Faculty

Pam Pracser Anderson, CG

Pam Anderson, CG®, owns Anderson CoGen in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. She used her master’s degree in Speech Pathology until changing careers in 1991, becoming the owner of Anderson Construction in 2016. She began studying her family history in 2010, went professional in 2014, and obtained her CG in 2018. Pam mentored ProGen 47 in 2020–2021. She taught “Editing Your Work” for Jill Morelli’s AppGen Institute course, “Just Do It! Self-Publishing Your Work,” in 2023 and a twelve-hour AppGen Institute course on “The Art of Self-Editing for Genealogists” in 2024. Pam is a volunteer researcher for the Franklin County Historical Society and chairs their First Families Committee. She has written articles for the Association of Professional Genealogists Quarterly, National Genealogical Society Quarterly and Magazine, New York Genealogical and Biographical Society Record, and Maryland Genealogical Society Journal

Amy Arner, CG

Amy specializes in western Pennsylvania research and editing genealogical works. She serves as a content editor for the Association of Professional Genealogists Quarterly and co-edited the North Hills Genealogists [of Pittsburgh] newsletter for twelve years. Amy completed a Certificate in Editing through the University of Chicago’s Graham School of Continuing Liberal and Professional Studies in 2013. She coordinates an intermediate-level course about Pennsylvania research at the Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh. Amy previously served as the secretary of the Association of Professional Genealogists and as the president of its Great Lakes Chapter. In 2015, the Association of Professional Genealogists awarded her its Grahame T. Smallwood Jr. Award of Merit for her service to the organization.

Jenifer Kahn Bakkala

Jenifer Kahn Bakkala is a professional genealogist and author specializing in a biographical narrative approach to family history. Her most recent publication, The Maynard, North, and Deforest Families: A Story of Immigration, Industry, and Community, was the 2023 winner of the National Genealogical Society’s Award for Excellence in Genealogy and Family History. Jenifer works as a freelance writer for the Newbury Street Press and proofreader for the NEHGS Register and American Ancestors magazine. She sits on the Board of Directors of the Association of Professional Genealogists and is chair of its Professional Development Committee.

James Beidler

James M. Beidler, known internationally as one of the top people in the field of German genealogy, has authored four commercially published books, including three on German family history. He’s been executive director for Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania on two occasions, and was a reports editor for the globe-spanning research-for-hire firm Legacy Tree Genealogists for three years. Beidler also writes “Roots & Branches,” a weekly newspaper column and blog (at www.roots-branches.com), is a German Life magazine columnist, and editor emeritus of Der Kurier, the quarterly journal of the Mid-Atlantic Germanic Society.

Kelli Jo Bergheimer

Kelli Jo Bergheimer is a writer, teacher, editor, and international genealogical speaker. Kelli holds a Bachelor’s Degree in biology, a Master’s in Education Curriculum and Instruction, and a Master’s in Business Management. Kelli is the Director of Curriculum and Assessments for Blue Kayak, a K-12 textbook company. She also works as the Director of Education for Your DNA Guide. Kelli runs a small business—Mess on the Desk, a genealogical organization company with a YouTube channel. Kelli is the facilitator for Genetics, Genealogy, and You, an online DNA Interest Group. Kelli is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists and the Genealogical Speaker’s Guild member.

Kelli presents one-hour programs, workshops, half-day and full-day events, and webinars. Her specialties are DNA analysis and genealogical organization.

Blaine Bettinger, PhD, JD

Blaine is an intellectual property attorney by day and a genetic genealogist by night. In 2007, he started The Genetic Genealogist (www.thegeneticgenealogist.com), one of the earliest blogs on the topic. Dr. Bettinger has been interviewed and quoted on personal genomics topics in Newsweek, New Scientist, Wired, and others. He authored I Have the Results of My Genetic Genealogy Test, Now What? in 2008, which is distributed by Family Tree DNA to all of their new customers.

Blaine frequently authors articles and gives presentations to educate others about using DNA to explore their ancestry. He is an instructor for genetic genealogy courses at the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research (IGHR), Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG), Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh (GRIP), Virtual Institute of Genealogical Research, and Family Tree University. Blaine was recently elected to the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society’s Board of Trustees and graduated from ProGen Study Group 21 in 2015.

F. Warren Bittner, MS

F. Warren Bittner, MS (History), is a genealogical researcher, educator, and author. He is a professional researcher accepting private clients and specializes in German and German Immigrant research. He is the former owner of an independent research firm and previously worked for the FamilySearch Library as the German Collection Manager, Extraction Specialist, and Research Consultant.

Warren has coordinated German research courses for the Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh (GRIP), the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG), and the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research (IGHR).

He has lectured widely at national conferences and society events and is published in the National Genealogical Society Quarterly. His article, “Without Land, Occupation, Rights, or Marriage Privilege: The Büttner Family from Bavaria to New York,” received the National Genealogical Society Award for Excellence.

Warren is known for his extensive research in German and US archives and repositories, Swiss records, and his expertise in late nineteenth-century New York City research. He is a former trustee for the Board for Certification of Genealogists and served on the board of directors for the Utah Genealogical Association.

Kirstin Britanik

Kristin is a Senior Researcher at Legacy Tree Genealogists with over a decade of experience working as a professional genealogist on projects across North America. Kristin previously worked in archival digitization at the University of Pittsburgh and oversaw the digitization of art and archival objects at the Andy Warhol Museum. She has also worked as a researcher at the New England Historic Genealogical Society, where she contributed to Dr. Henry Louis Gates Jr.’s website, The Root. Combining her interest in research and digitization, she always seeks new ways technology can help us discover the past.

Angie Bush, MS

Angie Bush, MS is a research team manager with AncestryProGenealogists in Salt Lake City. Her team specializes in U.S. research, Canada, and Irish and Scottish immigration to North America. Angie has been interested in her genealogy since she was very young. After college, she spent several years working in biotech while continuing to pursue her genealogy hobby. With the growing popularity and introduction of autosomal DNA testing in 2012, she decided to combine her two loves into one career. Her favorite type of research involves solving decades-old “brick walls” using a combination of traditional records and genetic evidence. She is a popular speaker and presenter and enjoys attending conferences where she can connect with others who share her passion for genealogy.

Ron Chan

Ron is a seasoned lecturer on family history documentation best practices, captivating audiences worldwide at genealogy workshops and libraries across the San Francisco Bay Area. As a published genealogy author, he has a passion for storytelling and teaches innovative technologies to bring ancestral tales to life. Ron is the Founder and Executive Director of the Bay Area Chinese Genealogy Group, dedicated to preserving ancestral stories. He is also a co-founder of the Chinese American GI Project, ensuring that veterans’ legacies are not lost, forgotten, or ignored. Ron shares with you how to capture and share family struggles of the past so future generations can embrace, remember, and learn from those who came before.

Patrick Chew

Patrick Chew (趙錦洋/赵锦样) has recently completed two terms as President of the Chinese Family History Group and is a regular speaker and research consultant at the Chinese-American Genealogy Workshops; he is deeply honored to participate in this year’s GRIP Genealogy Institute. By day, Patrick works in tech, specializing in the intersection of internationalization and localization, where language meets technology. In his free time, he pursues his passion for genealogy, which provides a vital connection to his heritage. Drawing on his academic background in Classical Chinese literature and Chinese dialectology, as well as his professional expertise, Patrick is dedicated to supporting the community(-ies) at large and empowering those who may lack access to the same kinds of resources and expertise.

Baldwin Chiu

BALDWIN CHIU is an award-winning film producer and hip hop artist. His family is the subject of the documentary Far East Deep South, which explores the experiences of Chinese Americans in the Mississippi Delta during the Jim Crow era. The story has garnered national attention from outlets such as NBC News, PBS, The Boston Globe, and others. Chiu was also featured in the CBS News documentary Reverb: Being Different in the Delta. Chiu received his B.S. in mechanical engineering from Sacramento State University and later graduated from the Act One film producing program. Along with his wife, Larissa Lam, Baldwin co-founded Giant Flashlight Media, which produces content aimed at educating and empowering others. For his work documenting the Chinese American experience, Chiu received a special award at the Chinese Railroad Workers Descendants Association 150th Anniversary Golden Spike Conference. Chiu is also a rapper and beatboxer, known by his MC name, Only Won. He has gained recognition for viral videos such as “I Wanna Be an Engineer,” “12 Days of Dim Sum,” and “Asian Americans Make History.” His original songs have been featured in films and video games, including Sleeping Dogs. Chiu travels across the U.S. speaking at universities and Fortune 500 companies on topics related to family history and Asian American issues. He has also been a keynote speaker at conferences such as Ascend, RootsTech, the National Genealogical Society, and the Organization of American Historians.

Syndey F. Cruice, MBA

Sydney F. Cruice is a professional genealogy researcher, writer, teacher, and international lecturer with over 25 years of experience. Sydney specializes in the Mid-Atlantic region with an emphasis on military and land records. She has lectured at institutes and conferences including: SLIG, IGHR, IAJGS, IGGP, RFIPA. She is known for her Foundations of Genealogy courses, which she taught at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania for over seven years. She now offers these courses independently. Sydney also served as the President of the Association of Professional Genealogists for the Greater Philadelphia Area Chapter for six years. She earned her BA from Pennsylvania State University and her MBA from Drexel University.

Grant Din, MA

Grant Din has conducted genealogical research for over thirty-five years and consults on genealogical, historic preservation, and nonprofit projects. He served on the staff of the Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation for eight years and is currently consulting with them on a permanent exhibit about Japanese immigrants who were detained on the island (along with Germans and Italians) as “enemy aliens” during World War II. Grant’s interest in genealogy started at a wedding reception in his youth, where a relative showed him a page from a family tree showing he is in the 36th generation of the Gong family (he’s also a 24th generation Owyang). His research has taken him throughout California, China, and Japan to research his and his family’s journeys. Grant holds a certificate in genealogical research from Boston University, an M.A. in public policy analysis from Claremont Graduate University, and a B.A. in sociology with an emphasis on urban studies from Yale University. He currently serves on the boards of the California Genealogical Society, Asian and Pacific Islander Americans in Historic Preservation, Mu Films, and the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee of the Association of Professional Genealogists. Grant was also a part of the research team for The Six, a film about the Chinese who survived the Titanic. He has close to forty years of experience in the Bay Area non-profit sector and lives with his family in Oakland, CA.

Nicole Dyer

Nicole Dyer is a professional genealogist specializing in Southern United States research and genetic genealogy. She is the creator of FamilyLocket.com and the Research Like a Pro Genealogy Podcast. She co-authored the books Research Like a Pro: A Genealogist’s Guide and Research Like a Pro with DNA and is an instructor for the study groups of the same name. She lectures at local and national conferences and previously served as the secretary and publicity chair of the Pima County Genealogy Society. Nicole holds a bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University in History Teaching. At Family Locket Genealogists, Nicole is a project manager, editor, genetic genealogy specialist, and Southern States researcher.

Alec Ferretti

Alec Ferretti is a New York City-based professional genealogist who has worked for the Wells Fargo Family & Business History Center, researching family histories for high-net-worth clients. Alec specializes in the genealogy of 20th-century immigrants to the United States. He is a regular lecturer at genealogical societies and conferences. He is the President of the New York Genealogy & Technology Group, serves actively on the Board of Directors of the Association of Professional Genealogists, and is on the Board of Reclaim the Records, a nonprofit dedicated to wrangling public records from obstinate government agencies.

Tammy Hepps

Tammy A. Hepps uses genealogical research techniques to examine less-studied topics within American Jewish history. Creator of Treelines.com and past winner of the RootsTech Developer Challenge, Tammy draws heavily upon her technology expertise to create research approaches that break new ground in data gathering and interpretation. She is best known for her community reconstitution project focusing on the Jewish community of Homestead, PA, available online at HomesteadHebrews.com. She received her AB in Computer Science from Harvard College.

Michael L. Ho

Michael Ho is an avid genealogist who has researched his Chinese American family heritage for over three decades. He has presented on a variety of Chinese American genealogy topics to a diverse audience. Michael’s personal research continues to add new layers to his family tree. Since 1996, he has visited his ancestral villages in China on multiple occasions, continuing to expand upon the story of his family. Michael served as President of the Chinese Family History Group from 2018 through 2020. He is a retired government employee.

Patti Lee Hobbs, CG

Patti Hobbs CG, CGG

Patti Lee Hobbs, Certified Genealogist®, Certified Genetic GenealogistSM, resides in Clever, Missouri. She considers herself blessed to have ancestors from many geographical locations leading to research in varied repositories. She serves on the editorial board for the National Genealogical Society Quarterly and is former trustee for both the Board for Certification of Genealogists and the BCG Education Fund. Patti is the coordinator for the week-long course “Genetics for Genealogists: Fundamentals of DNA” at the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research (IGHR). Her two articles “DNA Identifies a Father for Rachel Lee of Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania,” in March 2017 and “DNA Merges the Families of Stephen Stilwell of Dutchess County, New York; Cornwall, Upper Canada; and Coshocton County, Ohio,” in March 2024 were published in the National Genealogical Society Quarterly. She is a contributing author of Advanced Genetic Genealogy: Techniques and Case Studies.

Charles Holman, JD

Charles Holman is an attorney and SAR member. He has been a genealogist for more than 50 years. Through the use of DNA and traditional genealogy he made remarkable discoveries about his enslaved ancestors and their enslavers. This past summer his discoveries were featured in a front page article in the Washington Post entitled, “Ancestry, Slavery & A Political Dynasty” which chronicled the enslavement of his ancestors by the ancestors of Presidents Bush.

Cyndi Ingle

Cyndi Ingle is the creator and innovator behind the award-winning and globally recognized CyndisList.com, a free categorized list of more than 320,000 links for genealogical research. In its 28 years online Cyndi’s List has consistently remained in the top tiers for genealogical research tools online. It helps millions of visitors worldwide and has been featured in the media and diverse publications, including ABC News, NBC News, the BBC, National Public Radio, USA Today, Time, Newsweek, Parade, People Magazine, Wired, Ancestry Magazine, Family Tree Magazine, Family Chronicle, and Internet Genealogy magazines. Cyndi, a genealogist for more than 44 years, has an expertise in using technology for genealogy. Additionally, her many active years in genealogy have also resulted in a specialty for research in the United States and bringing together traditional methodology with organization, computers, software, and the Internet. Cyndi is the recipient of the 2018 Society of Genealogists Prince Michael of Kent Award, the 2016 National Genealogical Society President’s Citation, and many other awards and honors. She has served in several capacities for genealogical organizations. Cyndi is an internationally-known guest lecturer for various genealogical meetings, seminars, and webinars (http://www.CyndisList.com/speaking-calendar/). She coordinated courses for the Genealogical Institute of Pittsburgh (GRIP) and the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG), and she has authored numerous articles and three books. Cyndi is the Executive Director for the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research. She is a columnist for the Association of Professional Genealogists Quarterly. Cyndi, her mother, and two Boston Terriers live in Edgewood, Washington.

Daniel R Jones MS, AG

is an Accredited Genealogist specializing in Swiss, German, and Austrian research. After graduating magna cum laude from Brigham Young University, Daniel worked professionally for over a dozen years in helping several high-profile clients with research all over Europe. He has experience in numerous archives across more than a dozen countries in Europe, North America, Africa, and Australia. Daniel has also presented at multiple national conferences, including FGS, IGHR, SLIG, IGGP, FEEFHS, and RootsTech. He currently manages the Germanic and Slavic research specialist teams for the FamilySearch Library.

Jan Joyce, DBA, CG, CGL, AG

Jan is a genealogy researcher whose personal work focuses on her Iowa, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin ancestors who immigrated from England, Germany, Ireland, and Norway. In 1998, she began managing the marketing initiatives at Genealogy.com, which prompted her to research her family. Jan holds CG and CGL certifications from the BCG as well as the AG accreditation from ICAPGen. Her genealogy career is focused on her own research and writing and teaching research methodology.

Andre Kearns

Andre Kearns is an accomplished genealogist, writer, and public speaker with deep roots in the American south and a passion for researching, learning, and sharing the stories of his enslaved ancestors. Andre is a director at large for the National Genealogical Society and chair of its development committee. He is also a member of the DC Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution, and a charter member of the Society of the First African Families in English America. With degrees from Morehouse College and Harvard Business School, Andre combines rigorous research with heartfelt storytelling to make genealogy accessible and engaging for everyone.

Taneya Koonce, MSLS, MPH

Taneya Koonce is a dedicated genealogist with over 25 years of professional expertise in information science, research, and the organization of genealogical resources. Her passion for family history is matched by her commitment to education and community involvement. As the National Treasurer and Nashville Chapter President of the Afro-American Historical & Genealogical Society, as well as the National Representative-at-Large for the USGenWeb Project, Taneya plays an active role in advancing genealogical knowledge. Through her online communities, including the Academy of Legacy Leaders and the Organize Your Digital Memories Club, she provides instruction on effective research techniques and organizational strategies, helping others uncover and preserve their family histories.

Larissa Lam

Larissa Lam is an accomplished filmmaker, music artist and speaker known for her impactful work in documenting Asian American experiences. Her critically acclaimed documentary Far East Deep South explores the stories of Chinese families in Mississippi during segregation and won the 2022 Telly Award. The film premiered on PBS’s America ReFramed and is now streaming on Kanopy, Xfinity and Tubi. A proud UCLA Bruin from Diamond Bar, CA, Larissa has spoken at TEDx, Leadercast, Fortune 500 companies, and universities, on topics ranging from diversity to Asian American history. She has been a contributing author to Los Angeles Times and the Asian American anthologies Miso for Life and Pho for Life, and has been featured in outlets such as CBS News, USA Today, and NPR. She has also presented at prominent conferences, including RootsTech, the National Genealogical Society, and the National Council for the Social Studies. Before filmmaking, Larissa had a successful career in music and TV. Her song “I Feel Alive” won a Hollywood Music in Media Award, and she composed music for projects like The Oprah Winfrey Show. Larissa also hosted UTalk Radio and a national weekly youth talk show. Currently, Larissa co-hosts the Love, Discovery, and Dim Sum podcast with her husband Baldwin Chiu (aka Only Won), which helps people discover more AAPI history.

Leona lau

Leona Lau (劉陳李彭) is the Founder of the Chinese G.I. War Brides Project and a passionate family historian. She is the daughter of a G.I. bride and a World War II Congressional Gold Medal recipient father, with deep roots tracing back to her greatgreat-maternal grandfather, Chinese railroad worker, and her great-paternal grandfather, Chinese plantation luna who became a Hawaiian citizen in 1892. This milestone set her family on the path to U.S. citizenship under the 1900 Organic Act.Leona’s journey into family history began in 1999 during a mother-daughter trip to their ancestral villages in China. Her mother’s declaration, “I am the only G.I. bride from my village,” sparked an odyssey to uncover and honor her family’s legacy, culminating in the 2021 founding of the Chinese G.I. War Brides Project. in 2024, Leona crisscrossed the country virtually – from NARA San Bruno, Kansas City, and New York City to Boston, Seattle, and beyond—researching her family’s Chinese Exclusion Act files and Alien Files (A-Files). She is currently assisting others through family documents and ship manifests in identifying their mothers as War Brides under the 1945 War Brides Act.

Peggy Clemens Lauritzen, AG, AGL, FOGS

Peggy Clemens Lauritzen, AG, AGL, FOGS, has an amazing ability to bring laughter into the lives of her audience members. For forty years, Peggy has been a frequent lecturer at Family History seminars and has presented at Brigham Young University, and ICAPGen, and taught Continuing Education classes at community colleges and The Ohio State University. She was tested through ICAPGen to become an Accredited Genealogist, a credential she has maintained for twenty-five years, working hard to polish her research skills. Recently retired as a featured columnist in Reminisce magazine, she has written several Legacy QuickGuides, and has filmed as an instructor for Ancestry Academy. In 2018, she was honored to be awarded Fellow of the Ohio Genealogical Society and received the Laura G. Prescott Award for Exemplary Service to Professional Genealogy. She is a former researcher at Ancestry ProGenealogists. Peggy and her husband Kerry serve as FamilySearch Center Directors in northcentral Ohio.

Eric Leach, MA

Eric Leach serves as the Chinese Experience Manager (Product Manager) at FamilySearch, where he is responsible for developing online features in support of Chinese users. Eric retired from the FBI in 2016 after 25 years of service. He graduated with a BA in Chinese from Brigham Young University in 1989 and an MA in History from California State University, Hayward in 1997. For his master’s degree, his major field of study was modern Chinese history with a minor in western U.S. history, focusing especially the Anti-Chinese Movement in California during the late 1870s and early 1880s.

Marisa Louie Lee

Marisa Louie Lee is a fifth generation Chinese American and a former archivist at the National Archives at San Francisco. She co-authored the article “The A-Files: Finding Your Immigrant Ancestors” published in the Spring 2013 issue of Prologue. She served as a research assistant for the book Angel Island: Immigrant Gateway to America (2010) and as a researcher for the documentary film “The Chinese Exclusion Act” (2017). Marisa presents workshops and volunteers in the Asian American community to assist families with locating Chinese Exclusion Act-era records and immigration records. 

Stephen J. Little, Jr.

Stephen J. Little,  is the AI Program Director for the National Genealogical Society and has lifelong passions for language, technology, and genealogy. He completed graduate-level courses in applied linguistics, specializing in natural language processing and computational linguistics, two pillars of today’s large language models of AI; his first career was spent in and around libraries (law, local, university, and state archives) building information systems. Steve traces his deep roots to one Appalachian County, where, by 1820, all 32 of his 3rd-great-grandparents had settled—many even earlier than that. 60 of his most recent ancestors were born, lived, and died there in Ashe County, North Carolina. His passion lies in AI & genetic genealogy, with a keen interest in endogamy, pedigree collapse, and the art of deciphering multiple relationships through DNA segment triangulation, and an insatiable curiosity to explore beneficial uses and current limits of artificial intelligence in genealogy. Beyond genealogy, Steve wears many hats: he’s a husband and a dad, a Methodist pastor, and a Virginian. His hobbies span from bird watching and sky gazing to chess and film. Additionally, he’s an avid reader, writer, photographer, and regex script hacker.

Jeanie Low

Jeanie Low is a Family Historian, Consultant, Author and Fiber Artist. She is a second generation Chinese American. She specializes in research and access of the A-Files:20th Century Immigration and Naturalization Case Files. She also specializes in Chinese Americans. Since 1993. she has given 40 presentations at historical & genealogical conferences and at public libraries. They include: California Genealogical Society, California Historical Society, Chinese Historical Society of America, the National Archives, National Genealogical Society, New York University, Historical Society of Pennsylvania, and the San Francisco Public Library, She is the former SONA Communications Co-chair, an advocacy organization that was successful in getting older “A-Files” aka Alien Registration Case Files to be preserved and accessible at the National Archives.

Cecelia McFadden, MISM, M.Ed.

Cecelia is a family legacy coach, researcher, and technology professional who’s been working on client and personal ancestral legacy topics for over a decade. Active with the Franklin County Genealogical and Historical Society in the state of Ohio since 2016, she currently serves as President of the organization. Her love for genealogy and family history creates opportunities to travel, create, and serve the discipline via volunteerism, lecturing, teaching, and consulting. Her presentations, workshops, and webinars have been conducted on behalf of RootsTech, the Appalachian Studies Association, the Ohio Genealogical Society, other historical societies, Universities, public libraries, museums, and more. She’s an avid reader and jazz enthusiast in her spare time.

Teresa S. McMillin, CG

Teresa Steinkamp McMillin, Certified Genealogist®, author of the Guide to Hanover Military Records, 1514-1866 on Microfilm at the Family History Library, is the owner of Lind Street Research, a company dedicated to helping people discover their German ancestry. Teresa conducts research on behalf of the U.S. Army to aid in repatriating soldiers missing from the nation’s past conflicts. She has taught at the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research (IGHR) and the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG) Academy for Professionals. She created and recorded courses for Ancestry Academy and Legacy Family Tree Webinars. She is a popular speaker for national, regional, and local genealogical societies. Reading German Gothic script found in German records prior to the mid-1900s is second nature to her. Researching ancestors in Chicago and other areas of the Midwest is another of Teresa’s specialty areas. She is a multi-year attendee of the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research (IGHR) and the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG). Teresa is a member of the National Genealogical Society, the Association of Professional Genealogists, as well as many German and local genealogical societies. She is a genealogy volunteer at the Arlington Heights Memorial Library in Illinois.

Debbie Mieszala, CG

Debbie Mieszala, Certified GenealogistTM, specializes in forensic genealogy and 20th-century and Midwest research. She conducts genealogical research for the military to locate relatives of service members missing in past wars. Debbie formerly conducted adoption-related research as a Confidential Intermediary in Illinois. A national-level lecturer, she has taught at the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy, the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research, and the Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh, and she created and taught a course for Ancestry Academy. Debbie’s work has been published in NGS MagazineThe Digital Genealogist, and OnBoard. She formerly served as a trustee of the Board for Certification of Genealogists. Debbie has attended IGHR, NIGR, and GRIP. She earned a certificate in paralegal studies to better understand legally influenced documents used by genealogists and to become more skilled at researching historical laws. Debbie maintains a blog and popular online law library at her website, The Advancing Genealogist (AdvancingGenealogist.com).

Carly Lane Morgan, JD

Carly Lane Morgan owns Family Tree Notebooks, an organization system based on digital genealogy worksheets. She is a frequent speaker in the field of genealogy and focuses on social media, digital organization, and diversity in family history. She serves on the board of the California Genealogical Society and on the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committees for NGS and APG.

Sunny Jane Morton

Sunny Jane Morton is a Contributing Editor at Family Tree Magazine and Content Director at Your DNA Guide. She is author of Story of My Life: A Workbook for Preserving Your Legacy, now in its 2nd edition, and co-author of the NGS award-winning book, How to Find Your Family History in U.S. Church Records. She is past Editor of Ohio Genealogy News. While she has built her career on teaching everyday skills for the popular genealogy market, her earliest publications were in academic journals, and her most recent is a co-authored, story-driven article about delayed birth records that appeared in NGS Magazine in early 2024. Sunny is co-author of the NGS award-winning book How to Find Your Family History in U.S. Church Records and author of a work-in-progress on religious archives, funded in part by The University of Notre Dame. She also spent a year in an in-depth memoir writing workshop and has done additional studies on the subgenre of family history memoir. In this GRIP workshop, she looks forward to sharing unique lessons learned from years of studying and practice of the kinds of writing in which the author must navigate the integration of first-person memory-sharing and the third-person perspective common to research-based storytelling.

Lynn Nelson, CG

Lynn Nelson holds the Certified Genealogist® credential and specializes in researching ancestors from Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Italy.

Trish Hacket Nicola, MSLS, CG

Trish Hackett Nicola, Certified Genealogist Emeritus, is a public historian and retired librarian. She has worked with the Chinese Exclusion Act files at the National Archives at Seattle as a volunteer since 2001. Trish has published numerous articles and given many presentations on various aspects of the Chinese Exclusion Act case files. Since 2015 she has summarized and written over 330 entries on individual Chinese case files on her blog at ChineseExclusionFiles.com. One of the delights about the blog occurs when someone finds an ancestor or family member in one of the published case files. Sometimes these readers uncover never-known photos or biographical information.

Dr. Katharine O’Connell

Forensic genealogist Katharine O’Connell is the owner of North Coast Genealogy, where she and her team assist attorneys and major banks in locating missing and unknown heirs. She has provided due diligence research in over 250 probate and title cases in locations throughout the United States and internationally. Clients include attorneys and the trust departments of Key Bank, Huntington and PNC Bank. She regularly does pro bono research for the Legal Aid Society of Cleveland. Dr. O’Connell has published in a number of Bar Journals and regularly gives talks to legal organizations and genealogy groups. Dr. O’Connell is a professional affiliate member of the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association and the Ohio State Bar Association. She leads the mentoring program for the Forensic division of the Association of Professional Genealogists and is a licensed private investigator through Phoenix Investigations and Security in Ohio.

Linda Harms Okazaki

Linda Harms Okazaki is a fourth-generation Californian who is passionate about teaching people of all ages to research, document, and share their family histories. Her areas of interest include the western U.S., upstate New York, England, Australia, Japanese Americans, and the use of DNA in genealogy. Linda has been researching her husband’s ancestry since 2012, documenting his family in the U.S. and Japan. A charter member of the Nikkei Genealogical Society, and a consultant for Ancestry.com’s Progenealogists and Densho.org, she is also a featured columnist for the Nichi Bei Weekly. Her column, “Finding Your Nikkei Roots,” is published bimonthly. Her guide to “Finding Your Japanese Roots” was updated in 2023. Ms. Okazaki has published articles in the National Genealogical Society Magazine, the New York Researcher, and the California Nugget. She is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists, the Genealogical Speaker’s Guild, and the Daughters of the American Revolution. Linda is a past president of the California Genealogical Society and the current president of the Northern California Chapter of APG.

Gena Philibert-Ortega, Co-Manager

Gena Philibert-Ortega, MS2

Gena is an author, researcher, and instructor specializing in the use of social history and material culture to tell the story of historical women’s lives. She recently joined the National Genealogical Society as Co-Manager of GRIP Genealogy Institute. She holds two Master’s degrees: one in Interdisciplinary Studies (Psychology and Women’s Studies) and the other in Religion. As an author, Philibert-Ortega has published two books, Cemeteries of the Eastern Sierra (Arcadia Publishing) and From the Family Kitchen (F+W Media), and hundreds of articles in print magazines and online publications. Her writings can also be found on her two blogs, Gena’s Genealogy and Food.Family.Ephemera, as well as the GenealogyBank and Legacy Family Tree Webinars blogs. A highly sought-after instructor, Philibert-Ortega has taught material culture and social history at the Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh and the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy and is a frequent presenter at seminars and conferences throughout the United States and Canada. Her professional associations include the American Quilt Study Group, the Association of Gravestone Studies, and the National Genealogical Society. She has conducted research for PBS, HGTV, and the Travel Channel and has collaborated on research for the Gemological Institute of America.

Rachel M. Popma, MA

Rachel M. Popma is a writer, editor, and lecturer who currently leads the quality assurance and editorial team at Legacy Tree Genealogists. She has conducted sessions on family history writing and publishing at genealogical conferences since 2008. Prior to joining Legacy Tree, Rachel worked with private clients and small publishers in the development, editing, and production of a variety of genealogical and historical projects, including memoir and biography, topics in local and regional history, and historical fiction for children.  Rachel holds a master’s degree in English and taught writing and literature at the college level for nearly twenty years. She is a past editor of Indiana Genealogist and past contributing editor to The Hoosier Genealogist: Connections.

Kimberly T. Powell, AG

Kimberly is a genealogical educator, researcher, author, and mentor specializing in genealogical writing, land records, DNA, and solving complex problems. She served as the Genealogy Expert for About.com for sixteen years and has authored several books, including The Everything Guide to Online Genealogy and “The Challenge of Endogamy and Pedigree Collapse” in Advanced Genetic Genealogy: Techniques and Case Studies edited by Debbie Parker Wayne. She is a past-president of the Association of Professional Genealogists and chaired its Professional Development Committee.

Kimberly is on the faculty at the Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh (GRIP), the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research (IGHR), and the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG), as well as for Boston University’s online genealogy programs. She is especially passionate about researching hard-to-find families in the Carolinas and Virginia and sharing her love of genealogy with others through teaching.

David E. Rencher, AG, CG, FUGA ,FIGRS ,FNGS

David E. Rencher, AG, CG, FUGA, FIGRS, FNGSis employed as the Chief Genealogical Officer for FamilySearch. A professional genealogist since 1977, he is one of the rare few who have earned both credentials: Accredited Genealogist® with ICAPGen in Ireland research (1981) and Certified Genealogist® with the Board for Certification of Genealogists (2006). He is the Irish course coordinator and instructor for the GRIP Genealogy Institute and the Institute of Genealogical and Historical Research. He graduated from Brigham Young University in 1980 with a BA in Family and Local History. He is president of the National Genealogical Society and past president of the Federation of Genealogical Societies and the Utah Genealogical Association. He is a fellow of the Utah Genealogical Association, the Irish Genealogical Research Society, London, and the National Genealogical Society. He is the past chair of the joint National Genealogical Society and International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies committee for the Record Preservation and Access Coalition; he serves as a counselor for the New England Historic Genealogical Society.

Kim Richardson

Kim is a graduate of Mississippi State University. She retired from the State of Mississippi after 25 years of service, advocating for victims of violent crime and promoting highway traffic safety. Now, she works as a professional in the field of genealogy. She channels her energy into coaching others to conduct research successfully. She especially enjoys speaking to audiences across the country. Her favorite part of her genealogy life is empowering people to accomplish research goals they believed were out of reach. Kim created the Brick Wall Buster Cards to help researchers overcome challenging genealogy obstacles. Her writing appears regularly in various genealogy society magazines, and she authored the “Mississippi Research Guide” for Family Tree Magazine.

Mary Kircher Roddy, CG

Mary Kircher Roddy, CG, is a trustee of the Board for Certification of Genealogists and was the Association of Professional Genealogists treasurer from 2018 through 2021. Her educational background includes a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies and a Master’s in Professional Accounting. She is co-editor of the National Genealogical Society Quarterly. She is a frequent presenter at conferences and genealogical societies. She is one of the founders of the Applied Genealogy Institute. Her research focuses primarily on Ireland, California, Pennsylvania, and Ohio but extends to genealogical records in Germany. In addition to the NGSQ, her articles have appeared in NGS Magazine, Family Chronicle, Internet Genealogy, and various society publications. She was a mentor for the ProGen study groups.

Sandra Rumble

Sandy started her career as a software developer and trainer. For over 30 years, Sandy was the go-to person to train new users in cutting-edge software, developing in-house training programs for new development tools. Expanding her interest in teaching outside the software industry, Sandy began teaching genealogy, the Constitution, Congress, and the judicial system at the Delaware Valley University Center for Learning in Retirement. Sandy speaks about military research, researching Colonial Pennsylvania, lineage research, and research planning at genealogical institutes, conferences, genealogical and historical societies, and DAR Chapters. As a course coordinator for GRIP, Sandy coordinated Documentation for Lineage Societies and co-coordinated Answering the Call of Uncle Sam, an exploration of 18th & 19th-century American military records.

Judy G. Russell, JD, CG, CGL, FUGA

Judy G. Russell, The Legal Genealogist®, is a genealogist with a law degree. She writes, teaches, and lectures on a wide variety of genealogical topics, providing expert guidance through the murky territory where law and family history intersect. A Colorado native with roots deep in the American South on her mother’s side and entirely in Germany on her father’s side, she holds a bachelor’s degree from George Washington University in Washington, D.C., and a law degree from Rutgers School of Law-Newark. Before she retired, she worked as a newspaper reporter, trade association writer, legal investigator, defense attorney, federal prosecutor, law editor, and, for more than 20 years, as an adjunct faculty member at Rutgers Law School.

She is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists, the National Genealogical Society, and numerous state and regional genealogical societies. A recipient of the Silver Tray Award from the Utah Genealogical Association and the 2017 Award of Excellence from the National Genealogical Society Quarterly, she now serves on the NGSQ editorial board.

An internationally-known lecturer, course coordinator, and faculty member at numerous genealogical institutes, she holds credentials as a Certified Genealogist® and Certified Genealogical Lecturer℠ from the Board for Certification of Genealogists®. Her award-winning blog appears on The Legal Genealogist website (https://www.legalgenealogist.com).

Rick Sayre, CG, CGL, FUGA

Rick is a long-time genealogical researcher and instructor. He coordinated and taught advanced methodology, land, military, and beginning courses at the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research from 2003-2017. Rick co-coordinates advanced land courses with Pam Sayre and legal courses with Judy Russell at Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy and Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh. He is an instructor at the Genealogical Institute on Federal Records. He also lectures at national conferences and presents nationwide seminars. Rick’s areas of expertise include the records of the National Archives, Irish research, land records, government documents, federal land law, military records, and urban research.

Kristi L. Sexton, MS

Kristi L. Sexton holds a Master’s in Accounting/Auditing from Texas A&M. She is a professional genealogist, Operations Manager at the National Genealogical Society, and Co-Manager at the GRIP Genealogy Institute. Her specialties include adoption, paleography, and research in the Southern Central states.  Kristi volunteers in several societies and is a member of the National Genealogical Society.

Gerald “Jerry” Smith, CG

Gerald (Jerry) Smith, CG, researches in Pennsylvania families. He is the IGHR and SLIG course coordinator for the week-long land platting course. He is on faculty for IGHR, SLIG, and GRIP teaching topics in the military, maps, and land record institutes. He has published a number of books and articles, including abstracts of Bedford County, Pennsylvania, Court of Quarter Sessions records. He researches regularly at the Pennsylvania State Archives, Pennsylvania State Library & Law Library, U.S. Army Archives (Carlisle, PA), National Archives, and other repositories.

Michael L. Strauss, AG

Michael L. Strauss, AG, is a professional Accredited Genealogist and a nationally recognized genealogical speaker. He has been employed as a forensic genealogist for 25 years, has a BA in history, and is a United States Coast Guard veteran. Michael is also a qualified expert witness in the courts in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Virginia and an approved genealogist with the United States Army to locate DNA-qualified persons MIA from Korea, Vietnam, and World War II. Strauss has been a faculty member of IGHR, SLIG, and GRIP, has been involved in Civil War reenacting for more than 25 years, and also reenacts the Mormon Battalion with the Utah Living History Association.

Paula Stuart-Warren, CG, FUGA, FMGS

Paula specializes in individual client consultations, Midwestern research, unique resources, central United States repositories, Native American, and heavily on Midwestern and Plains American Indians. She has worked with individuals, tribes, and law firms across the U.S. She provides individual consultations to those wanting to do their own research but who need advice to overcome stumbling blocks or where to go next. Presents webinars on various genealogy topics. APG Smallwood Award of Merit; past officer of APG, first president of the Northland Chapter of APG. Lectures nationally and coordinates courses at the annual GRIP Genealogy Institute. Served six years on the Minnesota Genealogical Society Board and the Board of Directors of the Federation of Genealogical Societies. Author Your Guide to the Family History Library, Minnesota Genealogical Reference Guide, and numerous articles on various research facilities and types of records.

Kerri Tannenbaum

Kerri Tannenbaum is a professional genealogist and researcher who works with people looking to learn more about their family history. She specializes in research in New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and Ireland. Kerri graduated from Boston University’s Certificate Program in Genealogical Research and the ProGen Peer Study Groups. She serves as contributing editor of the Irish Family History Forum newsletter and is a recipient of many awards from the National Genealogical Society. She is also a guest lecturer and research consultant for several genealogy societies. Kerri founded Family Dot Connector LLC in 2018 and has served hundreds of clients since then. She lives on Long Island with her husband and two daughters.

Cari A. Taplin, CG

Cari A. Taplin is related to Roy Rogers. Or at least that’s what her family told her. As a result, finding her true heritage has been her focus since the year 2000. She is a native of Wood County, Ohio but now lives in Longmont, Colorado. Cari holds the Certified Genealogist® credential and has served in a wide variety of volunteer and leadership positions for state, local, and national societies. As the owner of GenealogyPANTS, she provides speaking services. She also lends help and shares her expertise as an administrator on the highly popular Facebook Group “The Genealogy Squad.” Cari currently works for Ancestry ProGenealogists. Cari’s research focuses on midwestern and Great Lakes states. When she’s not working on her genealogy, she is a wife and a mother of two young adults.

Julie Cahill Tarr, AG

Julie Cahill Tarr, AG, is a researcher, author, editor, and instructor with more than 17 years of experience in the field of genealogy. Using the skills acquired in her career as a technical writer, she enjoys taking complex genealogy concepts and breaking them down into easy-to-understand practices for effective research. With a strong belief in action-based education, Julie created the brand Genealogy In Action, where she provides various educational materials, such as guides, videos, and online courses, to genealogists interested in enhancing their skills. As an active member of the professional genealogy community, she currently serves as the managing editor of the Association of Professional Genealogists Quarterly.

D. Joshua Taylor, MA, MLS, FUGA

D. Joshua Taylor, MA, MLS, FUGA, is a nationally recognized speaker and author in genealogy and family history. As president of the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society (NYG&B), he brings his passion for genealogy to a broad audience. Joshua has received numerous awards, including RootsTech’s Distinguished Presenter Award, the Federation of Genealogical Societies Award of Merit, the Award of Merit and Rubincam Youth Award from the National Genealogical Society, and was named a Library Journal Mover and Shaker in 2017.

Maureen Taylor

Maureen Taylor, The Photo Detective® is sought out by clients all over the world to help them solve their photo mysteries. Her pioneering work in historic photo research has earned her the title “the nation’s foremost historical photo detective” by The Wall Street Journal and appearances on The View, The Today Show, Pawn Stars, and others. Join Maureen as she discusses historical photos and how they fit into your family history on her podcast, The Photo Detective.  From ancestor identification to photo preservation, it covers it all. Featuring special experts from genealogy, fashion history, photo history, and photo restoration.

Maureen Taylor, The Photo Detective®, helps clients with photo-related genealogical problems. Her pioneering work in historic photo research has earned her the title “the nation’s foremost historical photo detective” by The Wall Street Journal and appearances on The View, The Today Show, Pawn Stars, and others.

Mark D. Thompson

Mark Thompson is a professional genealogist and educator who specializes in genetic genealogy and researching personal family archives. He is the Vice President of the Victoria Genealogical Society (VGS) in Victoria, BC, and the chair of their DNA Special Interest Group. He is also a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists. Mark has decades of public speaking experience and teaches and speaks on a variety of genealogy-related topics. Prior to becoming a genealogist, Mark worked for over 20 years in leadership roles in the technology industry. He worked in small startups and large corporations, ushering in technologies to improve business operations. Mark’s background in both technology and genealogy uniquely positions him to introduce genealogists to the rapidly changing field of artificial intelligence and how it can help them in their genealogy research.

Kate Townsend, CG

Kate is a former professional investigator turned genealogist who specializes in Pennsylvania research. She also has experience with Ohio, West Virginia, and New York City records. She owns Family History Investigations LLC, where she helps clients discover their family history. As of February 2024, Kate holds the Certified Genealogist® credential. In addition, Kate is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists (“APG”), the Great Lakes Chapter of APG, the National Genealogical Society (“NGS”), and the Genealogical Speaker’s Guild. She previously served as the Vice-Chair, Chair, and Immediate-Past Chair of the NGS Delegate Council. Kate has spoken at national and local genealogical societies, libraries, and conferences, including the NGS Family History Conference, New England Regional Genealogical Consortium, Ohio Genealogical Society Conference, and RootsTech.

Stewart Blandon Traiman

Stewart Traiman is a professional genealogist, a graduate of ProGen #49, a public speaker, and blogger. He began building his genealogy skills as a teenager by interviewing his great-grandmother, grandmother, and mother about their Nicaraguan roots. He has maintained the oral history of his family for decades. When he married, he took on the new adventure of researching his husband’s Ukrainian and Polish Jewish immigrant ancestors. He’s researched both of his children’s biological origins back to Colonial America and Western Europe. He’s also accomplished client research with Irish, Swedish, German, and other records covering the 17th to 21st centuries. Stewart has been a volunteer with the California Genealogical Society since 2014, serving six years on the Board of Directors, with five years as recording secretary. He published the monthly CGS eNews for eight years. He continues to volunteer with CGS on the Digital Archive Committee. For more information see SixGen.org.

Pamela J. Vittorio, MA, PLCGS

Pamela Vittorio is a professional genealogist, historian, and part-time Associate Professor in the English Language Studies department at the New School in Manhattan. She obtained a certificate in genealogical research from Boston University, a PLCGS from the International Institute of Genealogical Studies, and completed ProGen Studies. Among her research interests are artifacts, DNA, maps, land records, military history, migration and transportation, socio-linguistics, and people with African American, Canadian, English, French, German, Irish, Italian, Jewish, or Scottish Ancestry – many of whom lived along or worked on North American Canals and railroads.

Paula Williams

Paula is a professional genealogist who has been researching for more than two decades in primarily southern US states and has been using DNA to solve problems for more than a decade. She has studied at IGHR, SLIG, GRIP, and the Genealogical Institute on Federal Records (Gen-Fed). In addition, she’s a board member of the Virginia Genealogical Society and of the Genealogical Research Institute of Virginia (GRIVA) and is the facilitator for the latter’s DNA Special Interest Group. She has taught at the IGHR and GRIP institutes and has lectured for Legacy Family Tree Webinars, the Southern California Genealogical Society’s Genealogy Jamboree and for the National Genealogical Society conference, among other organizations. She also serves as the Virtual Tech Coordinator for the GRIP Genealogy Institute.