Our EXPERT instructors
Sandy Rivers
MA, CASAC-M, ACH
Lisa Ardner
MA, CASAC-M, CARC, CCTP
Sandra Fioramonti-Sabene
CEO/Program Design Artistic Innovations LLC
Sandy Rivers, MA, CASAC-M, RC
Founder of Authentic Trainings & Lead Trainer
As the founder of Authentic Trainings, Sandy has decades of clinical experience in substance use disorder, sexual abuse, and trauma.
As a clinician, she noticed that evidence-based practices rooted in practical, person-centered approaches led to the best client outcomes. She further noted that these same skills led to lower rates of burnout among her colleagues.
When she noticed a deficit in workforce education focused on these skills, she pursued a master’s degree in adult education, and she founded Authentic Trainings to fill that void.
Sandy holds various certifications, including Trauma Debriefing, Advanced Clinical Hypnotherapist, Trauma Champion, and Advanced Motivational Interviewing Trainer. She’s a member of the NYCB Trainer Registry.
At Authentic Trainings, she develops customized training solutions to meet the growing needs of professionals in the fields mental health, criminal justice, substance use disorder, and more to increase client engagement and retention.
Lisa Ardner, MA, CASAC-M, CARC, CCTP
Lisa has over two decades of clinical experience in substance use disorder. She is a Certified MINT ® Trainer and member of the international Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT®). Lisa is a member of the CNY Motivational Interviewing Learning Collaborative and co-facilitates a monthly virtual Motivational Interviewing Community of Practice Group.
Lisa has a master’s degree in Adult Learning from SUNY Empire State College where she is an adjunct instructor. She is a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP) and a NYS Certified Addiction Recovery Coach (CARC).
Lisa is an approved trainer through OASAS (Office of Addiction Services and Support) and a member of the NYCB Trainer Registry on a variety of topics.
Lisa is best known for her compassionate, nurturing, and relational style of counseling and teaching.
Sandra Fioramonti-Sabene
Sandra Sabene has over 20 years of experience as a motivational speaker for mental health events, with a special focus on substance use disorder. She’s the CEO of Artistic Innovations and Founder of the Creative Rhythms & Expressive Arts Facilitator Training. She owns the Liver Pool Arts Center and hosts the longest-running drum circle in Syracuse, NY.
She’s designed special programming for healthcare and community organizations and high education, including Upstate University Hospital, Veteran’s Hospital, Hutchings, Helio Health, Prevention Network, St. Camillus, Syracuse University, Onondaga Community College, Lemoyne College, Syracuse City, Cicero, Citi BOCES, Liverpool, Baldwinsville, and North Syracuse Schools, Advocates, Syracuse City Libraries, CRC, ARC, Liberty Resources, Anchor Recovery, ASAP-NYCB statewide conferences.
She’s a member of the NYCB Trainer Registry.