Jason Hawes created The Atlantic Paranormal Society, or TAPS, with fellow plumber Grant Wilson. Both are part of a small, blue-collar Rhode Island community where many of the TAPS members were born and raised.

His own highly personal paranormal experience (which he prefers not to discuss) prompted Jason to do more than wonder about an afterworld. He launched TAPS from a spare room of his apartment.

Jason met Grant more than a decade ago, and they're best friends. Jason's three girls and twin boys consider Grant an adopted uncle, and Grant's kids view Jason the same way. Their wives, also friends, respect TAPS's mission, but keep their distance. Each has asked her husband not to bring his paranormal work home.

Jason enjoys chasing ghosts, obviously, but he also loves spending time with his kids, deep-sea fishing and writing screenplays — he has written four sci-fi/thriller stories.