Vernon Nicolas

Founder, Research Director of UPLIFTED HUMAN

Lauren Chapman

Therapeutic Intuitive (Guest Faculty)

Phil Florczak

Certified Reiki Master and Bengston Method of Energy Healing Therapist

After 13 years as an ice hockey player and Golden Gloves amateur boxer, Phil suffered a serious injury. He spent years of trying various medications and physical therapies seeking that "magic bullet" to relieve his pain. His breakthrough occurred as he discovered energy medicine, which provided non-invasive, non-medication pain relief for his athletic injury. 

He was so impressed with the effectiveness of energy therapies that he began a journey that led him to become a therapist himself. He became a certified Reiki Master in the traditional Usui system of natural healing. Nearly 10 years ago, he received training from Dr. Bill Bengston to practice the Bengston Method of Energy Healing. He also became a practitioner of Tuning Fork Therapy.

Phil continues to collaborate closely with Vernon (founder of UPLIFTED HUMAN) to advance the research and clinical application of the Bengston Method of Energy Healing, Reiki, and other non-invasive, energy-based therapies.  Together, they strive to fill in the crucial learning gaps related to the application of these therapies.

While his home-base is Chicago, Phil has helped people worldwide, demonstrating his skill and expertise with conducting sessions at a distance. Phil is a joyful, dedicated therapist and is passionate about opening the door for others that led him on his own, remarkable, life-changing journey.  

Shana Pearlmutter

Creative Arts Educator & Transformational Guide

Descended from two generations of artists, Shana’s life has been heavily influenced by the creative arts and a philosophy of sacred reflection. This led her to pursue a BFA in printmaking and painting from the University of Kansas and an MA in Art Education from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. For the past 25 years, Shana has been an exhibiting artist and visual arts educator, rekindling the power of imagination to make her participants' internal dreams, hopes, and visions real. She is also a muralist in Chicago and Marrakech (Morocco) dedicated to uplifting community voice in her work.

Shana credits her late mother and Reiki practitioner, Jan, in helping her experience profound consciousness shifts that heightened her natural intuitive abilities and advanced her own personal healing. As a Reiki Master Teacher, Akashic Records Consultant, and Pachakuti Mesa (i.e. cross-cultural Shamanic Arts) carrier, she integrates wisdom from multiple disciplines to help others step into their own personal power. 

Shana serves as a catalyst for individual and community transformation by integrating art, energy healing, intuition, and memory. She has a unique talent of making the creative arts accessible and meaningful to artistic and non-artistic oriented people alike. She is passionate about giving voice to the innate wisdom within us that is often silenced and ignored, and she also serves as an agent for change by embodying the principles of radical compassion, belonging, and equity.

Shana is excited to bring the transformational power of creative arts and share her natural intuitive and healing talents with the UPLIFTED HUMAN community.

Terri Peterson

Nationally Recognized Breathwork Facilitator & Energy Practitioner (Guest Faculty)

Terri Peterson, TBF, SBF, RPh, is an engaging teacher and a change catalyst. She offers a unique path to personal transformation and optimum health and wellness through Conscious Breathwork. She will help you open your breath and guide you to find its natural rhythm. She will support you as you clear your blocks and ignite a spark that can help you unleash your full potential and achieve your personal goals.

Terri teaches breathwork individually, in small groups and at larger conferences and events. She also brings breathwork into the classroom and business setting. Through her highly sought-after tips and breath awareness tools, Terri offers practical solutions toward reducing personal stress and creating a calmer classroom and a happier, healthier workplace.

Terri is a living example of ‘West meets East’ as she continues to expand her 20 years of holistic work in tandem with her 4 decades as a Registered Pharmacist. Terri offers a variety of sessions and classes in St Paul, Minnesota where she resides, and travels extensively offering workshops and seminars throughout the United States and abroad. One of her most rewarding and memorable experiences to-date, was teaching breathwork to a group of Burmese students from the Thailand-Myanmar refugee camps as part of a healthcare professional training program in the Mae Sot district of Western Thailand. Certifications include: Soul Breathing™, Transformational Breath®, Pranic Healing®, New Paradigm Multidimensional Transformation® and Reiki.

Maggie Ramirez

Certified Reiki Master Teacher; Akashic Records Consultant

At the age of 19, Maggie’s father passed away suddenly from a misdiagnosed illness and complications during surgery. In the midst of her grief, she searched for a deeper meaning in life. It led her to turn inward and pursue an inner calling to grow emotionally and spiritually.

While her career as a financial analyst has kept her grounded, she continued to develop her inner self. She discovered the healing power of Reiki and became certified as a Reiki Master Teacher. Maggie discovered that her intuition rapidly expanded as she continued her explorations in the world of energy medicine.

She then became an Akashic Records Consultant, helping her clients navigate their own inner transformations. Recognized by her teacher for her skill and empathy, she was specifically selected to mentor other students to strengthen their Akashic Records connection.

Although Maggie demonstrated intuitive talents as a child, she realized in her adulthood that intuition is an innate skill within all of us, but many of us are not taught to develop it. Maggie’s own personal growth experiences have stoked a passion within her to support and guide others with their own inner transformations. 

Jana Scalzitti

Resident Sound Therapist; Manifestation Workshop Leader (Guest Faculty)

Jana spent the first part of her life in the Midwest following a traditional path of college, grad school, and law school until a turning point in her life during her 7th year as a defense litigation attorney. Unfulfilled, life changed dramatically for Jana as she consciously shifted course and pursued her life's passions. She delved into subjects such as metaphysics, yoga, Reiki, art, and fashion, integrating her logical, analytical talents with her creative, intuitive gifts.

Currently based in Los Angeles, she has lived in Chicago and New York and brings a unique perspective how to manage your emotional / energy literacy even in busy, urban environments.

By developing strong emotional and energy literacy, Jana is living proof you can change course, transform your life, and embody an uplifted, human experience.  

Linda Schultz

Certified Aromatherapist (Guest Faculty)

Although Linda had already been working with essential oils for many years, it was her trip to Egypt that inspired her to pursue more serious study of essential oils. While in Egypt, she discovered the Ebers Papyrus, which is a collection of diverse medical texts containing the most complete record of Egyptian medicine.  As she learned more about the text, she became increasingly fascinated with its ancient wisdom and practical applications of oils that were prevalent during that time.

Recognizing these learnings have been largely overlooked or ignored in today’s modern society, she felt compelled to earn a Certification in Professional Aromatherapy from the National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy.  During her tenure at the Institute of Spiritual Healing and Aromatherapy, she honed her ability to use essential oils in conjunction with energy work to assess an individual’s biofield and chakras.

Through an integration of multiple disciplines, Linda’s expert applications of essential oils have helped elevate human consciousness and uplift the human experience of her clients.   

Winter Vega

Medium 

At age 3, Winter recognized she had an ability to see and communicate with spirits. Her first memorable experience involved seeing a man dressed in 17th century clothing on her front porch. While having a conversation with the man, she realized her parents could not see or hear him as she could.

As Winter grew older, her experiences with spirits intensified as she saw them everywhere she went. It became clear these weren't imaginary friends or figments of her imagination. In search for answers, she discovered mentors that validated and developed her natural mediumship abilities.  Her experiences reinforced that everyone has spirit guides who are eager to communicate with us, if we simply let them in. 

Beyond lending her talents to paranormal investigations, Winter communicates and connects with spirit guides and those who've passed on, conveying messages of hope, validation, and guidance. As a lawyer by trade, she brings groundedness to every engagement and clarity in her communications. Winter looks forward to leading group events and conducting private consultations within the UPLIFTED HUMAN community.