedicated and progressive paranormal and anomalous phenomena investigators focused on researching and understanding the human condition through the scientific study of aerial, psychical, cryptozoological, and anomalous phenomena, its reality, its reach, and its impact on humanity.
 

Shared Values Statement: We believe in displaying professional, honest, and ethical conduct in all aspects of our organization. We believe in showing dignity and respect to the public, members, investigative clients, and staff members regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, or belief. During ParaNexus sanctioned investigations or events, we respect both the client and the client’s property and will therefore conduct ourselves in a professional, courteous, and unintrusive manner at all times. We respect fellow team members, and afford them the same dignity we individually desire. We respect and cooperate with other paranormal and anomalous investigation groups and researchers. We believe in ethical research, and will strive to find answers and draw conclusions honestly and without fabrication. We take pride in who we are, and we safeguard our reputation in the anomalous research field above all else.

As noted above, ParaNexus is an exclusive association of anomalous researchers; it is not a "ghost hunting" fraternity or amateur investigator social outlet which are so common on the web today. ParaNexus is a place for professional anomalous researchers to share insight, expertise, and research. It is a place of safety for researchers to develop theories and hypotheses, not a place for petty squabbles, disputes, and one-upmanship. ParaNexus members are a family of professionals all seeking a common goal--namely, to find answers. We encourage investigators who are ready to advance to the next level to join ParaNexus.

The ParaNexus Anomalous Research Association was founded in February 2008 by Dr. Doug Kelley and Jari (pronounced "Yari") Mikkola. Doug and Jari, both experienced paranormal and anomalous phenomena researchers, felt the need for a professional, top-notch association devoted to education and research. From experience, they saw a need for researchers to not only come together to share data, but also to learn techniques that would make them better researchers and investigators in the field.

The ParaNexus name was created with much forethought as to who we are and what we represent:

In January 2009, Kelley took responsibility for ParaNexus and related websites, and Mikkola took responsibility for what was formerly the ParaNexus Journal along with other publishing objectives.

Kelley's extensive corporate leadership, communication, and human development background combined with his search for knowledge provides a fresh and evolutionary canvas upon which the ParaNexus Vision is painted; namely, to pool the talents of many professional researchers in an effort to evolve the field and to make breakthroughs in the discovery of why anomalous phenomena occurs and its source. Members, Directors, and staff are brilliant colors that serve to enhance that painting and vision beyond what it would be otherwise. ParaNexus is characterized by a "make it happen" attitude that contributes to growth, fresh thinking, and courageous reinvention where necessary.

It had always been Kelley's intention to build an organization that would outlive him. Therefore, in September 2009, ParaNexus was incorporated as a Florida non-profit corporation. 501(c)(3) tax exempt status from the IRS was approved on August 24, 2010 effective September 11, 2009. A group of five trusted additional individuals with experience in paranormal research, business, and life were invited to join the founding Board of Directors. Even though full organizational control passed from one individual to a Board of Directors, Kelley continued to provide strong leadership and manage the day-to-day operations assisted by capable and accomplished men and women.

Unfortunately, due to the poor economy of recent years resulting in a lack of obtaining sufficient funding, the Board of Directors voted to dissolve the legal corporation and tax exempt status effective December 31, 2011. On January 1, 2012, ParaNexus became an educational and research program of the International Church of Metaphysical Humanism, Inc. (ICMH), and in so doing, ParaNexus serves to fulfill the mission of ICMH to better understand the human condition and the universe in which we live within the context of metaphysical and paranormal phenomena.

In March 2014, Dr. Brian Parsons was named Executive Director of ParaNexus. Dr. Parsons was an original board member of ParaNexus and brings nearly 20 years of experience to his position as Executive Director. His interests and experience in anomalous phenomena are eclectic and broad, and he has written five books (to date) on various types of anomalous phenomena including ghosts and cryptids. He developed and pioneered the E4 Method of anomalous investigation which is a blend of traditional and non-traditional approaches toward client-centered paranormal investigation. Dr. Parsons continues the tradition of grounded research and high standards in the various fields of anomalous phenomena.

As for the future, one thing is certain: In a divided field that is rampant with individuals "hunting" ghosts, chasing lights in the sky, and embroiled in petty disputes, ParaNexus will continue to shine as a beacon of light, seeking to guide, educate, and unify an anomalous research field in desperate need of breakthroughs while maintaining a grounded, stable, and rational approach. ParaNexus is working hard to bring together like-minded professionals in an association based on high ethical standards.

We encourage and welcome professionals, researchers, investigators, scientists, and academics to join ParaNexus!

Eric Altman

Consultant/Advisor • Bigfoot/Sasquatch

[Website]

Eric Altman is originally from Greensburg Pennsylvania and now resides in Jeannette Pennsylvania. Eric's interest in Bigfoot stems from watching the movies "Legend of Boggy Creek" and "Creature from Black Lake." Eric began researching paranormal subjects such as UFO's, Ghosts and hauntings and cryptids, with emphasis on the Bigfoot phenomenon in 1980 at the age of 10. Eric spent the next 17 years studying these subjects of the paranormal and Bigfoot by educating himself through numerous books including John Green's Apes among us, and Marion T. Place's Bigfoot all over the country.

Those books along with the previously mentioned films inspired Eric to pursue the subject. Eric has read books, magazine articles, and watched countless movie and documentary specials on the subject. In the mid 1980's Eric met fellow Bigfoot investigator Stan Gordon from Pennsylvania and began to study Stan's research and was very surprised to learn of Bigfoot sightings in his home state of Pennsylvania. Stan became Eric's mentor and he followed Stan's work along with other investigators in Pennsylvania.

Eric was encouraged to begin active field investigations in 1997 after attending a Bigfoot conference in Newcomerstown Ohio. He began field research of his own in Pennsylvania. Eric joined the BFRO as a volunteer point of contact for Pennsylvania. During his short stay with the BFRO, Eric met Steve Anderson and Henry Benton who had recently formed the Pennsylvania Bigfoot Society and became a member. Eric was promoted to the director of the PA Bigfoot Society in January 2000 and has held the position since.

Eric and the members of the Pennsylvania Bigfoot Society continue to research and investigate sighting reports received through the groups website at www.pabigfootsociety.com. The group has investigated hundreds of Bigfoot sighting reports in Pennsylvania. Eric is also a member of numerous Paranormal and Bigfoot organizations and acts as a consultant for several including the Pennsylvania Paranormal Society, the Pennsylvania Researchers Organization, The North Eastern Sasquatch Research Center, Sasquatch Detective Inc, The Middle America Bigfoot Research Association and the Center for Unexplained Events. Eric remains quite active in the field researching and investigating and has traveled quite extensively across the country to various states including, Ohio, Texas, California and Oregon researching the creature.

Eric also co hosts an internet talk radio program on Internet paranormal subjects on Blog Talk Radio entitled "Beyond The Edge Radio" and can be heard at BlogTalkRadio.

To find out more about Eric, visit www.pabigfootsociety.com, www.myspace.com/bigfootboy_2000 or www.beyondtheedgeradio.com.

David Lewis Anderson, Ph.D.

Consultant/Advisor • Physics

[Website]

David Lewis Anderson, born in Weirton, West Virginia is a physicist whose interests are in spacetime physics, special relativity and global community service. Anderson received degrees in engineering, physics and philosophy as a student graduating with honors from West Virginia University, California State University, the Joint-Services Military College and the University of Minnesota.

He was employed at a young age by the United States Air Force conducting advanced research and development at the prestigious Air Force Flight Test Center at Edwards Air Force Base in the Mojave Desert. He later founded an organization call the TTRC, an advanced time-technology research laboratory located on Long Island, New York in the United States of America.

During that time he proposed several new detail on theories for reversing time at sub-light speeds and laid the foundations for what would later become known as time-warped field theory, an approach that modeled and described how to use the natural forces of inertial frame dragging for power generation and to create contained and controllable fields of closed time-like curves.

Anderson provided one of the first comprehensive overviews of the historical views of time, time control and time travel in the documentary "Time Travel - Journeys into Time." His ideas were later applied for the development of high performance time reactor systems for energy production and time technology research at what is known today as the Anderson Institute.
 

Anderson is the President and CEO of Anderson Multinational LLC, the parent corporation of the Anderson Institute and several other companies, headquartered in Rochester, New York. He holds multiple patents relating to time technology and also for time reactor designs. His published works include more than thirty articles and video lectures on spacetime physics, time control technologies and methods and the philosophy of time. He has appeared on numerous radio and television shows worldwide including Coast to Coast AM with Art Bell in the USA.

Anderson is also President and CEO of the World Genesis Foundation whose mission is to “leave no child without hope for the future” and is active as a speaker and Ambassador for Youth for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and also for the Romanian government.

Michael Cremo

Consultant/Advisor • Anthropology

[Website]

Michael Cremo is on the cutting edge of science and culture issues. In the course of a few month's time he might be found on pilgrimage to sacred sites in India, appearing on a national television show, lecturing at a mainstream science conference, or speaking to an alternative science gathering. As he crosses disciplinary and cultural boundaries, he presents to his various audiences a compelling case for negotiating a new consensus on the nature of reality. He is the co-author of Forbidden Archeology.  

Frank Feschino, Jr.

Consultant/Advisor • Ufology

[Website]

In the early 1990’s, Feschino became involved in UFO and Crop Circle research in West Virginia. He frequently visited a relative’s farm located in Braxton County, where Crop Circles appeared over night and UFO sightings were frequent. This is when Feschino learned about the 1952 “Braxton County Monster” Incident, which occurred in Flatwoods, near his cousin’s farm. In 1991, he contacted MUFON and was granted a meeting with Crop Circle enthusiast, Colin Andrews. Shortly afterward, Feschino met with MUFON representatives and Colin Andrews and supplied him with his West Virginia UFO and Crop Circle documentation. He continued to collaborate with Andrews about the ongoing anomalies occurring in Braxton County but Frank’s curiosity with the Flatwoods Incident proved to be his calling. He began to investigate this 1952 incident at a deeper level and devoted all of his time to it. Feschino moved to Florida to further his education. In 1993, he enrolled in Phillip’s JR College and studied film and video production. He continued to travel to West Virginia during his schooling but was now armed with camera operation knowledge as well as interviewing and scriptwriting skills. It was during Frank’s two-year training program that the Braxton County Monster evolved into a production project. He combined his strong Art background together with his video production and scriptwriting skills; his story began to take shape.  
 

Stanton Friedman

Consultant/Advisor • Ufology

[Website]

Stanton T. Friedman received BSc and MSc degrees in physics from the University of Chicago in 1955 and 1956. He was employed for 14 years as a nuclear physicist for such companies as GE, GM, Westinghouse, TRW Systems, Aerojet General Nucleonics, and McDonnell Douglas on such advanced, classified, eventually cancelled, projects as nuclear aircraft, fission and fusion rockets, and nuclear powerplants for space.

Since 1967 he has lectured on the topic "Flying Saucers ARE Real!" at more than 600 colleges and over 100 professional groups in 50 states, 9 provinces, 16 other countries. He has published more than 80 UFO papers and appeared on hundreds of radio and TV programs. He is the original civilian investigator of the Roswell Incident and co-authored "Crash at Corona: The Definitive Study of the Roswell Incident." TOP SECRET/MAJIC, his explosive book about the Majestic 12 group established in 1947 to deal with crashed saucers, was published in 1996 and went through 6 printings. The 2nd edition with a new 5000-word afterword was published in September 2005 and is in its 2nd printing. Stan was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award in Leeds, England, in September, 2002, by UFO Magazine of the UK. A documentary "Stanton T. Friedman IS Real" was broadcast in Canada in 2002.

He has provided written testimony to Congressional Hearings, appeared twice at the UN, and been a pioneer in many aspects of Ufology including Roswell, Majestic 12, the Betty Hill-Marjorie Fish star map work; analysis of the Delphos, Kansas, physical trace case; crashed saucers, flying saucer technology and challenges to the S.E.T.I. (Silly Effort to Investigate) cultists.

Stanton Friedman takes a clear-cut unambiguous stand that SOME UFOs are alien spacecraft, that the subject of flying saucers represents a Cosmic Watergate, that none of the anti-UFO arguments made by a variety of noisy negativists stand up to careful scrutiny, and that we are dealing with the biggest story of the past millennium: visits to Planet Earth by alien spacecraft and the successful coverup by governments of the best data: alien wreckage and bodies recovered in New Mexico, for 59 years. He has spent many weeks at a total of 20 document archives. Stan has successfully taken on many critics of flying saucers, Roswell, Majestic 12, including winning a debate at Oxford University. Stan is a dual citizen of the USA and Canada and lives in New Brunswick, Canada.  

Ryan Hurd

Consultant/Advisor • Dream & Consciousness Related Research

[Website]

Ryan has an MA in Consciousness Studies and a Certificate of Dream Studies. He also has a BA degree specializing in archaeology. He spent the better part of a decade excavating ruins in North America before turning inward to the riches of the mind, which are infinitely more valuable than any buried treasure. Less back aches this way too. His background has taught him that both views, objective science and self-inquiry, are critical for a more holistic view of Western knowledge to emerge. Ryan is also a member of the International Association for the Study of Dreams, the foremost authority on dream research today, and abides by their ethics statement.

John Hutchison

Consultant/Advisor • Theoretical Science

John Hutchison is most well known for the Hutchison Effect. The Hutchison Effect is not just one effect, it is many put together. The Hutchison Effect is what happens when John turns on some of his machinery, he creates radio wave interferences in a zone of spatial volume encompassed by high voltage sources, usually a Van de Graff generator, and two or more Tesla coils. The effects produced include levitation of heavy objects, fusion of dissimilar materials such as metal and wood (exactly as portrayed in the movie, "The Philadelphia Experiment"), the anomalous heating of metals without burning adjacent material, spontaneous fracturing of metals (which separate by sliding in a sideways fashion), and both temporary and permanent changes in the crystalline structure and physical properties of metals. The levitation of heavy objects by the Hutchison Effect is not---repeat not---the result of simple electrostatic or electromagnetic levitation.

Jari Mikkola, MCS, BA, CLPI

Consultant/Advisor • ParaNexus Co-Founder

Jari Mikkola, Co-Founder of ParaNexus and Founder/Director of In the Shadows Paranormal Project, has invested a lot of time in developing educational, informative, and entertaining seminars and presentations on a subject that has fascinated, thrilled, and sometimes frightened people of all ages and cultures throughout the world. Jari (pronounced "Yari") has been an independent security contractor for many years now working with global client accounts in many remote places around the world. in his spare time he has been speaking and participating in paranormal conferences and other public events for sometime now over the last  10 years; including Europe, Australia, and North America. Jari now lives in Denver, Colorado, and is no stranger to audiences or the media.
 
Over the years Jari has not only participated in conferences, seminars, and media presentation on the subject of the paranormal, but also conducted presentations and discussions regarding the science of paranormal phenomena investigation and research; fielding question and answer periods after his presentations that often last long after the presentation is scheduled to end. Jari interjects a lot of wit and humor into all the facts and information he provides on the subject, while at the same time providing interesting tidbits of trivia that keep his audience asking for more.
 
In addition, to speaking, Jari loves a good debate, whether it's with the non-believers, demonologists, Anglicans, or just undecided, he is able to think on his feet; which is evident in his humor. Jari often takes both sides of a debate pro or con on the various subjects of 'the other side,' and brings up points that many of us have overlooked. His knowledge and experience in the field of paranormal phenomena has captivated listeners and viewers around the world, while at the same time, educated minds to the fact that its not just trampling through old houses or cemeteries as a 'ghost hunter,' it's an art and a fledgling science.

Raymond Moody, MD, PhD

Consultant/Advisor • Near Death Experiences

[Website]

Dr. Moody is the leading authority on the 'near-death experience'—a phrase he coined in the late seventies. Dr. Moody's research into the phenomenon of near-death experience had its start in the 1960's. The New York Times calls him "the father of the near-death experience." M.D. from the Medical College of Georgia, 1976, Ph.D. in philosophy from the University of Virginia, 1969, M.A. in philosophy from the University of Virginia, 1967, B.A. with Honors in philosophy from the University of Virginia, 1966.

Andrew Nichols, PhD

Consultant/Advisor • Parapsychology

[Website]

Dr. Andrew Nichols is a psychologist, parapsychologist, and investigator of alleged poltergeist cases and other paranormal phenomena. He is a member of the American Psychological Association, the Parapsychological Association, and the Society for Psychological Hypnosis. He has been a psychology professor for many years and is adjunct faculty (parapsychology) at Santa Fe College (Gainesville, FL). Nichols is listed in Who’s Who in American Teachers.

During his 30 year career, Nichols has investigated more than 600 reported cases of ghosts, hauntings and poltergeists, and conducted studies in telepathy, precognition, and paranormal dream experiences. He has written numerous articles on paranormal experiences for popular magazines such as Fate and his scientific papers on the paranormal have been published in scientific journals such as the Journal of Parapsychology, International Journal of Parapsychology, European Journal of Parapsychology, andProceedings of the Parapsychological Association.

Professor Nichols has presented lectures and workshops on paranormal topics at colleges and conferences throughout the U.S., Canada and Europe. He is the author of Ghost Detective: Adventures of a Parapsychologist, and his work has been featured in many books on paranormal topics.

As a media consultant on paranormal topics, Nichols has appeared on numerous TV and Radio programs in the U.S., Canada, Europe and Japan, including Unsolved Mysteries; 48 Hours; Inside America’s Courts, and was a recurring guest on NBC’s The Other Side. Several television specials have featured Dr. Nichols’ work, including ABC’s The World’s Scariest Ghosts, The Discovery Channel’s Real Ghosthunters and Ghost Detectives, and Beyond Death on A&E.

He has investigated alleged poltergeist disturbances for government agencies and law enforcement, including The United States Army, Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the Daytona Beach Police Department. In 1999 he was co-recipient of a grant to study haunting and poltergeist cases, the first grant of its kind in the history of psychic research.

David M. Rountree, M.S.E.E., AES

Consultant/Advisor • Acoustics, EVP, Physics

[Website]

David Rountree is the Director of Scientific Paranormal Investigative Research Information and Technology, a paranormal research Laboratory dedicated to the design build of detection and data recording of environmental aspects of paranormal Phenomena, and Co-Director of the New Jersey Paranormal Research Group, and investigative organization which performs investigations and field experimentation.

David has been involved in the paranormal research field since 1976. He is a professional member of the Rhine Research Center, the Audio Engineering Society, The International Frequency Sensor Association, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. David’s background as an audio and acoustic engineer, police officer, and current studies in physics and Quantum Mechanics makes him a vital contributor to the SPIRIT/NJPRG mix. David designs and builds much of the specialized equipment used on investigations with input from other team members. David prides himself in being able to find natural sources for many of the claims they encounter, but has the knowledge and ability to analyze and theorize about the phenomena that defies rational explanations.

David Lives in North Western New Jersey with his wife and son.

Brad Steiger

[Website]

Consultant/Advisor • Parapsychology • Ufology

Brad Steiger is the author/coauthor of 166 books with over 17 million copies in print. Steiger's first published articles on the unexplained appeared in 1956, and he has now written more than 2,000 articles with paranormal themes. From 1970-'73, his weekly newspaper column, The Strange World of Brad Steiger, was carried domestically in over 80 newspapers and overseas from Bombay to Tokyo. He was born in Fort Dodge, Iowa, on February 19,1936. He is married to Sherry Steiger, herself the author or coauthor of over 40 books. From the mid-1980s through 2002, they lectured and conducted seminars throughout the United States and overseas. They have two sons, three daughters, and nine grandchildren, eight girls, and one boy. Television appearances include Nightline with Ted Koppel, ABC Evening News with Peter Jennings, NBC Evening News with Tom Brokaw, This Week [with David Brinkley, Sam Donaldson, and Cokie Roberts] The Mike Douglas Show, The David Suskind Show, The Joan Rivers Show, Entertainment Tonight, Haunted Hollywood [for HBO], Inside Edition, The Unexplained [A&E], Giants: The Myth and the Mystery [The Learning Channel]. Fangs vs. Fiction [A&E]. The television series Could It Be a Miracle? features Brad and Sherry in 22 episodes.

Butch Witkowski

[Website]

Consultant/Advisor • Ufology

Butch Witkowski is the Director of the UFO Research Center of Pennsylvania and has been an Independent Researcher since 1989 when he and 4 other people witnessed a UFO of unbelievable size hover over “A” Mountain in Tucson, Arizona. The object was a dirty bronze in color, approximately 500 to 600 feet long, and about 6 or 7 stories high. It was totally silent and moved ever so slowly up and down, and then rose about 1500 feet upwards. It then moved forward and vanished so fast that the witnesses could not even convey the speed. They all agreed on what they saw, and calls to the Sheriff’s Department, news media, and local Air Force base yielded no information. It was a though it never happened. Those present were convinced of what they had witnessed and considering that Butch’s background was Law Enforcement focusing on Narcotics and Homicide, he began his own investigation into the UFO Phenomenon. He read all the books and cases he could find on the subject.

In 2007, Butch joined MUFON, which gave him more access to cases and on site investigations. He became a Field Investigator, State Section Director, Chief Investigator for Pennsylvania MUFON, and was made a member of the Star Team. However, Butch’s research was still lacking something. He was not getting to the end of what he was seeking. He felt he needed to go about this work in a different manner. After almost a year and a half of planning he relinquished his position as Chief Investigator and started the UFO Research Center of Pennsylvania. He brought together the best like-minded researchers he could find in the fields of forensics, photography, chemistry, law enforcement, biology, EVP, private detectives, fraud investigators, private pilots, computer techs, bio chemists, geology, and hazardous materials along with a number of consultants in ufology, paranormal, abductions and cryptozoology. The use of multi-disciplined investigators enhances the team’s fact finding ability to an unprecedented level.

The team pursues both historical and new cases presented in an effort to resolve cases of High Strangeness. The team has two fully equipped mobile units, and 20 active investigators and consultants at present. They also incorporate a multi-disciplined training agenda for all researchers.

Butch has presented to numerous groups and has been interviewed on a number of Radio Shows. He always tries to keep the field of Ufology honest and professional and that has not been an easy task in itself as some researchers have many other agendas. The caliber of researchers is changing and Ufology is seeing an influx of the younger professionals. That is what is needed for the quest for the truth to continue in an unbiased manner.

ParaNexus Does not currently have any open positions.

Grant Rubendunst, LMHC, CLPI

ParaNexus Assistant Director

Grant is a graduate of the University of South Florida. He holds an undergraduate degree in Social Work, and a Masters degree in Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling. He also has 15 additional hour of graduate training/certification in Substance Abuse and Addictions Counseling. Grant has clinical experience in addiction treatment and mental health. He holds national certification as a Rehabilitation Counselor by the Commission of Rehabilitation Counselors.

Grant is also Co-host for ParaNexus Universe Radio and has appeared on other radio programs as well. Grant may be contacted at grubendunst@paranexus.org or by phone at 941-448-6409.