Meet the Paranormal & Occult Research Team!

Founder

Ben Robison: Founder / Tech Specialist / Case Manager / Investigator
Occupation: Network Engineer
Bio: I consider myself a lucky man. I have a gorgeous wife with two extremely bright & charismatic children, a goof ball dog, a great job and a supporting cast of family & friends. In all reality I'm just a regular guy who enjoys hanging with friends / family, fishing, boating, sports, music, UFO's, Cryptozoology, hiking, wilderness survival and life in general. However, it is the things that aren't so regular that intrigue me. We all have questions and my aim is to try to offer some answers by taking a scientific approach with a healthy dose of skepticism and appreciation for the good & evil sides of the spiritual world.

I, like many other people out there, experienced something so profound and unimaginable that I was left with only one option...look at it closer. That is why I founded the Paranormal & Occult Research Team. I am tech-head by trade, so taking that and coupling it with my practical / sensible way of thinking gave me a logical method towards investigating paranormal events.

Case Management

Shane Kwiatkowski: Case Manager / Researcher
Occupation: Student
Bio: I was born in San Francisco, but moved to Vancouver when my sister and I were only two and a half. I was raised in Vancouver since then, and now attend school at Pacific University in Forest Grove, OR, a senior in the Creative Writing and Anthropology departments. I've been interested in the paranormal/magical/supernatural for as long as I can remember. I've have had family, dreams and experiences that point to a world where eerie, meaningful things happen, and I feel like everyone can remember moments in their life where they have interacted with this world as well, even if they've hidden it within themselves, or have had it "educated" out of them. I've studied how to read and write stories, as well as study people, culture, and the myths that empower us and give us meaning and purpose, and I feel that it's time for these stories and experiences of the paranormal to be talked about and shared with an open mind, heart, and spirit. I feel very privileged to be involved with PORT, and hope above all else that people can view this line of inquiry and interest as not merely a hobby, but a discipline that aims to talk about a world in which we all live in, but may have not been able to understand or even discuss until now.

Investigators

Casey Lunsford: Lead Investigator
Occupation: EHS
Bio: Born and raised in the great NW, I have three great kids and am
married to a wonderful woman from Oregon City.

My days are spent working as a safety manager at a manufacturing plant. Outside of work, I love spending time with my family and friends. I am always ready to try something new. Paranormal occurrences have been frequent for me since childhood. Joining this team was a great opportunity. I am in a position now to help others that are experiencing unexplainable happenings and are looking for answers.

Our team is always ready to help anyone in need and to keep learning
everything we can. Being able to help others is a great feeling. Don’t
hesitate to contact any one of our members with your experiences,
questions, or comments. We are in affect helping each other when we
get together.

ON SABBATICAL

Beth Kellett: Lead Investigator
Occupation: Sleep Technician
Bio: I was born and raised in Vancouver, Washington. I have a wonderful husband who supports me in all my endeavors. I graduated from WSU-Vancouver in 2002, with a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology, and recently completed all the prerequisites for nursing school. I enjoy hiking, downhill skiing, camping, music, crafts, cooking, coffee and spending time with my family and friends.

For as long as I can remember, I have always been interested in the paranormal. I am excited to be part of a team that shares the same interest as me. I am impressed with P.O.R.T.'s structure and knowledge, which will help me gain a better understanding of paranormal phenomena.

Carol Ann Carnese: Investigator
Occupation: Massage Therapist
Bio: Raised in the Pacific Northwest, I find myself living in Portland, OR married to a fabulously supportive man and surrounded by my kids and some truly great friends. I love spending time with my family and friends and love pretending that I know how to play golf on my free time.

Before becoming a massage therapist, I have always been sensitive to energies surrounding people. Becoming a massage therapist seemed like a natural thing to do. This, in combination with several unexplained events growing up, I have never given up on the idea that there is something more out there than what can be seen with our own eyes. I have done plenty of exploring the unknown on my own, with more failures than success. No matter the outcome I was always hungry to keep going because I just knew that I would find and / or learn something big on the next experience. I still believe this.

Being a part if this team is not only a dream come true, but is the obvious next step for me. I am thrilled to continue learning more about the known as well as the unknown and even more thrilled at the chance to be able to help others who struggle with unexplained phenomena that happens to them. There are a lot of people out there who make fun of the paranormal, who refuse to believe in it. This makes it even harder for the people who DO believe, for the people who DO have paranormal experiences to speak up. I want to help people not be afraid to share or speak out about such things, and teach them as well as learn from them.

Justine Hiraoka: Investigator In-Training
Occupation: Student
Bio: I was born and raised in the San Fernando Valley which is a part of the greater Los Angeles metro area. I spent the majority of my life in Los Angeles with a brief (1 year) stint in Twin Falls, Idaho before moving back to California for a year. It was there I realized I needed a change of pace. I took off North to Oregon and landed in Portland. I have called Portland my home since December 2007 and have no plans to move again anytime soon. To date I am engaged, working on my bachelors degree in psychology, and planning my wedding.

The paranormal has always interested me; in fact, I’d bargain to say it sought me out. Since I was a small child I would have premonitions, dreams, and experiences that could not be otherwise explained. Perhaps having a few serious brushes with death enhanced my sensitivity. Growing up I was always perceptive to otherworldly phenomena; as an adult I have learned to better discern fact from fiction through several years of trial and error investigating my own claims and concerns. There are few things I fear, so making the leap into paranormal/occult investigating and research was a clear and easy choice to make.

As a member of P.O.R.T. I look forward to using my talents to debunk and verify claims of paranormal activity as an Investigator. Professionalism, compassion, and a knack for being an active listener are traits I feel will add strength to our team in addition to alleviating the concerns of our clients. Growing up in a very active paranormal home I know first-hand how scary it can be to experience things one cannot find an explanation for. My sincerest hope is to provide our clients with a sense of relief after every investigation, whether the evidence points to paranormal activity or otherwise. Knowledge truly is power, and my aim is to shed as much light on the facts as I possibly can.

Researchers

Sharon Ayres: Researcher In-Training
Occupation: Office Manager
Bio: I am a woman in my late 50’s with many life’s experiences to share, especially in the paranormal world. I was only a thirteen year-old Kansas girl when I
first learned about the existence of spirits because of an aunt and uncle’s old farmhouse in the mid-west. From there, my fascination and desire to study
about the paranormal sparked which caused me to come in contact with several haunted places in the Vancouver area, and speak with many people over the
years about their experiences.

I was a middle-aged full-time college student between the years 2000 and 2004 that graduated from Clark College and WSU –Vancouver wearing honor cords. I
studied for a bachelor’s degree in Human Development, and a formal minor in psychology. In the summer of 2005 I participated in my first field study of
the paranormal at various local sites. It was then that I started to fully understand my natural ability I have been aware for a few years called “gift of
discernment.”

Throughout my years I worked in various professional fields like dental assisting and office administration. In my spare time I pumped iron in the gym and
local health clubs for 35 years. I competed in local bodybuilding and bench press competitions and hold five titles with lovely trophies to show for it. I
still do vigorous workouts.

Because of my knowledge, and life’s experiences, I’m sure I can be an asset to P.O.R.T. and help for the public that are looking for answers.

Samantha Buffon: Researcher In-Training
Occupation: Pharmacy Technician
Bio: Born and raised in the Pacific North West, I absolutely love it here. I have a fat orange cat named Chester and am married to an extremely funny,
loving, and supportive man. When I am not working as a pharmacy technician, I love to occupy my time reading, writing, and spending time with my
extraordinary albeit eccentric family and close friends. I love the outdoors and have an unhealthy and uncompromising addiction to coffee and have no
immediate plans to quit.
As a member of P.O.R.T. I am very excited to be surrounded by like-minded people that are as fascinated in the paranormal as I am. As well, I'm eager to
learn from investigations and to pass on that knowledge to others struggling to understand and accept the supernatural.

Kelly Gibson: Researcher In-Training
Occupation: Photographer
Bio: I was born and raised in Chicago, lived there until I was 18 and moved to Washington for 7 years. Now I am back in the Midwest living in the suburbs outside of Chicago, hoping to soon be back in the NW.

My favorite thing to do is spend time with my husband and make memories with my family & friends. For about 10 years, photography has captivated me. I enjoy all art, but my camera is my tool of expression. When I am not taking pictures I work part-time in the world of model trains where I daydream about my next tropical vacation.

As a child, I was terrified of anything paranormal. Now I find it completely fascinating. When I am not watching TCM, I enjoy watching all of the paranormal programs available, but currently my favorites are Ghost Adventures and Ghost Hunters. I hope to be an asset to P.O.R.T. by using my photography experience to help classify or debunk photographic evidence.

DJ Andrzejczak: Systems Developer/Researcher In-Training
Occupation: Data Analyst
Bio: Hey there! My name is D.J., and it's a pleasure to make your one-sided acquaintance! I'm originally from Tucson, Arizona, where I'd lived my entire life up until a bit over a year and a half ago when I moved here (Portland) in an effort to grow as a person. I currently work as a data-analyst for a non-profit hospital, and am enjoying the post-college graduate life as best I can (which translates into finding as much hijinks as I can possibly get into so as to not let myself get bored).

As to why I chose to join this group...well, I have a marked interest in the paranormal and occult, and I feel that both my personal hobbies (such as an sizable command of legends and folklore around the world) and my professional training (such as being a published researcher and investigator) would align well with the sort of cases that this group endeavors to investigate. As well, I like a bit of adventure, and the idea of helping validate or explain the experiences that may happen to others is just too exciting a prospect to pass up. I look forward to meeting you!

Analysts

Photographers & Videographer

Kristy Hruska-Larson: Photographer / Videographer
Occupation: Photographer
Bio: Kristy is a photographer living in the Pacific Northwest. She began swapping ghost stories with her cousin on her grandparents' farm in the summers growing up. They never really grew out of it and now that she is part of the P.O.R.T., he thinks she is the coolest person in the world. She is delighted to be part of the team and in her cousin's good graces.