Sabrina Risley is the Founder of CERTUS Professional Network, Denver’s longest standing grassroots networking organization, offering multiple networking events each month all along Colorado’s Front Range. Professionals find CERTUS a valuable community through which to meet well-connected business leaders and influencers, receive referrals, and get introduced to key resources, partners and new client prospects. Learn more about CERTUS Professional Network.

Sabrina Risley is a master connector. She’s hosted more than 1,000 live networking events since 2004 and has welcomed 22,000+ professionals to those events. She shares her observations, insights and tips on how the top 2% of effective and magnetic networkers build their companies. She also shares what NOT to do when networking.

Get her complimentary e-book: Strategic Networking for Success.

People call me Nanybel.



The following are “tags” that really don’t define who I am:



A Mom to 2 wonderful grown up sons who are my best friends and allies, an accomplished Portraiture Artist, a Certified announcer for radio and TV in Spanish, a certified Translator and Court Interpreter. I’m trilingual, have lived in 4 different countries, in 9 cities, and have traveled extensively around the World.



I’ve been married 4 times to very different men from different countries, religions and upbringings. And have also been divorced 4 times, but still believe in loving, committed relationships and in marriages! (You might think: how can that be possible?)



You see, such tags are just some of the things that I’ve done or achieved…



I am actually a persistent, caring, determined and self-motivated human being; I spent all my life editing myself to suit other people’s needs and expectations, to fit in my “inside-the-box” loving family, school and society’s traditions.



I’ve lived most of my life feeling like a butterfly whose wings were self-crippled, to be able to fly just enough to feel that I was OK, but not so high or long to be criticized or punished.



And my free-spirited me have felt trapped many times; but I’d talked myself into believing that that was the path, my mission, and that was it. I was wrong.



So now I am on a mission to speak up in a super frank, free and unedited way to debunk life and relationship myths, to give you tools you might not have, sharing with you all my life experiences, listening to yours, and do it while having fun!

Andi Katsina is passionately dedicated to healing and changing the lives of teens and their parents, by bringing a fresh new story to bullying—having written the book Phat Girl & The Sankara Parasite, which has been called “the anti-bullying manifesto.” At one point in her life she woke up to the divine art of writing and has now written 20 books. She was called to share this special story as she became deeply concerned by the challenge of bullying and the sad numbers of teen suicide. Her book Phat Girl & The Sankara Parasite, tells a story that is healing, rare and will bring a new open loving discussion to this important subject.

Contact; info@theindieoracle.com

On line; https://www.facebook.com/AndiKatsina and https://twitter.com/AndreaKatsina

Fresh out of high school, California native Craig Campobasso found himself working behind the scenes for four years on Frank Herbert’s Dune. The father and daughter producing team, Dino and  Raffaella De Laurentiis, and director David Lynch, were Craig’s mentors into the business of filmmaking. Raffaella later hired him on the popular Christmas movie Prancer, starring Sam Elliott, as a casting director after he apprenticed as a casting associate on Steven Spielberg’s Amazing Stories. Craig has been casting for more than two decades and was nominated for an Emmy for casting David E. Kelly’s Picket Fences. He is also an acting coach in the Los Angeles area.



Craig Campobasso's directorial debut "Stranger at the Pentagon" won Best Sci-Fi Short Film at the Burbank Film Festival in September 2014 and won a Remi award for Best Sc-Fi Short at the Houston Int'l Film Festival in 2015.

ABOUT "Stranger at the Pentagon"...

"Stranger at the Pentagon" is inspired by True Events from the book of the same name. It was first published in 1967. It remains a UFO classic to date. 



Valiant Thor, a Created Being and Universal Envoy, met with President Dwight D. Eisenhower on March 16, 1957. This human Angelic came with a divine design for mankind on how to eliminate sickness, disease and poverty. Eisenhower put the enlightened extraterrestrial on VIP status for three years. He lived in a Pentagon apartment three stories underground.



During his tenure, Thor experiences the aggressive government officials who are determined to get the blueprints to his Victor Class saucer, a technological wonder. Thor must also deal with a negative alien race trying to infiltrate Earth under the guise of friendship with the US government. While he circumvents all this, he comes in contact with the Empyrean, the leader of 13 men who make-up the SSS: the Secret Shadow Society--the men who really run the world from behind the corporate curtain. The Empyrean has liaisons across the universe with malevolent beings who have groomed him on how to stop Thor, and gain control of his powers; powers that can create anything at will and transport him anywhere with a mere thought.



Author Dr. Frank E. Stranges first met Commander Valiant Thor in December of 1959.

Kaayla Vedder is an energy mover who has been practicing in the area of energy wellbeing for the last 20 years. She has been seeing and moving energy since she was three years old. Kaayla can actually see the energy and entities that are influencing a person when she focuses on them. This is how she is able to assist others instantly with issues they are ready to release.

A serious illness surfaced in 2007 that had Kaayla turn to Homeopathic Medicine and working on her own energy vibrations to empower her physical body to accept balanced health. She released the experience of the illness through the Kripa technique when Western Medicine failed to produce a helpful diagnosis. 

After recovery a massive expansion in awareness and understanding of limitless vibrational increase of ones body and consciousness became clear to Kaayla. She is now able to move energy and clear energy blocks in her physical body and in her higher levels beyond mainstream belief. After realizing and successfully practicing this for herself she was then guided to assist others with energy clearing, activations and limitless expansion.

She started her practice in Pranic healing and her gifts of energy movement have grown into Kripa Quantum Healing. 

Kaayla’s ability to move energy continues to expand as she practices the Kripa technique on herself and others. She practices Kripa Quantum Healing both in person and remotely for a variety of leaders. She bridges the gap between higher levels and the physical body with Divine Grace and the results are amazing – transforming lives, creating energy shifts and has been producing instant healing for those she serves. She loves life's dance more than ever!

Dr. Paulette Kouffman Sherman is a licensed psychologist with a doctorate degree in Clinical Psychology and is the author of twenty-one books.  

Her latest book is ‘The Book of Sacred Baths’ published by Llewellyn Worldwide.  She is a certified life coach, author, teacher, relationship expert, and speaker.  

She has a private practice in Manhattan and does coaching by phone.

Mary Rodwell is a professional counsellor, hypnotherapist, ufologist researcher and metaphysician. Mary is the founder and Principal of ACERN (Australian Close Encounter Resource Network) and is recognised Internationally, as one of Australia's leading researchers in the UFO and Contact phenomenon. She is the Vice-President of Star Kids Project Ltd and an Advisory Committee member of Exopolitics.

She has lectured in the USA, Canada, Hawaii, UK and New Zealand and appears regularly in national and international media news programs such as the Australian documentary OZ Files, the BBC television program, Paranormal Files(UK) and Discovery Channel Animal X. She has also participated in a University debate forum on this phenomenon, in 2006 at Oxford University, UK.

Mary's research shows while many "Star Children" sometimes called "Indigo's" have telepathic abilities, and are spiritually awakened and describe seeing "Beings of Light" (angels or light beings), the main difference is that "Star Children" have recollections of encounters with extraterrestrial beings and of being taken aboard extraterrestrial spaceships. Mary's research also explores the evidence from scientific, medical, psychological, and historical perspective to support what she believes is a genetic engineering program, which is part of an upgrading of homo sapiens, and creating a paradigm shift in human consciousness, which these children demonstrate.

ACERN - Australian Close Encounter Research Network

Following is a brief history of the Perth-based UFO Abductee/Contactee Support Group , which was formed in late 1996.  Its evolution has sparked interest not only from its participants, but also from organizations Australia-wide, the media and from overseas.

In 1996, a group of Western Australian UFO researchers decided to form a support group for those people who have had 'encounter' experiences.  In ufology terms, these are called 'Close Encounters of the Fourth Kind' and simply refer to anyone who believes he or she has had some contact or interaction with extraterrestrial life forms.

At this time, they had in mind at least one facilitator for the group.  This was Elizabeth Robinson, a professional therapist/counsellor, trained in group work, who had had her own abduction/encounter experiences.  When Mary Rodwell heard about the proposed support group, she contacted the UFO researchers and explained to them that she had already considered forming a support group for the growing number of such clients she was seeing in her counselling practice.  Mary informed them of her qualifications and background and a meeting was arranged where Mary learnt that they had already formed an advisory committee which included a psychiatrist to ensure that a professional support group was formed.  This was totally in line with Mary's view because, as she had spent ten years in the counselling field, having trained in the UK and had experience in group work, she understood the need to create a credible, professional support network.

It was arranged for Elizabeth and Mary to meet in December 1996, with the hope that they would work together.  The goals were to provide a professional and supportive resource for all those abductees/contactees who needed it.  This support group would offer total confidentiality, with the understanding that they would honour the clients’ experiences and support them emotionally and psychologically.

As both Mary and Elizabeth were keen to begin, they advertised the Abductee/Contactee Support Group in NOVA, Western Australia’s Holistic Journal in March 1997 and the following month. They obtained further publicity for the group by having two articles published in the May 1997 issue of NOVA.  These were 'Counselling the Abductee', written by Mary and a 'A Secret Life Awakened', written by Elizabeth which was about her own encounter experiences.

Mary and Elizabeth also had enquiries from people who were interested in the phenomenon and wanted to attend the group out of curiosity.  It was important to explain to them that this was a therapeutic support group that was only for abductee/encounter experiencers, where group privacy and confidentiality were paramount.

Time and time again, with small variations, they were the typical abductee/contactees pattern.  One young woman in her twenties, who was severely traumatised by her experiences, said it took tremendous courage for her to attend the meeting.  She said afterwards how pleased she was that she had found the courage to come. "I had always dreamed of something like this, but never believed it would happen."  This statement epitomised how valuable a support group is and confirms the need to continue with it.

It was clear that the needs of the group were not just about isolation and past experiences, but also for therapeutic support for on-going experiences.  There is a desire by many abductees/contactees to try and make sense of this enigma, a desire to understand it and its meaning in their lives.  This includes support for the paradigm shifts that many of them have to make.

One of the main stumbling blocks to any new venture is money.  Mary and Elizabeth had no financial resources, so the support group has had to fund itself.  There was no money for advertising.  Some of the abductees/contactees said they would do their own publicity for the group, via word-of-mouth, but they had to find other ways to inform those people in isolation where they could find help.  They did have some assistance with this from the local UFO researchers, who referred clients to them

They also had support of some periodicals from complementary fields that kindly advertised their Support Group free of charge.  These were Astrally Yours and The Healing Circle.  Although this advertising was very welcome, it did not inform the wider community.  Soon it meant that they had to go public via media outlets such as magazines, newspapers, radio and television.  To do this was hugely confronting for both Mary and Elizabeth.  They were both professional people who had credibility in the conventional therapeutic world.  They could not predict what the consequences would be both professionally, or personally.  For Elizabeth, there was the added dimension of exposing herself as an abductee/contactee.

Both Mary and Elizabeth knew that with the media, much of the material would be sensationalised and put out of context.  In fact, this did happen in several popular women's magazines who told their version of the story -often in lurid colour and with prose that resembled a horror script!  With resignation Mary and Elizabeth finally subscribed to the saying: "All publicity is good publicity!"

Mary suspects they will struggle for credibility for some time.  "It goes with the controversial nature of this phenomenon.  Media exposure, no matter how lurid, can still reach those who are looking for help.  For the open-minded in the community, it may just start them thinking.  The close-minded, however will probably remain so.  Even if a spaceship landed on their front lawn, they would probably want to deny it was there."

To date, the Support Group's exposure had been quite successful and has reached many of those in isolation with this experience.  One letter received from a gentleman in his forties said: "Thank you so much for what you are doing, at last I now know I'm not mad!"

It was important to access more information from the professional therapeutic world and it was discovered that the USA had the most to offer in this respect.  Mary contacted the PEER (Program for Extraordinary Experience Research) organisation president, Dr John Mack, who is a psychiatrist and the author of Abduction.  This organisation invites professional therapists to share their information through newsletters and workshops.

The second resource was the Academy of Clinical Close Encounter Therapists (ACCET) in Sacramento, California, a professional organization whose members are psychiatrists, psychologists, doctors and those in the therapeutic field who are working with abductees/contactees.  ACCET run workshops worldwide.  Mary became a clinician member of ACCET in 1997 and from their list of members has access to other therapists.  It was with interest that to date, Mary counted one hundred and five members.  Only recently, a gentleman from Hobart, Tasmania, was referred to her through ACCET.  This proves that building contacts and networking is so important.

Moreover, as a result of the media publicity and amount of advertising that had been done, Mary and Elizabeth started to receive an increasing number of telephone calls from local psychologists, therapists, counsellors and others in the healing fields.  So, in the latter part of 1997, they were invited to meet with Mary and Elizabeth to share in their understanding of the phenomena and to inform them of what they were doing. Mary and Elizabeth were delighted and heartened by their support and enthusiasm during the meeting and as a consequence, formed the Australian Close Encounter Resource Network  (ACERN).

It was under the banner of  ACERN  that Mary and Elizabeth attended the Australian International UFO Symposium, in Brisbane in October 1997.  Before their departure, they had three main aims, which were: to advertise  ACERN,  to network with other support groups and professional therapists and to gather the latest information.  They were able to achieve much of the above and were delighted when one of the symposium speakers, Cecilia Dean, not only showed support and interest in their organization, but also advertised and spoke about it at the symposium and took the information back to America.

The trip had been extremely worthwhile and it had been very special for  ACERN to meet so many well- informed individuals and be able to resource them for information.  They also attended the Budd Hopkins' workshop for therapists and experiencers.  Through this exchange, they received further validation that they were on the right track.

As the Abductee/Contactee Support Group celebrated its first anniversary in April 1998, over seventy individuals with abduction/contact experiences had contacted  ACERN,  as well as local and overseas therapists, researchers and UFO groups.  The group continues to prosper, with many of the initial members saying how they now feel more confident and less isolated.  Some have been courageous enough to go public.  It has been an amazing group journey.  The ages range from fourteen years to sixty, with more females than males.  Some of the members support other family members who are experiencers, but do not attend the group.  For some, it is their children who are having the experience.   ACERN  has heard from a broad section of society, including housewives, schoolchildren, farmers, labourers, university students, teachers and psychologists.  The experience has also touched the Aboriginal, European and Asian cultures.

Most of those attending the group have on-going experiences.  Meetings are held monthly and have a set agenda.  Minutes are recorded for all meetings and then the members are invited to share any new experiences.  Techniques or strategies are discussed and they share whatever is helpful, including their intuitive understanding of the experience.  Resource material is discussed, including books and videos.  If they need one-to-one support, they ask either at the meeting or later by phone.  Apart from verbal discussion, strategies for integration such as drawing, meditation and written expression are encouraged.  A 'buddy system' has been introduced and for the members, who wish to participate, it has been very helpful.

ACERN continues to explore opportunities to advertise, as their priority is to reach the  many abductees/contactees out there which they believe may be having difficulty coping.  It is important to say that of the many people who are having encounter experiences who have contacted  ACERN, slightly less than a third are traumatised.  Many people cope with this experience quite well and some say that it has been a very special experience, which has transformed their lives.  They really believe it has opened them to a 'greater multi-dimensional reality'!

Awakening: How Et Contact Can Transform Your Life: How Extraterrestrial Contact Can Transform Your Life by Mary Rodwell

Dr. Pedroni is an Associate Professor of Curriculum Studies and Policy Sociology and Director of the Detroit Data and Democracy Project. He teaches courses in critical education studies, curriculum studies, critical youth studies, and critical theory.  A central concern in his teaching and research is the promotion of schools as sites in which youth develop the analytical skills and leadership qualities to identify and act upon problems that impact the community and region.  



His current research examines educational and social inequality in relation to the post-welfarist educational policy complex of Detroit. Dr. Pedroni has published articles in peer-reviewed journals including Teachers College Record and Urban Review, as well as a number of chapters in edited volumes. His first book Market Movements: African American Involvement in School Voucher Reform (Routledge Critical Social Thought series) received the 2009 Critics’ Choice Book Award from the American Educational Studies Association.