RootsTech Speakers

Tara Davis-Woodhall and Hunter Woodhall are an Olympic power couple with a remarkable love story. Their journey of determination, love, and excellence has cemented them as one of the most iconic couples in sports today.

At the 2024 Paris Olympics, Tara made history by winning the Gold Medal in the long jump. Her celebration in the sand pit quickly became one of the null as she sprinted to the stands to leap into Hunter’s arms. Weeks later, Hunter competed in the Paralympics, winning Gold in the 400m T62 and Bronze in the 4x100m Universal Relay, null

TARA DAVIS-WOODHALL (25) is the reigning Olympic Gold Medalist in the long jump and has remained undefeated for the past two years. She is a two-time Olympian, ranked #1 in the world, and has claimed the titles of 2024 World Champion, 2023 and 2024 US National Champion. Known as “null,” Tara’s iconic cowboy hats, boots, and infectious personality have made her a fan favorite both on and off the field. She is also the assistant track coach at Kansas State. As a former NCAA Division 1 athlete at the University of Texas, Tara became a four-time All-American, shattered two NCAA records, and earned the title of double-record breaker in the same week.

HUNTER WOODHALL (25) is a three-time Paralympian and null, redefining what it means to be an athlete and entrepreneur. Hunter has won 5x Paralympic Medals and holds the American record for the 100m and 400m (T62). Born with fibular hemimelia, Hunter had both legs amputated below the knees at 11 months old. Defying all odds, he became the first double amputee to earn an NCAA Division 1 scholarship, competing for the University of Arkansas and becoming a four-time All-American.

Outside of competition, Tara and Hunter enjoy life with their two dogs, Milo and Winnie, and their cat, Azula. Tara is a passionate advocate for mental health, sharing her experiences with depression and anxiety to raise awareness and support others. Hunter’s entrepreneurial spirit continues to drive him as he builds and scales businesses that reflect his values and passions, such as apparel, social media and real estate.

Learn more at the null

When the world first met Emmy Award-winning multi-platinum artist, singer, songwriter, Rachel Platten, it came in the form of a proclamation of self. An anthem for those who needed it and those who didn’t even know they needed it alike, “Fight Song” became a global sensation, an inescapable battle cry that’s now been streamed more than a billion times and is as inextricable to modern culture as any one song could be.

But “Fight Song” was just one song, oneself, and Rachel Platten had so much more to say, and so many more selves to show. These days, if you dive headfirst into Rachel’s rich and growing catalogue, your odds are as strong to land on a thundering anthem like her biggest hit as they are to hit a soul-searching, scar-bearing, lyrically textured stunner about motherhood, guilt, mourning, expectations, rebirth, mental health, and the support systems we all need to guide us through life’s most earth-shaking curveballs.

Dana Tanamachi is a New York City-based artist and designer who enjoys living a quiet life and working with her hands. In 2009, an impromptu chalk installation for a Brooklyn housewarming party landed Dana her first commission for Google and set the popular chalk-lettering trend—and her career—in motion. After working under design icon Louise Fili, she opened Tanamachi Studio, a boutique design studio specializing in custom typography and illustration for editorial, lifestyle, food, and fashion brands. She has been commissioned globally by clients such as Target, Nike, USPS, Penguin Books, Ralph Lauren, Instagram, and West Elm. Named a Young Gun (YG9) by the Art Director’s Club in 2011 and a Young Creative to Watch by HOWMagazine, she has had the distinct honor of creating custom cover art for O, HOW, and TIME Magazines.

Learn more at the null.

Ndaba Mandela is an internationally renowned speaker, activist, and author, known for his inspiring talks and his dedication to carrying forward the legacy of his grandfather, Nelson Mandela. With a unique blend of personal experiences, storytelling, and a deep understanding of social and political issues, Ndaba captivates audiences around the world, motivating them to act, create positive change, and embrace their roles as global citizens.

Ndaba Mandela holds a BA degree from the University of Pretoria, majoring in Political Science & International Relations. He is the grandson of the late Nelson Mandela and Evelyn Mase. Growing up in the shadow of his iconic grandfather, Ndaba developed a strong sense of responsibility to continue the work of promoting social justice, equality, and freedom for all.

Ndaba's passion for social justice led him to become an advocate for various causes, including education, youth empowerment, and HIV/AIDS awareness. He co-founded the Africa Rising Foundation, an organization dedicated to empowering African youth through education, mentorship, and leadership development. Through his foundation and speaking engagements, Ndaba strives to inspire young people to overcome challenges and become leaders in their communities.

We are Los Chicaneros, an ordinary family who wants to share, through humor, various situations that most families experience.

Today, we want to tell you a little bit about our story. We met 36 years ago, and next December, we will celebrate 32 years of marriage. Our family consists of Nelson (the father), Cristina (the mother), Nicolás (the eldest son), and María Antonia (the youngest daughter).

We met at a diving club in Cali, Colombia. We share a love for nature and sports; we fell in love there and decided to join our lives forever because we share the same ideal.

When we got married, we were fully committed to starting a family because we believe it is the place where we can raise our children in an environment of love, values, respect, and honesty, among others. Our main goal has always been our children, doing everything possible to give them everything they need in every aspect and to stay united.

It has been a difficult path, full of sacrifices, but always filled with love, hope, and joy. Although we are not perfect, we have always been clear that we are meant for each other and that, thanks to our great love, we have managed to overcome all the trials that life has thrown our way.

Our obligations as parents were to provide our children with proper education, housing, food, and health. Due to job instability, we were forced to move to many places over the last 20 years. At first, it wasn't too complicated because they were children whom we could take from one place to another, but as they grew older, it became more challenging to stay together. So, Nicolás studied in Colombia for both school and university, and Antonia studied part of her school in Colombia, part in Honduras, and completed her university studies in Honduras, while the parents lived between Nicaragua and Honduras, as we found job stability in these countries.

Philippines born singer and songwriter Ysabelle Cuevas got her start releasing covers of popular songs on YouTube. Since 2016, her work has amassed over 700 Million streams, with her biggest release “I Like You So Much, You’ll Know It” collecting over 175 Million streams on YouTube to date. In 2018, she released her first original song “Daunted” through Warner Music Philippines, which has since accumulated millions of streams in SouthEast Asia and North America.

Ysabelle’s incredibly versatile voice and innate mastery of vocal production has allowed her to bridge genres and cultures. A lover of Korean culture herself, Ysabelle has personally translated Korean songs into both Filipino and English. In July of 2020, she was the Grand Prize winner of YG Entertainment’s song cover contest where she performed an English version of “Wayo” by Bang Ye-dam of K-Pop group Treasure. That October, Ysabelle’s cover of “Boy With Luv” was featured on Glamour’s "You Sang My Song" series, featuring positive reactions from original artist and K-pop megastars BTS themselves. Ysabelle has since shifted her focus to her original music, and is currently in the studio writing and recording her next big release.

Marco Lui, also known by his stage name "Mr. Lui," is an Italian mime and comedian born on July 18, 1975, in Milan. With a degree in Physical Education from the University of Verona, Lui began his career as a cabaret artist and Michael Jackson imitator before making his mark in television. His unique comedy style, inspired by classic silent film humor, led to appearances on Mediaset programs like Beato fra le donne, and his signature character, Mr. Lui, became popular on Italia 1, drawing comparisons to Mr. Bean.

Beyond television, Lui has built a diverse career in film production and direction, with notable works like The Book of Life (2010) and Dr. Smith and the Fantastic Castle (2012). As a longtime collaborator with Italian entertainer Fiorello, Lui directed and edited numerous backstage pieces for Fiorello's shows, blending his comedic vision with technical skill. An active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he served as a missionary in the South of Italy and has also participated in cultural projects tied to the church. Today, he continues to engage with Italian media as the presenter for the Zecchino d’Oro selections, where he also contributes his talents as a comedian and voice actor, bringing his signature humor and charisma to the show.

Stephen T. Rockwood is the president and CEO of FamilySearch International, a global nonprofit sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Prior to joining FamilySearch, Rockwood specialized in creating unique service offerings for worldwide customers of such brands as MasterCard International, AT&T, Disney, Office Depot, and Citibank among others. He also started two companies that were later acquired by larger companies. Most recently Steve served as director of the international division at FamilySearch.

Dr. Adina Newman, EdD, the creator of My Family Genie, is a professional genealogist and educator. Her specialties include Jewish genealogy, genetic genealogy, social media, and New England, and she presents on these topics in a variety of venues, from major genealogy conferences to local genealogy societies. Her findings have received international media attention, such as mentions in The Daily Mail, Washington Post, AP News, TODAY, People, and The Times of Israel, and she has made appearances on several news outlets such as NPR and I24NEWS. She co-founded the Holocaust Reunion Project, a program to raise awareness about the potential of DNA testing within the Holocaust survivor community and provide survivors and their children with commercial DNA tests. She volunteers as a Team Lead for the DNA Doe Project, which uses investigative genetic genealogy to identify unidentified deceased persons and as a moderator for a popular Jewish genetic genealogy Facebook group. She was also a 2020 recipient of the AncestryProGenealogists scholarship.

Aimee Rose-Haynes is a seasoned genetic genealogist and former Associate Director of DNAngels, specializing in unknown parentage cases. With a passion for genetic genealogy sparked in 2016, Aimee has dedicated countless hours to reuniting families through DNA research. A proud citizen of the Cherokee Nation, Aimee focuses on identifying lost Native cousins, helping them reconnect with their tribal heritage and culture. She has presented her expertise at notable events, including the prestigious 2024 RootsTech conferences, and various state-level seminars. Outside her professional work, Aimee is a devoted wife and mother, blending her personal and cultural commitments with her professional endeavors.
My website is
AimeeRoseHaynes.com

Aoife O’ Connor has worked for Findmypast since 2012. Aoife has held a number of roles at Findmypast. Most recently she managed the delivery of the 1921 Census of England and Wales. Aoife holds a PhD in public history. Her thesis examined the discovery of criminal ancestors by family historians. Aoife's as previously worked at the National Library of Ireland as an exhibition curator, and her book Small Lives: Photographs of Irish Childhood was published, based on the exhibition of the same name, was published in 2012.

Alain Farhi is a retired businessman with a passion for genealogy. He started tracking the Farhi families in the early 1980s and now covers many families of Middle East origins and beyond. His Les Fleurs de l’Orient website currently numbers over 147,000 families and 409,000 names. The majority of these families are Sephardim, together with Ashkenazim and Karaïtes, as well as Christians, Moslems and other religions. The site includes many personal documents and links to resources.

Farhi has been a speaker at several IAJGS conferences and Zoom lectures. He has published articles in Avotaynu (USA), Shemot (UK) and AJOE (France). Farhi is one of the founders of the International Institute for Jewish Genealogy (Jerusalem) , member of the Committee of NebiDaniel Association (France), administrator of the Sephardic Heritage DNA Project at Family Tree DNA and a lifetime member of the Palm Beach, Florida, Jewish Genealogy Society.

Born in Egypt and educated in France, Farhi chose the United States as his country of adoption but also lived in Singapore, Belgium, Switzerland, Taiwan and London. He is married with two children and four grandchildren.

A list and links of his speeches and published papers can be found at null

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 serves as the President of the New York Genealogy & Technology Group, serves actively on the Board of Directors of the Association of Professional Genealogists, and on the Board of Reclaim the Records, a nonprofit dedicated to wrangling public records from obstinate government agencies. 

Alice Childs, AG® is a professional genealogist accredited in the United States Mid-Atlantic region and the Assistant Director of the BYU Center for Family History and Genealogy. Alice enjoys teaching at genealogy conferences and is the author of the GenealogyNow blog at alicechilds.com where she shares family history resources and inspiration for genealogists of all ages and stages.

Allison DePrey Singleton, MA, MLS, holds the role of Genealogy Services Manager at the Genealogy Center of the Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne, Indiana. In her capacity as Genealogy Services Manager, she delivers research consultations, actively contributes to the Center’s programming endeavors, guides the Center’s family history webinars and educational undertakings, and supervises a dedicated team of shelvers. Allison has been a featured speaker at renowned events, including the 2022 RootsTech Connect Conference, 2021 RootsTech Connect Conference, 2020 Indiana Library Federation Virtual Annual Conference, 2020 RootsTech Conference, the 2018 Indiana Genealogical Society Conference, and numerous other conferences and seminars held nationwide. Within her responsibilities at The Genealogy Center, Allison played a pivotal role as Co-Chair of the 2018 Federation of Genealogical Societies Conference. She assumes the role of Northeast Regional Co-Coordinator for the National History Day in Indiana and holds positions on the boards of both the Indiana Genealogical Society and Indiana German Heritage Society.

Alyssa Martinez graduated from Brigham Young University Idaho in December 2021. She graduated with a degree in Professional Studies with two certificates in Family History Research. After graduating, she became an intern at the FamilySearch Library. Currently, Alyssa is a Research Specialist on the U.S. and Canada team at the FamilySearch Library. She is in the process of becoming a Certified Genealogist. Alyssa has presented over 30 classes and webinars. She has given presentations for FamilySearch, the Utah Genealogical Association, the Genealogical Forum of Oregon, the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research, the BYU Family History Library, the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy, and RootsTech. Topics covered include using the FamilySearch website, United States Federal Census records, the 1950 United States Federal Census, Naturalization records, Immigrant Name Changes, Early U.S. Military Records, and Organizing Records. Alyssa was a former member of the Utah Genealogical Association board.

Amanda Terry works as a FamilySearch Change Experience manager, helping prepare operational teams worldwide for upcoming changes, new products, and releases. Areas of expertise include: FamilySearch.org (including Tree), records process, training, change management, and creating fun and meaningful learning experiences. She’s taught many classes at RootsTech, discovery days, seminars, and has a strong background in education, instructional design, teaching, and change management best practices over the past 20+ years. Formerly, a professional educator, Amanda enjoys teaching and helping people of all ages see how family history can impact their lives in positive ways. She’s a lifelong learner and is working on a genealogy research degree.

Amber Larsen is an Accredited Genealogist®. She graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in Family History - Genealogy with a Scandinavian emphasis, and currently works for FamilySearch developing content for the FamilySearch Research Wiki.

Amy Carpenter is a Utah native whose love for genealogy started at a young age and blossomed during the 18 months she lived in the Philippines. Amy graduated from Brigham Young University in 2017 with a Bachelor's degree in Family History - Genealogy and now works in multiple capacities as a professional genealogist. While her initial research specialty was the American South, Amy is now branching out into the world of Filipino genealogy. When not researching, Amy enjoys traveling with her husband and two children, spending time outdoors, trying out new gluten-free recipes, and singing along with music from the '60s.

Amy Harris, PhD, AG®, FRHistS is the current Family History Bachelor's Program director at Brigham Young University. She has published in the National Genealogical Society Quarterly, in the Genealogists’ Magazine, and on the history of genealogical practices. She has served on journal and organization boards in both genealogy and British history. She is also a founding board member of the Association of Genealogy Educators and Schools (AGES).

Her historical research focuses on families, women, and gender in eighteenth-century Britain. Her works include Siblinghood and Social Relations in Georgian England (Manchester, 2012); A Single View: Family Life and the Unmarried in Georgian England (Oxford, 2023); and Redeeming the Dead (Maxwell Institute & Deseret Book, 2024).

Amy, a native of Ogden, Utah is a professor in the BYU Department of History where she teaches history and family history/genealogy courses. Follow her on Instagram @familyhistoryprof

Andrea Bentschneider is one of Germany’s foremost genealogy experts, with over 20 years of experience helping families uncover their German heritage. She founded the German Genealogy Collective (GGC), an educational community offering expert guidance, masterclasses, and research support. Andrea is also the founder of Beyond History, a professional genealogy research agency, and has appeared on Who Do You Think You Are? and Finding Your Roots. She serves as president of the Association of German-Speaking Professional Genealogists and is a board member of the International German Genealogy Partnership (IGGP). A sought-after speaker, she presents regularly at global genealogy conferences, sharing her expertise in German family history research.

Andrea can be researched via email at null or for more information visit:

🔗 German Genealogy Collective: null (%20https:/germangenealogycollective.com%0b)
🔗 Beyond History:null

Andrew Koch is the editor of "Family Tree Magazine," a genealogy how-to publication based in the United States. In this role, he's studied several areas of family history research, ranging from genealogy websites to key US record sets to DNA testing. He's also edited more than a dozen genealogy how-to books, including "Organize Your Genealogy" and "The Family Tree Guide to DNA Testing and Genetic Genealogy."

Andrew Redfern is a passionate family historian with an eclectic mix of ancestors—including convicts, murderers, priests, wealthy gentlemen, travelling musicians, and the odd asylum inmate. Inspired by his mother, he began researching his family history in high school and hasn’t stopped since.

A director of the Society of Australian Genealogists, Andrew leads their AI & IT Special Interest Group and serves on both the education and technology committees. He was instrumental in the Ironclad Sisterhood project, which digitised records of more than 4,700 convict women.

Andrew has a strong interest in using technology to enhance genealogical research and storytelling. He has developed and delivered numerous courses and webinars on digital skills for family historians, helping researchers organise, manage, and present their work more effectively. He is also fast gaining recognition as a leader in the use of artificial intelligence in family history, having presented to audiences across Australia, the UK, and the US.

His session Researching Convicts Transported to Australia was listed as of the most popular talks at RootsTech 2025. He has also spoken at the Connections 2025 conference and delivered highly rated sessions for Legacy Family Tree Webinars. With backgrounds in education, technology, and theatre, Andrew brings both clarity and creativity to every presentation.

Angela is a fine art photographer and photography coach who loves helping others organize, edit, and protect their photos. With over 15 years in the photography industry, she is known for helping people understand complex technology. Angela enjoys photography, visual storytelling, and creative image editing. Her primary goal as a coach is to support people to get organized so they can enjoy their images and have peace of mind knowing their collection is backed up and secure.

Angela Packer McGhie, CG, is a professional researcher, lecturer, and instructor. She is the Vice President of the Board for Certification of Genealogists. She enjoys coordinating and teaching courses at the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research, the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy, and the Genealogical Institute on Federal Records. Angela served as the administrator of the ProGen Study Program from 2008-2014 and is now on the board of directors. She was honored with a certificate of appreciation from the Association of Professional Genealogists for her leadership and service.

Aubrey Morris grew up in Kaysville, Utah. She is currently a senior at Brigham Young University pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Family History and Genealogy. Her areas of specialty include Northern American and British family history research. Following her undergraduate studies, Aubrey aspires to receive her genealogy accreditation and continue her education with a graduate degree in history. Outside of her academic pursuits, Aubrey enjoys hiking, weight training, and deepening her knowledge of World War II history.

Retired from his position as CEO and President of FamilyTreeDNA and Gene by Gene, Bennett is now able to research his genealogy using DNA the way he envisioned when he first started the company in 2000. He now spends most of his time analyzing results and recruiting testers for his various research projects.

Beth Taylor, CG, was the manager of the United States and Canada Team at the FamilySearch Library in Salt Lake City, Utah. Beth began her work with FamilySearch almost 20 years ago. The founder of FamilySearch's DNA Day, her specialties included DNA, Quaker research, land and probate records, and much more. Beth passed away shortly after RootsTech 2025, and we each celebrate her contributions and talents that have made family history better for each of us. She is deeply missed by her FamilySearch family and we know she is still helping us from the other side.

Bob Taylor has been actively doing family history for over 25 years. He has combined his passion for genealogy with his background in instructional design to produce an industry-leading learning resource for family history - The Family History Guide website.

Bob earned his BA degree from Brigham Young University and MA degree from California State University, Los Angeles, both in Music Education. A career change led him to instructional design and technical writing, where he has worked for large technology corporations such as Intel and Western Digital. At Intel University, he redesigned key training courses for employees and managers worldwide, as well as teaching management courses in the western U.S. He has authored many online and written learning systems, helping others accelerate learning in technology, music, and family history.

Bob has been a featured presenter six times at the RootsTech Conference in Salt Lake City, as well as the WikiTree International Symposium for 2022. Bob has presented at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Riverton FamilySearch Library, and the BYU Family History Conference. He has also presented to genealogical societies in over 20 U.S. states and in Canada. He is the primary developer for The Family History Guide website - https://www.thefhguide.com

Bonnie loves teaching youth how to discover and unite their families. Since 2021, she has hosted multiple youth summer family history camps at the Alpine FamilySearch Center teaching hundreds of kids how to grow their family tree.

Bonnie Wade Mucia, Accredited Genealogist® in the New England Region, is the owner of Keeper of the Past Genealogy, LLC. She specializes in New England research, with a particular focus on the colonial period. Bonnie serves as the Director of the Mayflower Families Silver Books Project for the General Society of Mayflower Descendants, where she leads research on the descendants of Mayflower passengers. In addition, Bonnie is a volunteer docent and Historian at Beaufort National Cemetery and has conducted military repatriation casework for the U.S. Army and the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) on World War II soldiers. An experienced speaker and member of the Genealogical Speakers Guild, she regularly lectures on advanced genealogical methodology and historical research. She is actively pursuing the Advanced Genealogical Lecturer (AGL) credential to further strengthen her expertise in teaching and public scholarship. Her articles have appeared in leading journals, including The Mayflower Descendant (NEHGS), Rhode Island Roots, The Maine Genealogist, and The Nova Scotia Genealogist. Originally from Rhode Island, Bonnie lives in South Carolina with her husband, Joseph.

Brandon Camp has over 13 years in the genealogy industry, with 9.5 years at Ancestry and 4.5 years as the CMO of Storied. Like many, his initial interest in the category was low until reading some stories and biographies about his ancestors, and he caught “the bug.” Now, Brandon is a passionate advocate for storytelling in family history and the power it has in strengthening families and relationships. When he’s not finding stories, he is making memories with his 8 kids and wife, Elena.

Brett is a full-time professional genealogist offering forensic genealogy and traditional family history research services. He obtained his professional certificate in family history research from Brigham Young University-Idaho. He is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists (APG).

He has more than 4000 hours of professional genealogy research work experience. His work experience include: Filipino family history research; African-American research, heir search for probate, mortgage foreclosures, and real estate in the United States; military repatriation; and Spanish citizenship by descent applications. His research countries are mainly the Philippines and the United States. His casework has involved international research including in Spain, Canada, France, Germany, United Kingdom, Mexico, and Puerto Rico.

Brett is a regular FamilySearch center volunteer and has spoken to and trained others about family history research in the Philippines.

He is happily married to his wife Lee and they are parents to four children. Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, they actively promote family history research in the Philippines.

Brian is the Strategic Initiatives Manager at Findmypast. He previously lectured in history at Trinity College Dublin in the 1990s and since then lectured worldwide on history, genealogy and digitisation. Brian’s experience in digital technology, as well as his background in history, helped motivate the founding of the well-known Irish heritage company Eneclann in 1998. He formed the joint venture with DC Thomson that created Findmypast Ireland in 2010, and continues to help develop their Irish collections. Currently Brian is responsible for a range of global initiatives at Findmypast, involving new data, new markets and new opportunities.

Bruce Buzbee is the founder and president of RootsMagic, Inc., and the author of RootsMagic genealogy software. For over 35 years Bruce has been writing genealogy software, having originally written the popular Family Origins program. Bruce has taught thousands of users the ins and outs of RootsMagic, from the basics for beginners to advanced topics for the genealogy professional.

Head of Reference Services for St. Tammany Parish Library in Covington, Louisiana and the former Genealogy Librarian. He is the chair for the Genealogy and Local History Committee for the American Library Association. Has taught online genealogy research courses for Brigham Young University - Idaho. For 13 years, worked with school teachers through a grant project from the Library of Congress in using primary sources in the classroom including conducting oral history interviews for inclusion in the Veterans History Project at the Library of Congress.

Though born into a family of genealogists, Carren Crossley initially had little interest in traditional family history research. Her perspective changed when she discovered scrapbooking as a teenager, leading her to become her family's Chief Memory Keeper. Today, she's the go-to person when relatives want to revisit photographic memories of past events.

Carren found her perfect match in Storied, a platform that combines photos, stories, documents, and historical records in one shareable location. While her family's genealogical charts were largely complete, she discovered countless untold stories waiting to be shared. Recently, her mother uncovered more information about her second great-grandmother through Storied's newspaper archives than anyone had previously known. As her mother noted, "The experience was like a forensic artist. You start with a frame, add details, and eventually see in rich detail what the person was really like. They are looking right back at you."

Cathi Nelson is the leader of a global photo organizing movement.

A cutting-edge entrepreneur and speaker, in 2009 she founded The Photo Managers, the leading organization serving professional photo organizers through training, a professional certification, best practices, and a code of ethics that sets high standards for the rapidly growing photo management industry. She’s been featured in the New York Times, The Atlantic, Real Simple Magazine, and The Wall Street Journal about how to organize and preserve the legacy of your family heritage through photos.

Cathy Wallace is the Special Projects Coordinator at BillionGraves, where she combines a passion for family history with a deep commitment to preserving memories through innovative technology. Cathy plays a key role in coordinating global initiatives to digitize headstones and cemetery records, helping people around the world connect with their ancestors. Cathy also writes BillionGraves’ blog, with more than 650,000 followers. Her work bridges the gap between history and modern storytelling, making her a natural fit for classes about legacy, heritage, and the power of remembering.

Cecelia is a family legacy coach, technology professional and researcher who’s been working on her ancestral legacy for the last decade. Active with the Franklin County, OH Genealogical and Historical Society 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 and consulting. Her lectures and webinars have been conducted on behalf of RootsTech, Appalachian Studies Association, the Ohio Genealogical Society, GRIP, Universities, public libraries, museums and more. She’s an avid reader and jazz aficionado in her spare time.

CeCe Moore is a pioneer in the field of genetic genealogy. Starting in 2010, CeCe pioneered the techniques to utilize autosomal DNA analysis to resolve unknown parentage and family mysteries, and spearheaded efforts to educate the public about the emerging genetic genealogy field. As the founder of the DNA Detectives, the co-founder of the Institute for Genetic Genealogy (null) and one of the earliest proponents of genetic genealogy education, she took on a leadership role in creating the foundational educational resources for her field, developing and teaching the first autosomal DNA genetic genealogy coursework as well as managing the world’s largest educational DNA-focused online forum. She has given hundreds of lectures on genetic genealogy, including as a featured speaker at the 2022 US Court of Appeals Eleventh Circuit Judicial Conference, as well as teaching thousands of law enforcement officials.

Through collaboration with hundreds of investigative agencies across North America, CeCe has led the Parabon Investigative Genetic Genealogy (IGG) Team to the unparalleled record of over 340 successful identifications of violent criminal suspects and unidentified decedents since 2018. CeCe’s work with law enforcement has led to the first conviction (plea deal), the first conviction through jury verdict, the first conviction in a recent violent crime, the first active case solved, and the first exoneration in cases where the suspect was identified through IGG. The ABC News documentary miniseries, The Genetic Detective, follows CeCe as she uses her unique research skills to assist law enforcement in the pursuit of justice.

CeCe has been a core production member as the full-time genetic genealogist of the PBS Television documentary series Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr. continually since 2013, and as a producer in Season Five and Season 11.

Profiled by the New Yorker, the New York Times Magazine, Wall Street Journal, the UK Sunday Times, Le Monde, Haaretz, CeCe’s groundbreaking work has been featured in thousands of articles and hundreds of television shows throughout the world, including 60 Minutes, The Today Show, Good Morning America, Nightline, CBS This Morning, PBS NewsHour and Fox News.

In 2018, CeCe was recognized by the Orange County Register as one of the Ten Most Influential People in Orange County, CA. In 2023, she was bestowed an honorary Doctorate of Science from Ramapo College and in 2024, she was awarded the DAR Medal of Honor.

Cheri Daniels, MSLS: Author, speaker, librarian, archivist, host of the BloodRoot Podcast. Spanning a career of over 30 years, Daniels has worked in various types of repositories, with the most recent 15 years spent directing the library and archives departments of state and national organizations, serving as Editor of Kentucky Ancestors Online (2013-2022), and acting as a Producer/Research Coordinator for Kentucky Ancestors, the award winning state-wide television program devoted to helping families break down their brick walls. Daniels is also a TIGR Instructor (2025) and GRIP Course Coordinator/Instructor for 2026 (Navigating Independence) to commemorate the 250th celebrations. She is also a contributing author to the book Genealogy and the Librarian (2018, McFarland). When she is not writing, researching, and speaking on the national stage, she is producing and hosting her own podcast, to share stories from her own genealogy journey. You can learn more about her personal projects and upcoming speaking engagements at genealogyliteracy.com.

Cheri Hudson Passey is a professional genealogist, instructor, writer, speaker and the owner of Carolina Girl Genealogy, LLC. She is the host of the YouTube genealogy chat show GenFriends and is a genealogical researcher, subcontracted by Eagle Investigative Services, Inc., for the US Army Past Conflict Repatriations Branch. She is treasurer of GeneaBloggers and National Genealogical Society Vice President of Society & Organization Management.

Christine Francis spends her days helping others discover family, consulting, training Family History Consultants and teaching family history related workshops.
Christine and her husband, Marc Francis, currently serve as Area Temple & Family History (TFH) Advisors, Newport Beach North Coordinating Council. As past Co-Director of the Mission Viejo Stake Family Search Center (FSC), she just finished building and running two sessions of a highly successful “Youth Family History Discovery Camp.” These camps have expanded youth and family involvement in Family History (FH) in her area. This camp also helped educate local volunteers to feel more comfortable helping others in the FSC providing training on the job. She spoke at RT 2024: “Empowering and Fortifying Youth through Family History Discovery Experiences”.

Christine has taught many classes, workshops, and lectures all over Orange County, California to adults and youth on how to use FamilySearch, other websites, multi-media apps and computers to build family trees. Her passion is helping others become competent Family History Researchers. She is committed to assist anyone ready to find & bind their families through turning their hearts to one another in this work. Her goal is to help everyone feel comfortable on the phone apps, making it easy to engage in FH for the average ancestor seeker.

Christine has also had the privilege to take ”Introduction to FamilySearch” workshops into the community creating enthusiasm for ongoing Family History groups locally run.

She leads a Writer’s Club called “The Storyteller’s Club.”

Christine is a certified Birren Institute GAB (Guided Autobiography) instructor and conducts two free 6-week courses online each year for adults called: “Guided Legacy Building: Interweaving generations through shared storytelling.” These courses help guide adults to leave their personal histories woven through their ancestors’ histories for future generations.

Ciara Chivers is a genealogist based in Northern Ireland. Through her business, Shamrock Roots, she helps clients to discover their family history and connect with their heritage. She is also a tutor at the University of Strathclyde, supporting students who are pursuing postgraduate qualifications in genealogy, and she serves as a Director of the Register of Qualified Genealogists, supporting fellow genealogists and their clients.

Ciara's family tree is deeply embedded in the north of Ireland and she particularly enjoys research that is focused on Ireland and the Irish diaspora. She developed the website MemsDead.com to help people use a wonderful source for researching Irish family history and local history - the Journal of the Association for the Preservation of the Memorials of the Dead in Ireland (also known as the Journal of the Irish Memorials Association). Mems Dead shares the findings of research that Ciara did while earning her Master's degree in Genealogical, Palaeographic and Heraldic Studies.

Claire Bradley is an Irish professional genealogist working with both traditional records and genetic genealogy. She holds a Certificate in Genealogy from University College Dublin and a Masters in History of the Family from the University of Limerick. Claire is passionate about teaching people how to research their own ancestry. She is the creator and teacher of a beginners’ adult education course now running for over a decade covering all the Irish major sources in Dublin. She is also the Director of Irish Studies at the International Institute of Genealogical Studies and gives regular lectures both on and offline to libraries and family history societies everywhere there is an Irish diaspora.

Cody Mortensen is a product designer for Storied. He has spent ten years working as a designer, seven of which have been in the commercial family history industry. He loves to spend time outdoors running, hiking, biking, and camping with his family. He lives in Layton, Utah, with his wife, Shelby, and their two kids.

Craig Miller served as Director of Product and Design in the Family History Department of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Senior Vice President of FamilySearch Intl. He was responsible for the research, development, and maintenance of the Church’s family history software products and services worldwide including FamilySearch.org.

Craig passed away in the summer of 2025. Craig was not only a dedicated and visionary leader, but also a cherished colleague and friend to many. His contributions to the Family History Department were profound, and his presence will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of working with him.

Crista Cowan has been employed by null since 2004; her involvement in family history, however, reaches all the way back to childhood. From being parked under a microfilm reader at the Family History Library in her baby carrier to her current career as a professional genealogist, Crista has spent thousands of hours discovering, documenting, and telling family stories. Known online as "The Barefoot Genealogist" she shows up on Ancestry Virtual Events and Facebook LIVE regularly to provide you with the skills and resources you need to be successful on your family history journey.

Cynthia Evans is the Research Director of American Ancestors’ 10 Million Names project, a collaborative project dedicated to recovering the names of the estimated 10 million men, women, and children of African descent who were enslaved in pre- and post-colonial America. She is a researcher, historian, and genealogist with more than ten years of experience in African American history and research and five years of experience managing a genealogy center in Austin, TX. She holds an M.A. in Museum Science.

Dan Gediman is executive director of the non-profit organization Reckoning, Inc. and executive producer of the radio and podcast series The Reckoning: Facing the Legacy of Slavery in America. The Kentucky U.S. Colored Troops Project is a multi-year initiative of Reckoning, Inc. The goal is to learn as much as possible about the enslaved men from Kentucky who joined the Union Army during the Civil War. The project uses military records which mention the names of Black soldiers’ enslavers to find archival documents which help identify members of the soldier’s family, allowing for the creation of family trees that connect present day African Americans to their enslaved ancestors (see project website at https://kyusct.org).

Dan is a long-time public radio producer whose work has been heard on All Things Considered, Morning Edition, Marketplace, and This American Life. For many years, Dan was the executive producer of the popular public radio series This I Believe. He has also edited nine This I Believe books, including the New York Times Bestseller This I Believe: The Personal Philosophies of Remarkable Men and Women.

Dan is an accomplished speaker, having given scores of speeches, workshops, and presentations at colleges, universities, and conferences in the U.S. and abroad, including a well-received presentation at RootsTech 2024.

Dana Palmer, CG®, CGL® specializes in lineage society applications, publishing family books, and Midwestern research – specifically Ohio. In addition, she is part of the Mayflower Silver Books team revising the Eaton book.

Dedicated to Genealogy since 1986, Daniel was the teacher and the study guide editor of the family history project "Searching for My Roots" in Venezuela for 15 years. He was a board member of The International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies (IAJGS) for 10 years, now is involved in several crowdsource digitization and transcription projects, and holds a board-level position at The Israel Genealogy Research Association (IGRA). Since 2006 Daniel has been working at MyHeritage liaising with genealogy societies, bloggers, and media, as well as lecturing, and attending conferences around the world.

Daniel Loftus is a genealogist specialising in Irish genealogical research and research into mother and baby institutions around Ireland. He is the creator of Project Infant which endeavours to record the names of those who died in mother and baby institutions amongst other institutions around Ireland.

Danielle is an Accredited Genealogist® in the U.S. Midwest States. She has worked for FamilySearch since 2000 and is the Content Manager for the FamilySearch Research Wiki.

Danielle Elder Blaylock is a senior studying genealogy at Brigham Young University, and looks forward to graduating in April of 2025. She is especially passionate about paleography and genetic genealogy, and most enjoys expanding her knowledge of history and genealogy. Her areas of specialty include colonial North American, Italian, English, and Welsh family history research. After graduation, Danielle looks forward to pursuing a career in private client genealogy research; and is excited and hopeful to get involved in the workspace surrounding history and genealogy.

Dave is a professional genealogist based near London, England, and a former Principal Family History Specialist at the UK's National Archives. He is an experienced researcher, speaker, and writer and was elected a Fellow of the Society of Genealogists in 2019.

Dave Vance is a life-long genealogist with a professional career in IT services. He took a National Genographic Project DNA test in 2005 and has been a genetic genealogy enthusiast ever since to the mild consternation of his family and friends. He has been the editor of the Journal of Genetic Genealogy, is a surname Group Project Administrator and haplogroup Group Project Co-Administrator, has written tools, books and articles on genetic genealogy, and finds occasions to speak publicly about various genetic genealogy topics even when he wasn’t invited to do so beforehand.

David Allen Lambert has been on the staff of American Ancestors/NEHGS since 1993 and is the organization’s Chief Genealogist. David is an internationally recognized speaker on the topics of genealogy and history.

Lambert has published many articles in the New England Historical and Genealogical Register, the New Hampshire Genealogical Record, Rhode Island Roots, Mayflower Descendant, and American Ancestors magazine. He has authored and or co-authored in the published genealogies presented to David McCullough, Ken Burns, Angela Lansbury, Michael and Kitty Dukakis, Nathaniel Philbrick, Doris Kearns Goodwin, and Boston Mayor Thomas Menino. He has also published eleven books including A Guide to Massachusetts Cemeteries (NEHGS, 2018), and Vital Records of Stoughton, Massachusetts, to the end of the year 1850 (Massachusetts Society of Mayflower Descendants, 2008). David received his B.A. in History from Northeastern University with a focus on Colonial American and African-American history. David is an elected Honorary Fellow of the Massachusetts Historical Society in Boston, Mass., and a life member of the New Hampshire Society of the Cincinnati and the General Society of the War of 1812. David also serves as the tribal genealogist for the Massachusett Tribe at Punkapoag in Massachusetts.

Areas of expertise: New England and Atlantic Canadian records of the 17th through 21st century; Genealogy in the United Kingdom; American and international military records; DNA research; and African American and Native American genealogical research in New England.

David Ouimette, CG®, CGL℠, leads FamilySearch Content Strategy for Asia-Pacific. He has researched in the archives and record repositories of over seventy countries spanning all continents, identifying written and oral records of greatest genealogical value. Previously, David was lead developer and product manager at Ancestry.com, responsible for family trees, U.S. records, and DNA testing.

I thoroughly enjoy the crossroads of family history and technology. I’m the go-to guy for family, friends, coworkers, etc. who have questions or need help with Apple stuff (and tech in general). My full-time job is a creative director and when I’m not doing that I’m hanging out with my wife and four kids in Farmington, Utah. I have a dog but he generally avoids me after an unfortunate incident involving a grilled cheese sandwich.

Born in South England, I became interested in my family tree as a teenager, but like so many I quickly hit a brick wall; not all my Grandparents were alive and other family members did not want to talk, the past was the past and best left there.
So, I got on with life and career. Becoming a mother, re-sparked my interest, and a yearning to know where the family came from. Moving to the Midlands, I found myself in need of a hobby. Ten years had passed, and the internet and online resources had started to appear, along with early census records. I quickly set about learning all I could. It very soon became an everyday occurrence of Mummy tapping away on the laptop, going on trips to archives and searching around church graveyards. My bookshelves were ever expanding on all areas of historical events and helpful research guides. Soon I was helping friends with their trees and even on histories of homes and their occupants that had lived in them. Solving riddles of long-lost ancestors that had not wanted to be found, tracing occupations, and locating war time records. My learning has never stopped. I have found having had an inquisitive mind helpful and my moto is ‘Always keep an open mind and think outside the box.’ I have helped people from all over the World. With my research expanding not only the British Isles but also mainland Europe, Ireland, USA, Canada, and Australia.

Debbie graduated with honors from Brigham Young University with a bachelor’s degree in family history. She has made research trips to Spain, Portugal, Virginia, and North Carolina. She is employed by FamilySearch at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. Fluent in Spanish, she can also read genealogical documents in Portuguese, Italian, and French. Debbie holds four AG® credentials. They are for the United States Mid-South region, Spain, Mexico, and Portugal.

Devin Ashby is a Global Outreach Manager for FamilySearch, the largest genealogical organization in the world. Devin has taught family history for years and has over 300,000 online views. In 2004 he received bachelor’s degrees in History and Spanish and the following year earned a master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Northern Arizona University.

Diahan Southard is the founder of Your DNA Guide and the creator of Your DNA Guide the Academy, where she’s spent over two decades helping people use DNA to build their family trees with confidence. With a background in biology and a passion for connection, she’s known for making the science of genetic genealogy feel clear, accessible, and even fun. Whether you’ve just taken a DNA test or you’re knee-deep in match lists, Diahan’s step-by-step guidance has helped thousands of people discover where—and who—they come from.

Diana Elder, AG is a professional genealogist accredited in the Gulf South region of the United States and serves as a Commissioner for The International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists (ICAPGen). Diana authored Research Like a Pro: A Genealogist’s Guide and co-authored the companion volume, Research Like a Pro with DNA: A Genealogist’s Guide to Finding and Confirming Ancestors with DNA Evidence. She created the study group and eCourse that teach the Research Like a Pro process through videos and learning modules. Diana and her daughter, Nicole, share research tips on their website, familylocket.com and host the Research Like a Pro Genealogy Podcast.

Diana has over twenty years of research experience and specializes in southern U.S. research and using DNA to break down brick walls. She regularly teaches at genealogy conferences such as RootsTech and the National Genealogy Society Conference and presents webinars and seminars to local genealogy societies across the United States. Diana likes nothing more than helping people solve their family history mysteries.

Diane L Richard, Mosaic Research and Project Management (MosaicRPM), www.mosaicrpm.com, has been doing genealogy research since 1987 and, since 2004, professionally focused on the records of North Carolina and southern states, the enslaved, female ancestors, and more. She regularly contributed to Internet Genealogy (2006-2023). She has authored over 600 articles on genealogy topics. In 2019, she published Tracing Your Ancestors -- African American Research: A Practical Guide via Moorshead Publications. Since 2016, she has been editor of the North Carolina Genealogical Society (NCGS) journal.

As a speaker, she has delivered webinars and in-person talks about the availability and richness of records documenting southerners, pursuing formerly enslaved ancestors and their descendants, genealogical research tips, techniques, tools, and strategies, under-utilized resource collections [online and on-the-ground], female ancestors, and much more. She has appeared on Who Do You Think You Are? (Bryan Cranston episode).

She is co-owner of GenWebinars, www.genwebinars.com, providing direct-to-consumer webinar programs, co-leader of Tar Heel Discoveries, www.tarheeldiscoveries.com, offering guided North Carolina genealogical research programs providing participants targeted, focused research assistance leading to new family discoveries, and she is VP of Historical Records Online (NCHRO), http://nchistoricalrecords.org/, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing public access to high-quality images of original records and other related information applicable to researching North Carolina history and genealogy.

Dr. Cacey Farnsworth is a professor of History and Genealogy at Brigham Young University in Provo. He is also an accredited genealogist in the region of Portugal. His research focuses on Portugal, Spain, and Latin America.

Joseph Stuart is a scholar of African American history, particularly of the relationship between race, masculinity, civil rights, and religion in twentieth-century Black Freedom Movements. He teaches courses on theories and methods of family history, family history research in the US South, and family history and the law in the United States.

Dr Nicholas Dixon is a professional genealogist and historical researcher in London, United Kingdom. He studied history at the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, and was awarded a PhD in History degree by the University of Cambridge for a thesis concerning the Church of England during the early nineteenth century. He has also been awarded a Postgraduate Diploma in Genealogical, Palaeographic and Heraldic Studies with Distinction from the University of Strathclyde. He is an external contributor to the History of Parliament project and he undertakes research for clients whose ancestors lived in the United Kingdom, including international clients. He is a director of the Register of Qualified Genealogists and a representative for the Britain, Ireland and the Isles Chapter of the Association of Professional Genealogists. His areas of genealogical expertise include maritime records, legal disputes regarding inheritance and property, house history, church records, families in London and links to the British monarchy.

Dr. Penny Walters has been a University lecturer for 30 years, teaching Masters’ Business studies at British Universities. Penny's interest in genealogy started after having her first child, and then wondering about her own biological parents, as she was adopted. Penny has six mixed race children, who have all been fascinated with discovering their roots through DNA ethnicity results - there were very mixed feelings about discovering enslaved ancestors. Penny’s two ethnicities were revealed as half Irish and half Welsh, which again caused mixed feelings with the discovery of ancestors fleeing the Irish Famine. This wealth of experience has inspired all of Penny’s presentations: adoption, unknown ethnicities, ethical dilemmas, being English but discovering Irish and Welsh ancestors, and wondering about the psychology behind searching. Being British gives her great insight into records available in England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Penny lectures internationally in-person including throughout the UK, Ireland, America, and Australia; writes articles for a variety of magazines; is sought after for a wide range of webinar topics; and is a regular consultant on television and radio programmes. Penny has authored the books: 'Ethical Dilemmas in Genealogy' (2019) and ‘The Psychology of Searching’ (2020) available on Amazon.

Dustin Myers is a Storied Front End Developer. With ten years of experience, Dustin is known for his passion for crafting engaging digital spaces that resonate with users. At Storied, Dustin blends this professional expertise with a personal commitment to bringing stories to life, driven by a belief in the power of technology to connect people.

Dr. Éadaoin Harney is an expert in the field of ancient DNA, with over a decade of experience extracting, sequencing, and analyzing the DNA of ancient and historical people from across the globe. Dr. Harney is a Population Geneticist at 23andMe and a Lecturer in the Department of Human Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University, where she teaches courses on human population genetics.
Her current research focuses on searching for direct (Identical-by-Descent) genetic connections between historical and living people to learn about historical migrations and to help restore genealogical connections to the past that have been lost to time.

Elder Jorge M. Alvarado was sustained as a General Authority Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on April 6, 2019, at age 48. At the time of his call he had been serving as a high councilor. He has served as a counselor in the Caribbean Area Presidency and is currently serving at Church Headquarters in various councils and committees.

Elder Alvarado has served in a number of Church callings, including full-time missionary in the Florida Tampa Mission, ward mission leader, branch president, district council member, mission executive secretary, stake president, Area Seventy in the North America Southeast and Caribbean Areas, president of the Puerto Rico San Juan Mission, and counselor in a bishopric.

Elder Alvarado studied management at the University of Puerto Rico in 1992. He has worked as a manager for Sam’s Club, regional training manager for Walmart Puerto Rico Inc., and Organizational Development manager/Partner and Senior Consultant for Franklin Covey. Most recently, he worked as an international manager for Self-Reliance Services at Church headquarters.

Jorge Miguel Alvarado Pazo was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico, on November 21, 1970. He married Cari Lu Rios in 1992. They are the parents of three children.

Elder K. Brett Nattress was sustained as a General Authority Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on April 2, 2016. At the time of his call, he had been serving as president of the Arizona Gilbert Mission. Elder Nattress currently serves at Church headquarters. He previously served for five years in the Pacific Area Presidency.

Elder Nattress has served in numerous Church callings, including full-time missionary in the California Sacramento Mission, ward Young Men president, bishop, stake Young Men president, stake president, Area Seventy, and mission president.

Elder Nattress attended Brigham Young University and received a bachelor of science degree from the University of Utah in 1990. He was employed in health-care administration as co- founder and president of Advanced Health Care Corporation.

Kevin Brett Nattress was born in Pocatello, Idaho, on March 4, 1965. He married Shawna Lee Adamson in April 1987. They are the parents of seven children.

Elder Kevin S. Hamilton was sustained as a General Authority Seventy of The Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints on April 6, 2013. He served for five years in the Africa Southeast
Area Presidency and one year in the North America Northeast Area Presidency. He now serves
as the Executive Director for the Family History Department.

Elder Hamilton received a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Brigham Young University in
1979, and in 1982 he received a master’s degree in finance from the University of Washington.

Prior to his call, he was a cofounder and partner in a venture capital firm.
Elder Hamilton has served in numerous Church callings, including full-time missionary in the
Switzerland Geneva Mission, bishop, stake president, and president of the Belgium/Netherlands
Mission from 2003 to 2006.

Kevin Scott Hamilton was born in Wenatchee, Washington. He married Claudia Keysor in July
1978. They are the parents of six children.

Elder Mark A. Bragg was sustained as a General Authority Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on April 2, 2016. At the time of his call, he had been serving as a member of the Fifth Quorum of the Seventy in the North America West Area. He served in the South America South Area Presidency and as an Assistant Executive Director in the Family History Department and the Church Communication Department. He is currently serving as the President of the North America West Area.

Elder Bragg has served in a number of Church callings, including full-time missionary in the México Monterrey Mission, ward mission leader, high councilor, bishop, stake president, and Area Seventy.

Elder Bragg majored in marketing and Spanish at the University of Utah. He also completed executive education programs at UCLA, University of Michigan, and other universities. He began his career as vice president of Great Western Bank in Los Angeles in commercial and residential real estate operations. Most recently, he worked as a senior vice president of Bank of America in customer complaint resolution and legal/government relations.

Mark Allyn Bragg was born in Los Angeles, California, on April 16, 1962. He married Yvonne King in 1984 in the Los Angeles California Temple. They are the parents of four children.

Elder Massimo De Feo was sustained as a General Authority Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on April 2, 2016. At the time of his call, he had been serving as a member of the Third Quorum of the Seventy in the Europe Area. He is currently serving in the North America Southeast Area Presidency.

Elder De Feo has served in numerous Church callings, including full-time missionary from 1981 to 1983 in the Italy Rome Mission, branch president, district president, counselor in a bishopric, stake high councilor, stake president, and Area Seventy.

After serving as a full-time missionary, he began his career in international relations at the American Embassy in Rome. Elder De Feo was a member of several committees of the U.S. government for bilateral agreements on Social Security and worked as the Federal Benefits Operations Supervisor at the American Embassies in Rome and Paris for more than 30 years. He also worked as the Deputy Regional Officer of the Social Security Administration for the Europe South, North Africa, and Middle East Regions.

Massimo De Feo was born in Taranto, Italy, on December 14, 1960. He married Loredana Galeandro in August 1984. They are the parents of three children.

Ellen is a professional genealogist operating Sole Searching Genealogy & Historical Research. Specializing in American records and Jewish ancestry, she has completed the ProGen Study Program, Gen-Fed, and other advanced institute coursework while accepting clients, volunteering as JewishGen USA Research Division Director, launching the DAR Jewish Specialty Research initiative, and frequently speaking at international genealogy conferences. Her published client books include America’s Alligator Family: The David Crystal Story (2023); From Scheinman to Simon (2024); and Beyond the Jaffa Gate: Lizerbram and Cohen Family Chronicles (antic. 2025). Ellen received her B.A. from Alfred University and spent twenty-five years working in marketing management and communications before transitioning into full-time research. She lives in Colorado with her husband and college-age daughters.

Erik Swierk has always been drawn to history, from exploring family stories to imagining the tales behind abandoned artifacts. He believes capturing and sharing these stories with future generations is more accessible and rewarding than ever. Rather than leaving photos and memories untouched, Erik took action to preserve them.

Passionate about inspiring others, Erik encourages everyone to record memories, ask about family photos, and preserve the stories that bring history to life. His goal is to help others create vibrant, meaningful connections to their family history.

Through his own journey, Erik moved beyond simply collecting names and dates, discovering deeper motivation with each story uncovered. After navigating challenges like organization and scattered family trees, he found tools like Storied.com, where he could finally build a complete and dynamic picture of his family’s past. Erik’s mission is to inspire others to paint their family history with the same richness and color for future generations to appreciate.

Ethan Jewett is a population geneticist at 23andMe, where he applies mathematical genetic approaches to help people understand their ancestry and family connections. Ethan earned his PhD in genetics from Stanford University and he has since conceived and developed new tools for 23andMe customers, including the algorithm behind the auto-building Family Tree feature, new DNA relationship predictions revealing that many 5th and 6th cousins are actually 20th cousins or beyond, and the inference of ancestral genomes from DNA.

Finn Larson is a product manager for Storied, who lives and works in Valencia, Spain. He has long been fascinated by the power of stories across various contexts, from family-based to religious, historical, and even fictional. His kids consider him a good storyteller and love to hear the mostly true-to-life stories of his youth.

Gal Zrihen, Product Manager, responsible for MyHeritage DNA products. Leading a talented team of developers, QA Engineers, and designers to create and optimize DNA users’ entire journey — from ordering a DNA kit to making the most of their DNA results for genealogical research with MyHeritage’s constantly growing suite of features.

Geoffrey Fröberg Morris AG has been doing Swedish genealogical research for over 35 years. He has been employed for 20 years at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah as a Nordic research specialist. Among his work assignments, Geoff has helped thousands of people search for their Swedish ancestors, engaged in many archival visits in Sweden, authored hundreds of pages into the Family Search Wiki and routinely presents at conferences. He is the author of the book, A Practical Guide to Swedish Church Records for Genealogy and Family History, which was published in 2020.

Heather is on a mission to empower others to discover and preserve their family’s legacy through storytelling. With a degree in education, she spent more than two decades creating and delivering content and instruction to people of all ages.

She is now an associate marketing manager and genealogist for Storied. She understands the importance of connecting with one's past, and through her work, she is committed to helping others embark on their genealogy journey and uncover their family stories.

Dr. H. Wallace "Wally" Goddard is a distinguished author, educator, and family life specialist renowned for his significant contributions to the fields of family relations, parenting, and personal development. He has served as a Professor of Family Life at the University of Arkansas, Auburn University, and Utah State University and has been heavily involved with the Cooperative Extension Service, where he developed and disseminated educational programs aimed at strengthening family dynamics and enhancing individual well-being.

Dr. Goddard has authored several influential books, including “Discoveries: Essential Truths for Relationships,” "The Soft-Spoken Parent: 55 Strategies for Preventing Contention with Your Children" and "Between Parent and Child." His writings are celebrated for their practical wisdom and deep insights into fostering positive family environments. His approach integrates principles of positive psychology with actionable advice, making his work accessible and impactful for a broad audience.

In addition to his written work, Dr. Goddard is a sought-after speaker and workshop leader, known for his engaging style and ability to connect with diverse audiences. His programs often focus on themes such as effective communication, emotional resilience, and the cultivation of loving, supportive relationships.

Dr. Goddard's contributions have earned him widespread recognition and national awards including the Outstanding Family Life Educator Award.

Ian James is a product manager at FamilySearch working on a new volunteer experience called "Get Involved".

Jaclyn Pruett is a student at Brigham Young University, where she works as a research assistant doing African American genealogical research. She has contributed to the Century of Black Mormons Project and specializes in Southern United States research. She enjoys working with French records and has completed projects in Australia and Colonial North America.

James M. Beidler, twice Executive Director for the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania, is the author of four commercially published genealogy books as well as writing “Roots & Branches,” an award-winning weekly blog / newspaper column on genealogy. He is also a columnist for German Life magazine and is editor emeritus of Der Kurier, the quarterly journal of the Mid-Atlantic Germanic Society.
He was co-chair for the International German Genealogy Partnership’s successful virtual conference in July 2021 and was a research-reports editor for Legacy Tree Genealogists from 2018 to 2021. Since May 2020, he has been a regular on the “Genealogy Quick Start” television program hosted by Shamele Jordon.

James L. Tanner B.A. Degree; Spanish, M.A. Degree; Linguistics, University of Utah. J.D. Degree; Law, Arizona State University. 39 years Arizona trial attorney. Over 43 years in genealogical research. Avid Blogger of Genealogy’s Star and Rejoice, and be exceeding glad. 21 years as a Family History Volunteer, presently serving at the BYU Family History Library. On the Board of Directors of The Family History Guide Association. Presenter at Expos and Conferences in the U.S., Canada and Europe. Professional photographer. Seven children, 34 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Fluent in Spanish and has done extensive Spanish genealogical research.

My name is James Rasmussen, and I'm near graduation in Brigham Young University's Family History and Genealogy program. I currently work on the Linking Families for Cancer Prevention project using DNA and traditional genealogical methods. I mostly spend time researching in the United States South, England, and South America; however, I have experience researching all regions in the romance languages and East and West Germany.

James Vogel has been on the FamilySearch Middle East and North Africa Outreach team since June 2023. A Connecticut native, James graduated from Brigham Young University with dual bachelors degrees in Arabic Language and Middle East Studies. During his university studies, he spent time in Morocco and Jordan in intensive Arabic learning programs. James lives in Tacoma, WA and is an avid runner and hiker.

Jana Greenhalgh is an Accredited Genealogist® specializing in England research. She teaches family history at BYU as a member of the History Department adjunct faculty. She holds a BA degree in Genealogy & Family History from BYU, and an MSc degree from the University of Strathclyde in Genealogical, Palaeographic & Heraldic Studies. She has instructed for BYU-Idaho’s online family history degree program, served on the Board of Directors for the Utah Genealogical Association, chaired the Level 1 Testing Committee for ICAPGen, and served on the ICAPGen Conferences & Education Committee for many years. She has presented at various genealogy conferences/institutes and loves to help people make family history discoveries. Jana and her husband Brent live in Lehi, Utah. They have seven children, and just for fun, they share their family history adventures via social media and online at www.TheGenealogyKids.com.

Janalee McBride holds a Bachelor of Science in Professional Studies with an Associate in Family History Research from Brigham Young University Idaho. Janalee is a United States and Canada Research Specialist at the FamilySearch Library in Salt Lake City, Utah. She specializes in the United States Southwest region, DNA, and Latter-day Saint records.

Janet Few is an experienced and well-known British family, social and community historian who has lectured at previous RootsTechs, at conferences across the English-speaking world and at sea. She is an author of both historical fiction and non-fiction, as well as many magazine articles. In addition, she has worked with the UK 'Who Do You Think You Are?' television programme. As an educator, Janet runs online genealogy and social history courses for Pharos Tutoring and Teaching. She is currently serving as the President of the Family History Federation and is actively involved in several other family history organisations.

For Janet, the joy of genealogy lies in the context and she believes in the importance of understanding the history of the places in which our ancestors lived and the social history of their time. Her particular interests include the seventeenth century and she can often be spotted working as an historical interpreter in the guise of her alter ego, Mistress Agnes.

As someone with a particular interest in women’s history, Janet is part of the A Few Forgotten Women team, who seek to preserve the stories of marginalised women who might otherwise be overlooked by history.

Janet Hovorka owns Family ChartMasters, an award-winning genealogy chart printing service that is the official printing service for every major genealogy company and has shipped over 40,000 charts to over 75 countries. Janet is the author of ten Zap the Grandma Gap books and workbooks and has widely written and lectured about family history. She is currently a board member of the Association of Professional Genealogists and teaches genealogy and business courses at Salt Lake Community College.

I am a professional genealogist and family historian, operating through my company Roslin Roots and specializing in Scottish genealogy and history. I have been researching family trees, and family and local history for over 15 years and I am a member of the Register of Qualified Genealogists (RQG) and the Association of Scottish Genealogists & Researchers in Archives (ASGRA). I also have a degree in History from the Open University and graduated with a MLitt in Family and Local History from the University of Dundee in Scotland.

Janna Helshtein’s journey into genealogy started over 20 years ago prompted by an innocent question from her (then) toddler about people in the family. This journey took a turn into genetic genealogy over 7 years ago discovering her ex-partner’s biological parents and uniting him with a family he never knew. So, all beginnings were close to heart. She is the founder of DNA AT EYE LEVEL, and besides helping others in their search for bio-family, she helps the Hebrew-speaking community access the world of DNA through teaching, counselling and public speaking. She believes everyone deserves to know their truth and have the tools to do it at hand.

Jarrett Ross, also known as the GeneaVlogger, has successfully connected with thousands of relatives all over the World, helped build hundreds of trees for people of varying ancestral backgrounds, and has worked on hundreds of genealogical projects of varying types. Jarrett has found a specialty in Genetic Genealogy and Sephardic Jewish research, with an emphasis on the Portuguese Jewish Community of Amsterdam. Jarrett’s other main focuses of research are in Jewish Agricultural Societies of Southern New Jersey, Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry in the Pale of Settlement, Jews in America, and Jews in Ukraine. Jarrett spent just under 5 years working as the Lead Forensic Genealogist at DNA Labs International, helping create investigative leads to identify unknown human remains and perpetrators of violent crimes. In October 2023, Jarrett left the Forensic industry to pursue a career in content creation and genealogy education full-time.

Jen Baldwin has been working in the realm of professional genealogy since 2010 but has been pursuing her family history since she was ten years old. She is currently the Research Specialist and North American Content Manager for Findmypast, and her work is featured routinely by media outlets across Great Britain. She is also co-host of “Was Justice Served?” a podcast by Findmypast. Jen lectures internationally, writes, and consults on a variety of genealogy related topics, and was part of the research team for Genealogy Roadshow, season two on PBS (US). She is excited to discover unique resources that allow for a different perspective in genealogical research. Jen currently serves as a Trustee for the International Society for British Genealogy and Family History.

Jennifer Mendelsohn is a sought-after genealogist who specializes in helping Eastern European Jewish families shattered by the Holocaust reclaim their history. In 2022, she co-founded the Holocaust Reunion Project, (formerly the DNA Reunion Project at the Center for Jewish History) which seeks to promote DNA testing as a tool for helping Holocaust survivors find family. The project has received international media attention.
A native Long Islander now based in Baltimore, Mendelsohn serves on the board of the Jewish Genealogy Society of Maryland and is the administrator of Facebook's Jewish Genetic Genealogy group, with over 13,000 members worldwide. She is a frequent lecturer.

Prior to her work as a genealogist, Jennifer spent many years as a freelance journalist. Her work has appeared in countless publications including People, Slate, The New York Times, The Washington Post, USA Today, The Los Angeles Times, Time, and Tablet.

Jenny has researching her own family history for the past 40 years, and for the past thirteen years has been a professional researcher, lecturer, teacher and writer. She has lectured at various societies, and at the Australasian Federation of Family History Societies Congresses. She has also spoken at past RootsTech conferences. Jenny has taught genealogy and history courses at local community colleges in Sydney. Together with core genealogy, Jenny has a deep interest in medieval English history and genealogy, Irish genealogy, paleography and historical photography.

Jenny Hansen, AG®, AGL™ graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in Family History and Genealogy. She received her genealogy accreditation in Danish research in 1999. She currently works as a freelance researcher, specializing in all things Scandinavian. She serves as a commissioner and vice president for the International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists (ICAPGen). Her other hobbies include reading, finding old churches and cemeteries and doing anything outside with her family. She blogs at www.MyFavoriteAncestor.com.

Jill Morelli, CG, CGL is a writer, lecturer and co-founder of the online Applied Genealogy Institute, providing practicum-based educational opportunities for the intermediate and advanced genealogist. In 2017, she founded the Certification Discussion Group, an online series discussing her certification journey in order to demystify the process for others.  She specializes in Scandinavian research and is constantly honing her methodological skills. She lectures nationally and has written articles for National Genealogical Society Quarterly, Swedish American Genealogist, NCGS Journal and many others. Jill is past president of the Seattle Genealogical Society, co-chair of SGS Centennial 2023, program director for the Puget Sound-APG chapter, and a member of many local and national genealogical societies.

Jill Reilly is the Acting Chief Innovation Officer at the National Archives and Records Administration. Throughout her 20-year federal career, she has focused on digital engagement, access, and discovery. In addition to her 10 years at the National Archives, she has served at the National Agricultural Library with the US Department of Agriculture, the Law Library of Congress, and the US Department of Education. She holds a masters in library science with a concentration in archival administration and a masters of arts in US history from the University of Maryland in College Park.

Jim Brewster has worked in the genetic genealogy field since 2014, delivering presentations at over 40 regional, national, and international conferences. He has collaborated with organizations like the General Society of Mayflower Descendants to identify the Y-STR and mtDNA signatures of more than 35 Mayflower Pilgrims and played a key role in brokering a million-dollar partnership with a Korean adoptee DNA project.

Jim enjoys sharing genetic genealogy methods and the science of DNA testing through presentations and writing. In his free time, he reviews classic literature on his blog (thequickversion.net).

Joanna Klein is an international leader, speaker and coach in the personal development and self-empowerment field. With four decades of experience in creating and facilitating successful personal development programs, Joanna founded Journey to Legacy, an online life story writing program where she guides people through a transformative process to help them feel good about the life they've lived, the years ahead, and the legacy they'll leave behind.

Jordan Ireland has been shaping Storied's design landscape as a Product Designer since 2021. Passionate about technology and computer building, he integrates technical expertise with design flair. Based in Eagle Mountain, UT, Jordan draws inspiration from family moments and the joys of life with his wife and two children.

John Bytheway was born and raised in Salt Lake City, and he served his mission in the Philippines. He earned a Master’s Degree in Religious Education from BYU, and he currently teaches courses on the Book of Mormon and the New Testament at the BYU Salt Lake Center. He is the author of a few dozen books and audio programs which, he says, are effective non-prescription sleep-aids. John and his wife Kimberly have six children and a completely full SUV which doubles in value when it’s full of gasoline. John currently serves as a member of the Young Men’s Advisory Council (formerly known as the General Board). His oldest daughter Ashley served her mission in Lyon, France, and his oldest son Andrew served in Iceland. His daughter Natalie served in Tahiti and is teaching French at the MTC. His son Matthew is currently serving in the Charleston West Virginia mission. His son Timothy began his mission in Uruguay in June.  

Kimberly, Loveridge Bytheway was born and raised in Salt Lake City and graduated from Olympus high school. She earned a degree in English at Brigham Young University, and was employed as an especially for youth counselor. She has taught for many years at Carden Memorial school And she also works as a real estate agent. She is currently serving as young women’s president in her ward in Salt Lake City.

Johannes (John) de Jong heeft voor de laatste 9 jaar bij FamilySearch gewerkt. Hij werkt met archieven en andere organizaties in Noord Amerika die genealogische documenten hebben om hun documenten te fotograferen en ze in digitale vorm op het internet beschikbaar te maken. Hij was in Amsterdam geboren en is een geaccrediteerde genealoog in Nederlands genealogie.
 
Johannes (John) de Jong has worked at FamilySearch for 9 years, leading the North American content team as they work with local archives and other institutions that maintain genealogically significant records. The content team sets up projects to digitally preserve and make available online records that are genealogically significant. John was born in the Netherlands and actively searches for his ancestors and cousins. He is an Accredited Genealogist^® in Dutch research. 

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 member of the faculty 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 as a member of the NGSQ editorial board. An internationally-known lecturer and 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 at null

Judy has been researching her family tree from the age of 12, specializing in French-Canadian, Acadian, Native American and Michigan research because of her own family heritage. Owner of Lineage Journeys, she conducts research for clients and offers presentations in churches, libraries and organizations, and she travels extensively to research locations and the locations of her ancestral homes.
Judy is the President of the Oakland County Genealogical Society, President for the Michigan Genealogical Council, board member and Awards Chair of the National Genealogical Society, and a member of many societies – among them: Ontario and Quebec Genealogical Societies, Detroit Society for Genealogical Research, French Canadian Heritage Society of Michigan, a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland and many more.

Julia A. Anderson has a master's degree in history and is an Accredited Genealogist® and Accredited Genealogist Lecturer™ with expertise in the U.S. Gulf South Region. She is research specialist at the FamilySearch Library in Salt Lake City, Utah, and teaches research and accreditation classes for Salt Lake Community College's online genealogy certificate program. Julia is the owner and managing member of Anderson Genealogical Research, LLC and serves as the conference chair for the Utah Genealogical Association. She and her husband, Scott, live in Orem, Utah and are the parents of nine children and grandparents of nine.

Julie Merrill is an Accredited Genealogist and is employed as a Research Manager at Ancestry ProGenealogists®. She has been the main researcher for episodes of Who Do You Think You Are and other high-profile media projects. Before working for Ancestry, she served a five-year service mission at FamilySearch, serving in Historical Records, Research Assistance, and Early General Authorities Research departments as well as a FamilySearch Library trainer for onboarding missionaries. Having a passion for finding families has driven her more than thirty years of experience. She is a frequent lecturer at national and local genealogical conferences and seminars and specializes in Southern United States, African-American, and Scandinavian research.

Julie Roberts Szczepankiewicz is a genealogist with nearly 30 years of experience researching her family's origins in Poland, Germany, the U.S., and Canada. She currently serves as President of the Polish Genealogical Society of New York State (PGSNYS), and has previously served as Vice-President for the New England Regional Genealogical Consortium, Inc, and Secretary of the Polish Genealogical Society of Massachusetts (PGSMA). Her articles have been published in the newsletters of the Polish Genealogical Society of America, PGSNYS, PGSMA, and the Western New York Genealogical Society, and she is the author of a genealogy blog, From Shepherds and Shoemakers. Julie has been a genealogical lecturer since 2015, and she recently created a six-part webinar series for the Kosciuszko Foundation, "Discover Your Roots with the KF," which is available exclusively as a membership benefit. The series serves an an introduction to Polish genealogy.

Katie Derby is a professional genealogist with nearly 25 years of experience. She holds a degree in Family History/Genealogy from Brigham Young University. Katie specializes in US South research and has developed proficiency in research in several countries and languages worldwide.
She has worked as a genealogy librarian, including an internship in the Local History/Genealogy reading room at the Library of Congress and positions in public libraries. Katie also served as an adjunct instructor, intern coordinator, and course designer in the Family History Research program at BYU-I. She currently works at FOREVER Family Research.

Katie is a seasoned presenter at genealogy and library conferences and has directed and hosted conferences such as the Virginia Family History Day Conference at the Library of Virginia and the Virginia Genealogical Society conferences. She is a past board member of the Virginia Genealogical Society.

Katie has also served as the director of the FamilySearch Virginia Records Project, coordinating FamilySearch indexing and preservation projects across the state. Her efforts led to the publishing and indexing of millions of Virginia marriage records on FamilySearch.

She lives with her husband and five teenagers in Culpeper, VA.

Katherine Schober of Germanology Unlocked is a German genealogy speaker, author, and translator, specializing in the old German handwriting. She is the author of “The Magic of German Church Records” and “Tips and Tricks of Deciphering German Handwriting”, as well as the creator of the online courses “Reading the Old German Handwriting" and "German for Genealogists”. Katherine lives in Bend, Oregon with her Austrian husband and their son, and can be reached via e-mail at katherine_schober@germanologyunlocked.com or at her website null

After years on the sidelines, Kathryn started her family history and discovered a new passion. Her specialty is mentoring new family historians and helping them find success--and maybe even avoid some of the mistakes she's made.


Kathryn teaches online classes for the BYU Library Family History Center. In addition, she’s a regular contributor to the FamilySearch blog.



For her day job, Kathryn works as an instructional designer and technical writer with a focus on usability and process improvement. Her current work assignment includes developing training used on mobile devices. Besides family history, she loves uplifting music, thought-provoking books, and real maple syrup.

A native of Southwestern Ontario, Canada, Kathryn Lake Hogan, UE, PLCGS, is a professional genealogist and educator with deep roots in Canada through her five Loyalist ancestors. Since founding Looking4Ancestors in 2007, Kathryn has assisted family history researchers in uncovering their Canadian ancestry, combining her expertise with an approachable and insightful teaching style.

Kathryn graduated from ProGen 4 and the National Institute for Genealogical Studies, where she earned professional learning certificates in English and Canadian genealogy.
Kathryn has written articles featuring Canadian genealogy for CrossRoads, Family Tree Magazine, The In-Depth Genealogist, and the APG Quarterly. Having held leadership roles within notable organizations such as Ontario Ancestors, the Association of Professional Genealogists, and the United Empire Loyalists Association of Canada, she continues to advocate for greater accessibility, inclusivity, and diversity in family history.

Kathryn is a sought-after speaker who captivatingly engages audiences at genealogy society meetings and regional and national conferences. As a course coordinator and instructor of Canadian and Ontario courses at the Genealogy Research Institute of Pittsburgh (GRIP), Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG), and Applied Genealogy Institute (AppGen), she helps family history researchers sharpen their skills and dive deeper into their Canadian family history.

Kathy Behling, AG® is a professional genealogist and consultant. First pursuing a degree in English from Brigham Young University and then working in accounting and marketing, she finally returned to what she loves best – placing ancestors in their historical context and using available documentation to discover the details of their lives.

With more than 25 years’ experience researching for clients, she frequently teaches those who want to learn the techniques of professional research. A member of the Association of Professional Genealogists, she is currently the president of ICAPGen℠, the International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists.

Kaye Prince-Hollenberg is a professional genealogist based in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. She specializes in Jewish Genealogy and Holocaust Research. A Librarian by day, Kaye is also the Director of Education for Gesher Galicia, and the founding Curator of the Margaret's Legacy Holocaust Learning Centre. She is a member of the Board of Directors for the Association of Professional Genealogists and is the JRI-Poland town leader for Korolowka and Zaleszczyki.

Katy Bodenhorn is a freelance genealogist, owner of Katy Bodenhorn Genealogy Research, LLC, and is the former genealogy director for the Historical Society of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. She holds a B.A. in Family History and Genealogy and has spent over a decade working as a professional genealogy researcher, editor, and national speaker.

Katy Rowe-Schurwanz has always loved stories. Growing up, her maternal grandparents told her tales of their family history, inspiring her to become a genealogist like her grandfather. After studying creative writing, history, and anthropology at Southern Methodist University, she joined FamilyTreeDNA in 2015. As Product Manager, Katy has been a customer advocate for improving FamilyTreeDNA’s tests, tools, and features to help customers discover their ancestral past and break more brick walls. Katy uses her passion for storytelling to improve FamilyTreeDNA’s genetic genealogy products so everyone can discover their family story.

Kelli Allen is a Qualified Genealogist (QG) specializing in UK and Australian research. She holds a BS from Brigham Young University in Business Management and an MSc from the University of Strathclyde in Genealogical, Palaeographic, and Heraldic Studies. She teaches as an adjunct professor at BYU and serves as President-Elect for the Association of Genealogical Educators and Schools (AGES).

Kelli Bergheimer is a writer, teacher, editor, and international genealogical speaker. Kelli holds a Bachelor’s 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.

Kelly Renee Summers, is an Accredited Genealogist® and an Accredited Genealogist Lecturer™. Kelly has five premier genealogical credentials through the International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists (ICAPGen) demonstrating genealogical research expertise and lecturing. Kelly currently works at FamilySearch as a Content Strategist for Asia with responsibilities for many Asian countries including China, Taiwan, Japan & Korea. She has a great passion for helping those with Chinese ancestors find their roots in China. Kelly has served as the president of the Utah Genealogical Association (UGA) and as the Testing Committee Chair for ICAPGen. She was the SLIG Course Coordinator for Chinese Genealogy: Research Methods & Sources both in person (2020) and virtually (2021). Kelly’s research interests lie in kinship research in primary source records and rural community reconstruction.

Keri Maurus brings two decades of professional genealogy and business management experience to expertly lead the FOREVER Genealogy Team, orchestrating their collective expertise to deliver top-tier genealogy services and exceptional client outcomes.

Kimball G. Carter has been actively researching for over 45 years. With ancestors in Colonial Virginia into the mid-early 1600s, Kimball has years of experience researching in Virginia, particularly in the Northern Neck. Additionally, Kimball has deep experience in the states of Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri and New York, as well as England. Kimball also has very deep experience in German Research. As a volunteer at the FamilySearch Library in Salt Lake City, Kimball assists patrons with their German research, including reading old German records and acting as a mentor for other volunteers assisting in German research. Kimball has lectured on immigration research and court record research at RootsTech 2022, as well as on various genealogical subjects locally.

Kori Robbins, AG®, now manages the team that oversees FamilySearch affiliates, which include libraries, museums, and archives. She holds a BA in Family History/Genealogy from Brigham Young University and is accredited in research in England. Alongside her husband, H.J., she tag teams wrangling six kiddos. Her interests outside of family history include learning, music, personality tests, and a good night’s sleep.

Krishnan Nilakantan doesn’t just lead—he revolutionizes. With 44 years of tech expertise, he’s a game-changer in digital transformation and genealogy research, powering SBL’s cutting-edge solutions. From redefining customer experiences to driving scalable innovation, Krishnan delivers results that matter. He has spearheaded e Governance projects across India and held top roles at CDAC, STPI, MuthootFINCORP, and CERT Kerala. His mission? Push boundaries, set standards and inspire the future of technology.

Kristilee J. Manuel authored the textbook "Introduction to Genealogy: A Modern Family History Methodology." She designed genealogical tools and created content for Brigham Young University's Family History Workshops. Kristilee recently collaborated with the Chinese National Parks Service to develop a family history certification program. She presented at the 2025 Mormon History Association conference, BYU's Women's Conference, and has served as a FamilySearch Center Director.

Kristina Kaufman is from northern Wisconsin and is a Family History-Genealogy Major at Brigham Young University, with an emphasis on German genealogy. She has been employed at the BYU Center for Family History and Genealogy for two years and supervises two of the Center's projects, the Mormon Battalion and Polygamy projects. Kristina enjoys doing military-based research and studying polemology.

Kyra Bryant is a current student at Brigham Young University majoring in Family History and Genealogy and minoring in Africana Studies and Sociology. She is the Supervisor of the Early British & Irish Census Project at BYU’s Center for Family History and Genealogy. While studying to specialize in African American Family History, she has a special interest in UK Family history due to living in England for two years while a teen & in Italian Family History due to having spent eighteen months in Southern Italy.

LaBrenda Garrett-Nelson, JD, LLM, CG®, CGL(SM), FASG, earned a BA from John Jay College of Criminal Justice, City University of New York, and both a Law degree and a Master of Laws degree from New York University. She enjoyed a 35-year career as a tax lawyer before her 2013 retirement from a partner-level position at Ernst & Young (EY), and is now a full-time genealogist focused on teaching and writing. Her research centers on African American families that survived American slavery. She was elected to the first of three terms as a trustee of the Board for Certification of Genealogists® in 2016, and served three terms as BCG President from 2019-2022.

In 2021 LaBrenda was elected as the 170th Fellow of the American Society of Genealogists (ASG), the field’s honorary scholarly society that was founded in 1940 and is limited to fifty life-time members; election is based on the quality of a genealogist’s published work. As described in ASG’s press release: “Her educational publications include a guide to researching African-American family history in Laurens County, South Carolina, where she has roots—a primer with important methodological lessons applicable nationally—and an authoritative guide to genealogical research in the state of Alabama.” She received the 2021 Award of Excellence from the National Genealogical Society Quarterly and now serves on the editorial board of that journal.

She was the mentor of ProGen 37, and she coordinates the African American Track at the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy. She also teaches various subjects on the faculty of the GRIP Genealogy Institute, the Genealogical Institute on Federal Records, and the Institute of Genealogy & Historical Research. Previously she served as a teaching assistant on the faculty of Boston University’s Online Genealogical Program from 2016–2019.

For more information see her website https://www.LabGarrettGenealogy.com.

Laryn joined Storied in 2021 as head of content acquisition and operations; today he serves as the Vice President of Content Operations. In the subsequent years, the Storied team has brought hundreds of millions of family history records to light, each one carefully curated for the stories that can be unlocked inside. Prior to Storied, Laryn worked 18 years in various roles in the commercial family history industry. He has led several teams using Artificial Intelligence to bring down the cost and improve the availability of historical records. Working in genealogy as a profession and a hobby since the 80’s, Laryn is passionate about storytelling. The threads of his own family stories include English bricklayers, Canadian homesteaders, Southern colonists, and Norwegian farmers.

Laura Daly holds a Master of Library and Information Studies and Archival Certification from the University of Alabama and a Bachelors Degree in Ancient Near Eastern Studies from BYU. She has focused her research on increasing the awareness and accessibility of records for people in the Middle East. She is currently part of the FamilySearch Middle East & North Africa Outreach team and loves to inspire and connect with other people on the path of family history discovery!

Laura Hedgecock is an author, international speaker, and freelance writer, passionate about helping others tell family, ancestor, and personal stories.

Laura serves as president of the 125-year-old Detroit Working Writers, as well as secretary of the Genealogical Speakers Guild. She’s a past president and lifetime member of the GeneaBloggers Organization and a panelist on the GenFriends YouTube show.

Her website, TreasureChestofMemories.com, provides pragmatic advice on preserving and sharing memories and family stories. Likewise, her book, MEMORIES OF ME: A COMPLETE GUIDE TO TELLING AND SHARING THE STORIES OF YOUR LIFE, guides and empowers writers and storytellers with practical advice and creative ideas.

Laurie Rubin is an award-winning photographer and expert in helping families organize their photos efficiently. As Mylio’s Product Evangelist, she uses her photography experience to simplify photo management so families can easily preserve and enjoy their memories. Her work has earned top honors and featured in galleries like the Smithsonian Natural History Museum.

Laryn joined Storied in 2021 as head of content acquisition and operations; today he serves as the Vice President of Content Operations. In the subsequent years, the Storied team has brought hundreds of millions of family history records to light, each one carefully curated for the stories that can be unlocked inside. Prior to Storied, Laryn worked 18 years in various roles in the commercial family history industry. He has led several teams using Artificial Intelligence to bring down the cost and improve the availability of historical records. Working in genealogy as a profession and a hobby since the 80’s, Laryn is passionate about storytelling. The threads of his own family stories include English bricklayers, Canadian homesteaders, Southern colonists, and Norwegian farmers.

Lianne Kruger is a professional genealogist and speaker specializing in Canada, homesteading (U.S. and Canada), OneName Studies, OnePlace Studies, family history videos, and using technology in all aspects of genealogy such as Google Maps, Google Drive, Word, and Evernote. She is a member of the board for mitoYDNA.org, Ancestry.ca advisory board, and has volunteered for over 10 years at Alberta Genealogical Society (AGS). At AGS she served as six years as 1st VP of AGS, two years as President of Red Deer Branch, social media chair, and website chair. She earned the AGS President’s award in 2020. She earned a computer degree and has taught computer software courses since 1982.

She recently earned a Bachelor degree from Brigham Young University Idaho which included a Certificate and Associate degree in Family History Research.

Lianne is a frequent speaker at conferences and webinars including RootsTech, Legacy FamilyTree Webinars, FamilyRoots, THE Genealogy Show (UK), Ontario Ancestors, Alberta Genealogical Society, Ancestry, WikiTree, NGS, Virtual Genealogical Society, Vivid-Pix, and Canadian genealogical societies in five provinces. She has published articles in BYU Studies Quarterly, FamilySearch, Ancestry, LDSTech, SK Translations, ISBGFH, and AGS Relatively Speaking. Received an award for an article written for Relatively Speaking.

Lisa Lisson is the genealogy expert behind Are You My Cousin?, a website designed to help genealogy researchers around the world grow their family trees without the overwhelm. Through hundreds of genealogy articles, YouTube videos and international speaking opportunities, Lisa shares research strategies and how-to genealogy tutorials. Callisto Media recently published her latest book 100 Questions for Grandma.

Lisa Stokes is an Accredited Genealogist^® specializing in the U.S. Mid-South. She has a B.S. in Education from Brigham Young University and loves to teach, lecture, and coach other genealogists. As a study group leader and presentation committee member at ICAPGen^SM, she helps aspiring genealogists learn about accreditation. 

Liv Birgit Christensen is a Norwegian. Her education is in business administration, and she has worked in banking most of her life, honing her analytical skills. She has been interested in genealogy for more than 25 years. When she retired, she continued working with her genealogy interest. She has collaborated with DearMyrtle (the American genealogist Pat Richley-Erickson) and has participated in many of her “Mondays with Myrt” sessions on Norwegian genealogy. Liv Birgit has presented other webinars and held lectures in the United States, Great Britain and Norway. She has organized several Heritage travels for clients and do client work.
She has written in Norwegian genealogy magazines and local historical periodicals. In 2023 she published Exploring Norwegian Genealogy together with Margaret H. Strand. A guide in English on how to do Norwegian genealogy, explaining and showing how to use online sources. Liv Birgit takes an interest in her own family history and in establishing provenance of family heirlooms, identifying persons and places in photographs, and in discovering DNA proof of lineage. She has solved several DNA cases among them “father unknown.” Liv Birgit is especially interested in Oppdal, Trøndelag, the place her grandfather was born and where she has spent a lot of time in the family cottage. She is the mother of two adult children and enjoys staying in her apartment in the south of France, when possible.

Liz Snow received a BA in Family History from BYU in 2011. She specializes in Hispanic, British and Latter-day Saint Research. She is an Accredited Genealogist® with credentials in Spain and has researched in archives in Utah, England and Spain. She has been working on a Reconstruction Project of a Sixteenth Century Village in Spain from 2007 to the present. She currently teaches at BYU Provo- Hist 205: Introduction to Family History Doctrine and Practices and Hist 206r Latin American Research. She has taught classes at Rootstech, the BYU Library Family History Center, the BYU Family History Conference and other Family History Centers in Utah. She has served as a Family History Center Director. She is married, has 6 children and 24 grandchildren. She has lived in Mapleton, Utah for 33 years.

Lisa Elzey is a Sr. Story Producer at Ancestry®. Her latest project was leading the Ancestry® team on the award-winning Paramount and Ancestry® produced documentary short with Henry Louis Gates Jr., “A Dream Delivered: The Lost Letters of Hawkins Wilson.” As a genealogist of more than 20 years, Lisa specializes in family history DNA cases combined with genealogical evidence, U.S. family history research, and finding those elusive family history stories to then share and inspire. Lisa firmly believes there is a story in every family tree waiting to be discovered.

Lynzi Kidman Coffey grew up on a farm in the outskirts of Spanish Fork, Utah. From the time she was a young child, she took an interest in people and relationships. She is the wife of a Kentucky boy, and a mother to six children. Lynzi spent over a decade doing genealogy as a hobby. She finally realized that family history is her passion and returned to BYU-Idaho to earn a degree in Family History Research. Lynzi is full of energy and contagious enthusiasm, and she is eager to help others find their family. Lynzi works for the Family History Department of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As a family history consultant in her local area, she shares her excitement and passion with all those she serves and teaches. Lynzi is motivated to share her methods for doing family history research and providing meaningful discovery experiences to beginners and advanced genealogists alike. Her class is engaging, entertaining, and insightful!

Lynn Broderick, also known as the Single Leaf, is a writer by birth, a teacher by profession, and a researcher by passion. She enjoys researching individuals of the past in the context of family, community, and social history.

She began her formal genealogical education at the age of 15 and she has been mentored by many noted genealogists. Over the years she has been a member of many societies and associations to support their good work. She champions genealogy ethics & standards in the community.

In addition to the vast resources available online, she currently researches at the FamilySearch Library, university libraries, and archives throughout the United States. In addition, she continues to host the first ever NGSQ/Record Study Group, a group committed to discussing articles from these premier genealogical journals to enjoy the benefits of peer-to-peer learning. She also hosts a monthly advanced genetic genealogy group where members discuss recent publications and the latest news. 

Following the rapid expansion of generative AI, conversations with Steve Little and others at her ethics panel emphasized the urgent need for a framework. The Coalition for Responsible AI in Genealogy was born out of these discussions. This has been a collaborative effort with colleagues throughout 2024 resulting in the authored work, Guiding Principles for Responsible AI in Genealogy.

Lynn has occasionally written for the FamilySearch and RootsTech blogs. When asked to develop a way to engage more men in genealogy, she combined her childhood memories of NFL football and her own genealogical football moment to develop genealogy football. In 2019 she created Henry the Sleuth, the one and only genealogy sloth, whose stories follow their investigations and adventures.

When not in her office or at repositories, she can be found among her scattered herd. If you watch the award-winning show Heartland—and you don’t blink—you might catch a glimpse of her at the rodeos in Seasons 17 & 18.

Lynn Turner graduated with a BA in Family History and Genealogy from Brigham Young University with an emphasis in Spain and Latin America. He has been accredited genealogist in Spain research since 2006. Lynn has worked at FamilySearch for seventeen years in various roles and is currently the Director of the FamilySearch Library.

Lynn has extensive experience in lecturing and presenting classes on Hispanic genealogy. He has presented as a guest lecturer at the national archives of Peru and has also given presentations in Spain, Colombia, and Brazil. He has presented Hispanic workshops at both NGS and FGS as well as coordinating weeklong genealogical institute courses at the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG) and the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research (IGHR).

Martinus (Marty) E. Wolf currently lives in Sacramento, California and works professionally as consulting environmental engineer specializing in air quality.

Mr. Wolf initially assisted his Japanese wife and mother-in-law in obtaining koseki (family register) documents from various Japanese municipal offices in Shiga Prefecture in support of their family history. Based on that experience, he started teaching Japanese family history classes as part of the California Elk Grove Stake (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) Family Discovery Day. This soon expanded to in-person classes at a number of Sacramento-area Christian and Buddhist churches, including the Sacramento Japanese United Methodist Church, the First United Methodist Church of Loomis, the Buddhist Church of Sacramento, and the Buddhist Church of Florin.

Following the COVID-19 restrictions of 2020, Mr. Wolf started teaching a monthly Japanese family history class on Zoom. Between May 2020 and November 2021, he taught over 1,200 students from the United States, Canada, Brazil, Peru, Mexico, Japan, Britain, and Finland.

Mr. Wolf has personally helped dozens of people of Japanese descent make requests for koseki documents from Japanese municipal offices and has been directly involved in the resolution of various complicated issues associated with these requests. In many instances, he also provided translation services for the obtained koseki documents. He is currently involved with the ongoing development of content for a website (mykoseki.com) which provides various tools to assist people with Japanese ancestry with their family history research.

Mr. Wolf served as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Kobe, Japan from 1988 to 1990. In addition to two civil engineering degrees, he also received an undergraduate degree in Japanese from Stanford University in 1994. He is able to speak, read, and write Japanese fluently.

Marine Soulas is a French genealogist who has been practicing genealogy for about fifteen years. She believes that genealogy is a hobby for all ages and a way to bring generations closer together through their shared history. She is passionate about exploring different ways to present her genealogy to create moments of family sharing.

Since 2013, Marine has been running the genealogy blog “Dans les Branches” where she tells the stories of her ancestors and provides research tips. She also manages the online project “Vieux Mariages,” a collaborative gallery of old wedding photographs aimed at restoring the identities of unknown brides and grooms. Finally, as a professional genealogist since 2019, she opened her online store this year, where she sells her creations to share genealogy in an innovative, graphic, and fun way.

Find her at dans-les-branches.fr!

Mark Thompson is a professional genealogist and public speaker specializing in the application of artificial intelligence to genealogy. As co-host of the Family History AI Show podcast alongside Steve Little, Mark helps genealogists bridge the gap between high technology and their family history research.

With a background in executive IT leadership, Mark brings a unique perspective to the rapidly evolving field of AI-assisted genealogy. He currently serves as President of the Victoria Genealogical Society and chairs their DNA Special Interest Group.

A member of the Association of Professional Genealogists, Mark is a frequent presenter on technology-centric genealogy topics including AI, Genetic Genealogy, and Family Archiving.

When not exploring family histories, he enjoys photographing nature in his home province of British Columbia.

Contact: Mark@MakingFamilyHistory.com | www.makingfamilyhistory.com

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.

Megan Brodribb is a Coordinator in Library and Client Services with State Library of Queensland. Her career in libraries spans nearly 20 years with over 12 with Queensland University of Technology as Senior Library Advisor.

Meg Bate is the Library and Digital Resources Manager at the GSV. She previously worked as a Reference Librarian at La Trobe University. During this time she contributed to the development of library software with the Australian Academic Research Library Network (AARLIN) and the International Group of Ex Libris Users. She has now taken a ‘fun job’ and uses these skills in her work with the GSV Library’s digitization and indexing project and the website. She also writes articles for Ancestor and wrote the first article about the internet for the VicGum newsletter in 1994. Meg also presents monthly talks on some of the major computer based resourses. She took up genealogy after her mother died in 1990. Apart from her family history research, Meg is a keen cross-country skier, and has achieved the title of Loppett Master, having competed in 20 citizen ski races of 20 - 90 kms around the world.

Melanie McComb holds a B.S. from the State University of New York at Oswego. She is an international lecturer who teaches on a variety of topics including colonial through twentieth-century American military research, genetic genealogy, Atlantic Canadian, African American, Jewish, and Irish genealogy. She is also an Honorary Fellow of the Massachusetts Historical Society. She has had articles published in American Ancestors Magazine and Fifty Plus Advocate. She is a blogger, known as The Shamrock Genealogist.

Melissa Barker is a Certified Archives Manager and Public Historian currently working at the Houston County, Tennessee Archives & Museum. She is affectionally known as The Archive Lady to the genealogy community. She lectures, teaches, and writes about the genealogy research process, researching in archives and records preservation. She conducts virtual presentations across the United States and other countries for various genealogy groups and societies. She writes a popular blog entitled A Genealogist in the Archives and is a well-known published book reviewer. She has been a Professional Genealogist for the past 19 years with expertise in Tennessee records. She has been researching her own family history for the past 33 years.

Michael Brophy is a nationally known, professional genealogical researcher, heir search specialist, and lecturer from the Boston area. He is currently the President of the Council for the Advancement of Forensic Genealogy (CAFG) and the first Treasurer of the New England of Association of Professional Genealogists. Mike earned an MBA degree from Suffolk University and a BBA from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Mike was featured on the TV series Who Do You Think You Are? and the Irish TV series Dead Money, a genealogy show about heir searchers. Mr. Brophy was hired to conduct research for Ancestry.com. and several historical authors. He has lectured on a wide variety of genealogy subjects at the National Genealogy Society’s Annual Conference in 2023, 2022, 2019, 2014, 2012, and The Institute of Genealogy and Historic Research (IGHR). He specializes in New England and Irish genealogy subjects. His genealogy education includes eight certificates from the Institute of Genealogy and Historic Research (IGHR) and certificates in Private Investigation and Advanced Forensic Genealogy from Boston University. He is a licensed private investigator in Massachusetts.

Dr. Michael D. Lacopo was born and raised in northern Indiana surrounded by extended family always willing to tell tall tales. Intrigued by his maternal family’s claim to be kinfolk of Abraham Lincoln, and his paternal family’s stories of murder and mayhem, he took to genealogical research in 1980 to substantiate these family stories.
Genealogical research as a hobby was in its infancy in the 1980s. As a teenager, Michael gained the skills to become a keen researcher by prowling libraries, archives, cemeteries, and courthouses. His first major challenge in the world of research was tackled by finding his adopted mother’s birthparents in 1982. You can read about this adventure at his blog at Roots4U.blogspot.com with some engaging storytelling, plot twists, and new findings!
Although a budding genealogist in the 1980s, Michael completed his doctorate in veterinary medicine in 1991, while still spending time honing his research skills. As befitting a doctor, Michael treats his genealogical research as he would medicine – carefully, methodically, and completely. Several genealogical journal articles and publications appeared along the way. In 2013, Michael retired from his medical career to pursue genealogical research full-time as a profession.
Michael's interests and strengths include Mennonite research, German and Swiss research, especially those who immigrated to America in the 18th century, among many other topics. Having ancestors from many geographic locales as well as immigrants spanning the 17th century to the 20th century, Michael has a wide variety of proficiencies. He believes that as genealogists we should tell the tales of our ancestors and is a vocal proponent of learning the social history that interweaves our ancestors into the fabric of the past.

Michelle Dwyer Cohen is the Executive Director of the Association of Professional Genealogists (APG), the world’s largest association for professional genealogists, and since 2019 has been the owner of Dwyer Research, LLC, a genealogical research business. Michelle is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day administrative management of APG, including working with the Board of Directors, volunteer leaders, members, and the public. Her genealogical services include traditional genealogical research, interpreting DNA results, coaching new genealogists, and locating heirs for probate cases. Michelle volunteers for the Dallas Genealogical Society, and the Elizabeth Ellington chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Prior to becoming APG’s Executive Director in 2022, Michelle spent more than two decades as an executive at JP Morgan Chase in international product and project management. She earned a certificate in Genealogical Research from Boston University, and has an undergraduate degree in English from Cornell University and an MBA from the Stern School of Business at New York University.

Michelle Tucker Chubenko, AG®, AGL™ specializes in the Mid-Atlantic region and Eastern European research and serves as a committee member of the Ukrainian History and Education Center’s “Nashi Predky -- Our Ancestors” Family History Group. Michelle hosts a monthly Q&A session "Have Questions? Get Answers" focusing on research in the historical region of Galicia in the Austrian Empire.

Miles is a scientist by training and has been active in genealogy for over 25 years in a variety of ways. His expertise revolves around new technologies, internet research and FamilySearch. He is the principal researcher for OurAncestories Genealogy, a Family History Consultant, and current Director of the Vero Beach Florida FamilySearch Center. He is also the Director of Education for The Family History Guide (www.thefhguide.com). He has presented at a variety of international genealogy conferences, including RootsTech Salt Lake (2019, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024), RootsTech London (2019), The Genealogy Show UK (Spring, Summer and Winter 2022), The Society of One Place Studies Conference UK (2023), and the One World One Family Conference Toronto (2021). Additionally, Miles has been a beta tester for several genealogy companies. And when he has time, Miles also manages several blogs on genealogy related activities.

Mindy Taylor AG® a professional genealogist, teacher, and presenter. She is accredited through the International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists (ICAPGenSM) in the England region. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Brigham Young University, and a Certificate in Genealogical Research from Boston University. Mindy serves on the presentation committee for ICAPGen, creating instructional videos that appear on the ICAPGen YouTube channel. She also frequently serves as a presenter/mentor for ICAPGen Study Groups teaching the skills needed to become accredited. She has presented at the BYU Conference on Family History and Genealogy, RootsTech, and SLIG. Mindy works as a contract researcher for Price Genealogy in Draper, Utah, doing U.S. and British research as well as doing research for her own private clientele.

Merrill White has worked for FamilySearch for 25 years. He currently serves as an Area Manager in North America. He is a graduate of Brigham Young University and has a Family History Certificate from Brigham Young University-Idaho. During his career, he has managed the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, created and launched the FamilySearch Discovery Centers, Product Manager for FamilySearch Memories, and as a North America Area Manager.

Morag is a professional genealogist from Glasgow, Scotland who completed her Masters degree in Genealogical, Palaeographical and Heraldic Studies at the University of Strathclyde in 2023. Her interest in all things family history related was sparked as a teenager when a visiting distant relative from the United States presented the family with a huge, hand-drawn family tree chart. Blessed with an unusual paternal surname to research, she soon uncovered generations of ancestors living in south east Scotland, and across the Scottish border into Northumbria. Morag specialises in British and Irish research, and is also interested in travel from and to Scotland, or through the country as part of a larger emigration journey story. She now runs her own company, helping others uncover their own roots in Scotland.

Nancy A. Peters, CG, CGL, is a full-time genealogist and former coeditor of the National Genealogical Society Quarterly (2019-2022). She holds the Certified Genealogist and Certified Genealogical Lecturer credentials from the Board for Certification of Genealogists (BCG). She served as a trustee and officer of BCG and edited its newsletter.
Nancy conducts in-depth genealogical research to solve complex problems of identity and kinship. Her personal and client research focuses primarily on the southeastern United States, New York, England, and Germany. Nancy lectures at national and local conferences and institutes. She has instructed on skill-building topics and genealogy standards at BCG Education Fund workshops, Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG), and SLIG Academy. Her articles have appeared in the NGS Quarterly, The Genealogist, and other genealogical journals. She authored the “Research Reports” chapter in Professional Genealogy: Preparation, Practice, & Standards (2018). Nancy holds postgraduate degrees from University of Arizona and London School of Economics in London, England.

Nicka Sewell-Smith is a host, consultant, and documentarian with more than 20 years of experience as a genealogist. She has extensive experience in researching the enslaved and their communities, is an expert in Mississippi Delta genealogy, and current serves as a senior story producer at Ancestry, the global leader in family history and consumer genomics.

Dr Nick Barratt is an author, broadcaster and historian best known for his work on BBC’s Who Do You Think You Are. He is the Executive Director for Student Journey at Royal Holloway University of London, a visiting academic fellow at Open University's Knowledge Media Institute, a teaching fellow at the University of Dundee and a fellow of the Royal Historical Society. His most recent publication, The Restless Kings, explores the reigns of Henry II, Richard I and John. He was the President of the Family History Federation (2011-2021) and a trustee at the National Extension College (2023-2024) and is the current President of the Hampshire Genealogical Society.

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 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 conferences and institutes including the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy and Institute of Genealogical and Historical Research. Nicole holds a bachelor's degree from Brigham Young University in History Teaching. At Family Locket Genealogists, Nicole is a project manager, editor, and researcher.

Myko Clelland is genealogist, spokesperson & Director of Content in Europe for MyHeritage, one of the world's leading genealogy websites, regularly discussing family history on television, radio, online & in print.


He holds a Masters degree in genealogy (distinction) and is a qualified adult education teacher with over 500 worldwide speaking appearances, from Oxford University to The National Archives (UK), National Library of Wales, RootsTech (US & London), The Society of Genealogists, Society of Australian Genealogists, Auckland Family History Expo, Who Do You Think You Are? Live & many regional archives & local family history groups.

Olivia is the founder of the Family Connections Experiment, a project focused on connecting families past and present and measuring the psychological benefits of increasing those connections. She’s also a professional presenter for genealogy and other educational conferences and the director of her local family history center. Amidst her busy schedule she has learned to use her technological savvy and experience to teach busy people of all ages simple ways they can incorporate family history into daily life using modern technology to make it easy and fun.

Orice Jenkins is a recording artist, genealogist, educator, and author, born and raised in Hartford, Connecticut. He began researching his family history upon discovering that Whitney Houston’s grandparents were from his grandmother’s hometown of Blakely, Georgia. Since then, he has traced his ancestry back to 1745 in Central Virginia, uncovering the stories of several formerly enslaved Americans.

Orice is a member of the Sons and Daughters of the U.S. Middle Passage and the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society. He has presented his findings at The College of William & Mary, Yale University, FamilySearch’s RootsTech Conference, and the International African American Museum’s Center for Family History. His research has been featured in The Washington Post, National Parks Magazine, PBS’ Finding Your Roots, and on the National Park Service website.

Orice is the author of The Early County Massacre: Goolsby vs. The State of Georgia, a book chronicling the family of Grandison Goolsby, a prominent farmer who was extrajudicially lynched in Early County, Georgia in 1915. Orice also publishes a blog called Chesta’s Children, and serves as the Executive Director of a youth music program in Greenfield, Massachusetts.

Phoebe is Content Development Manager at MyHeritage, specialising in historical records and metadata. She comes from a background of rare books, libraries, and digitisation projects, one involving the University of Edinburgh’s renowned Adam Smith Library. She has presented her research at several prestigious institutions, including Oxford University, bringing additional experience of teaching high school literature and history. Her academic passion lies in the lives of Edinburgh publishers of the 1700s, particularly those who published works by literary giants such as Robert Burns and Sir Walter Scott. Holding an MSc in Rare Book Librarianship from the University of Edinburgh, Phoebe thrives on unravelling complex, often disordered pieces of history, bringing clarity to the past.

Rachel has been telling stories since she could walk and talk. As a little girl, she would draw for hours and make up stories to go along with her artwork. Before coming to Evalogue.Life, she worked as a newspaper reporter for 17 years at Ogden’s local newspaper, The Standard-Examiner. She reported on heavy topics ranging from heated city elections to local school issues. But her love for writing about people’s life stories and their triumphs over tragedy captured her heart.

She loves family storytelling. A graduate of Weber State University, she has had articles featured on LDSLiving.com, lds.org, FamilySearch.org and Meridian Magazine. She has been a speaker at RootsTech, Weber State University Family History Conference, Conference on Family History at BYU and the Southern California Genealogy Jamboree. She helps people tell and write their life stories and has written six life stories with several more in production. She has also helped several others write their own stories. She and her husband Mat have six children and she recently became a grandma! She and her family live on the East Bench in Ogden, Utah.

Rebecca is the Library and Resources Manager for the Genealogical Society of Victoria. In that role she is responsible for assisting the many GSV volunteers who organise educational programs, Discussion Circles, and provide research assistance to members. She is also responsible for providing access to the materials needed to pursue family history research. As a history teacher and Teacher Librarian of over 20 years’ experience, Rebecca is a dab hand at presenting historical information to help researchers, and (with particular thanks to all those COVID lockdowns) at presenting webinars and online classes too.

Rebecca Whitman Koford holds credentials as a Certified Genealogist® and as a Certified Genealogical Lecturer (SM). Her focuses are Maryland and military records at the National Archives, especially those of the War of 1812. Rebecca has been taking clients and lecturing since 2004.

She has spoken for the National Genealogical Society Conference (NGS), Federation of Genealogical Societies Conference (FGS), Association of Professional Genealogists Conference (APG), RootsTech, webinars for Legacy, APG, and the Maryland State Archives. She has published articles in the NGS Magazine, APG Magazine, SAR Magazine, Maryland Genealogical Society Journal, and is co-author of the recently released NGS Research in the States series book on Maryland.

Rebecca is also the Course I coordinator for The Institute of Genealogical and Historical Research (IGHR) and has been an instructor at the Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh (GRIP) and the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG). She is a graduate and former mentor of the ProGen Study Group, an online peer-led study program, and served as the ProGen Administrator from 2015–2020.

Rebecca currently works as Executive Director of the Board for Certification of Genealogists® and as Director of the Genealogical Institute on Federal Records (Gen-Fed) held annually at the National Archives in Washington, D.C.

Renate Yarborough Sanders is an experienced genealogy educator and author of two blogs and a funeral program database. She is a member of several genealogical organizations, holding leadership positions in several; and hosts an online North Carolina genealogy platform. She has provided professional genealogy services for media personalities, universities, and employee groups. Renate specializes in teaching research methodology and sharing specific techniques for researching ancestors of color – both pre- and post-Emancipation.

Rhonda Lauritzen is a professional biographer and keynote speaker, with 2026 marking nine years presenting at RootsTech. Holding an MBA from the University of Utah, she served as CEO of her family’s business and a state college vice president. Her storytelling began with her parents’ business saga, leading to founding Evalogue.Life in 2016. Rhonda has written over a dozen books with four traditionally published. She is a regular feature writer for Family Tree Magazine and has been interviewed by major media worldwide. Her professional work has included being hired to tell the stories of families, buildings, and cities. Rhonda believes that when you tell your story, it changes the ending.

Rich Venezia is a New Jersey native who now calls Philadelphia home. He was a member of the research team of Genealogy Roadshow (PBS) for two seasons, and also consulted on Follow Your Past (Travel Channel).

He is an expert in the research of 20th-century immigrant ancestors, especially underutilized record sources and federal records, often unwrapping volumes of records at the National Archives that haven't been opened in decades. He has coordinated weeklong institutes on 20th-century immigration research for the Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh, the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy, and the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research.

He also specializes in Italian and Irish research. Additionally, he assists clients with dual citizenship applications for Ireland and Italy, and is a proud Italian dual citizen.

He holds a Certificate in Genealogical Research from Boston University. He lectures nationwide, including several keynotes, and spoke about "How to Grow Empathy From Uncovering Your Roots" at TEDx Pittsburgh 2017.

Rich is also a records access advocate, having coordinated the #RecordsNotRevenue campaign since 2019 against the proposed fee hikes for records held by the USCIS Genealogy Program. This campaign received international press and garnered him the Shirley M. Barnes Records Access Award from the Massachusetts Genealogical Council. He continues to fight for fairer access to these records.

Dr. Rick T. Wilson is the founder and blogger for My Family Pattern, which is a website using a case study approach to present research tips and strategies for solving genealogical problems. Dr. Wilson has been working with Y-DNA since 2006 and genealogical research more broadly for 33 years. As a marketing professor by trade, Dr. Wilson is trained in content delivery and the scientific research method. He has published more than 30 academic papers permitting him to design, research, and articulate complex research problems. Dr. Wilson’s genealogical research has been featured in the Research Like A Pro podcast and webinars as well as on his blog and YouTube Channel.

Robby has worked as an engineer at FamilySearch since 2014, originally applying for the job as a way to treat his Family History addiction. One of Robby's favorite low-tech activities is hiking around Aspen Grove with his wife and children.

Roberta Estes, author of the book, DNA for Native American Genealogy, and popular blog www.DNAexplain.com is a scientist, National Geographic Genographic affiliate researcher, Million Mito team member and founding pioneer in the genetic genealogy field.

An avid 40-year genealogist, Roberta has written over 1500 articles at DNAexplain about genetic genealogy as well as how to combine traditional genealogy with DNA to solve those stubborn ancestor puzzles. Roberta took her first DNA test in 1999 and hasn't stopped.

Roberta's book "DNA for Native American Genealogy" is null

Robert Raymond is a deputy to FamilySearch Chief Genealogical Officer, David Rencher. He works to increase genealogical soundness of FamilySearch products. Robert is a frequent presenter at national, regional, and local conferences including NGS, FGS, RootsTech, NERGC, New York, BYU, and UGA. He served as a director of the National Genealogical Society from 2012 to 2018. For a decade he wrote (pseudonymically) a top ranked genealogy blog about Ancestry.com, FamilySearch.org, records, and methodology. He created a family history website where he published a collection of digitized genealogical records, histories, articles, and maps. Robert is a genealogical technologist who worked for more than 30 years in software engineering and has worked professionally in the genealogical industry since 2002. Before FamilySearch, he worked at Ancestry.com. Before that he helped found a storage technology company acquired by Symantec. He holds over a dozen technology patents and earned a master’s degree in electrical engineering from Brigham Young University where he was honored as a Kimball Scholar. He was a member of the Eta Kappa Nu Electrical Engineering Honor Society, and the Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society.

Robyn Smith has been researching her family and others for over 25 years. An engineer by day, Robyn applies those research and problem-solving skills to the field of genealogy. She specializes in court and land records, genealogy skill building, and slavery research.

Robyn has lectured widely at genealogy conferences, for genealogy societies across the U.S., and for institutions such as the Maryland State Archives and the Smithsonian African American Museum. Her lectures on Legacy Family Webinars have garnered thousands of views, and she has written for Family Tree Magazine.

Robyn writes extensively, and has published articles in the peer-review Maryland Genealogical Society Journal and the National Genealogical Society Quarterly Journal. For more than twelve years, she has authored a popular genealogy teaching blog called Reclaiming Kin (www.reclaimingkin.com). Her blog focuses on growing genealogical research skills for all genealogists, and the unique challenges of researching American slavery.

Ryan works for Legacy Tree Genealogists as the Research Team Manager, overseeing both DNA Research and Asian. Before his time at Legacy Tree he originally became interested in genealogy during his time living in Japan, where he witnessed how understanding one’s ancestors could profoundly impact lives. He subsequently earned a bachelor’s degree in Japanese from Brigham Young University, with minors in Family History and International Business. He completed internships with FamilySearch in Tokyo, Japan and BYU’s Center for Family History and Genealogy in Provo, He was also chosen for internships at the Hawai’i State Archives and the University of Hawai’i before they were canceled due to COVID-19.

Ryan has been a user experience designer at FamilySearch for the past 7 years.

Samantha Lee Olsen joined the Church at age 19 when Elders knocked on her door. Since then, Samantha has been actively involved in Temple and Family History work, serving as an ordinance worker at the San Diego Temple and a Counselor in the Relief Society over Temple and Family History and a Stake Temple and Family History Consultant in the Mission Viejo stake. Sister Olsen worked with Sister Francis to create the first Family History Discovery Camp for Youth in 2023 which served 22 youth in the Mission Viejo Stake. These camps have expanded youth and family involvement in Family History in her area.
Sister Olsen serves in various local organizations including the Treasurer for the Tesoro High School Instrumental Music Boosters organization. She has served as the Relief Society Counselor over Temple and Family History and in Primary and Young Women’s Presidencies. She has a Masters in Biochemistry from UCLA and she and her husband Ryan and three children live in Ladera Ranch, California.

Sarah is a young genealogist. She was a presenter at RootsTech in 2021, 2022, and 2024, Heartland Genealogy Conference 2023 and for the UGA DNA SIG. She was a team member for the 21 Day Family Connections Experiment and currently is part of the Hidden Branch Team. She specializes in the areas of the United States, the United Kingdom, and DNA but has also done work in Denmark, Italy, Eastern Europe, Armenia, and the Philippines. Sarah is also working towards earning the Accredited Genealogist Credential from ICAPGen, specializing in the Southwest region of the United States (has submitted her level one project), and towards a genealogy degree at BYU.

Sarah Reed is Assistant Professor of History at Brigham Young University. She joined the department in fall 2018 after completing a PhD in German with a minor in Women’s Studies at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. At BYU, she serves in the family history, history, and women's studies programs and teaches classes on German, Scandinavian, women's and immigration history and Scandinavian and German family history and paleography.

Bringing family history to life is a pursuit about which Scott and Angelle Anderson are passionate. They volunteer for the free site, “The Family History Guide,” and love to help make everyone's family history journey easier, more efficient, and more enjoyable. Scott has a PhD in Marriage and Family Therapy, is a retired Institute of Religion teacher, and an avid storyteller. Angelle puts both her degree in Elementary Education and her Family History Certification to good use daily, and has definitely earned the nickname of ."Grandma Camera." Scott and Angelle are parents to seven children, grandparents to 38 grandchildren, and have 13 great grandchildren - all of whom they hope and pray will be recipients of the promised blessings of their own and their family's love of, and involvement in, temple and family history work. The Andersons co-host “Gathering,” a weekly series for “Hi Five Live” on Facebook, and often present at various conferences and events on family, gospel, family history, and related topics. Currently, Scott serves as a ward Elders Quorum counselor over temple and family history, and Angelle serves as a ward temple and family history consultant.

Born in New York City to an Irish-American father and a Norman French mother, Sean Daly has lived in Paris for many years with stints in other European capitals, working in business as an IT manager, as a journalist, and in marketing and PR. He began building his genealogy six years ago and three years later joined Geneanet, France's leading genealogy site and a major player in Europe, as coordinator of the English-speaking member community. Sean is passionate about genealogy and has been thrilled to visit ancestral villages in Ireland and France, found through rigorous research and networking with newfound cousins.

I am a recent graduate from BYU with a BA in Family History and Genealogy. I worked at the Center for Family History and Genealogy at BYU for a little over a year and a half and have learned to love researching people and their families.

What Seth loves most is his family. He was born to two devoted disciples of Jesus Christ, and became the youngest of 6 children (4 brothers and 1 sister). Now 17, he has 6 nephews and nieces that mean the world to him, four sister in laws, and STILL no dog. Thanks to his grandparents, Scott and Angelle Anderson, family reunions and family get-togethers have alway been centered on family history, and have nourished his innate love of this great work. He has a deep love of his ancestors and has been inspired by their stories and the legacy they have given him. Seth's primary goal in life is to help gather Israel on both sides of the veil, and believes that he was sent to earth to do that - as President Nelson states (see null. He has served as a ward youth temple and family history consultant since he was a deacon, and is a member of the youth council for The Family History Guide.

Seth loves helping others in many other facets also, including co-founding a youth humanitarian organization, serving on the Make-A-Wish Youth Council for Utah and participating with his whole heart and soul in his Student Government project to fund raise for charity (his high school was named the most charitable high school in the nation), going on five humanitarian trips to Mexico, and most importantly, making sure his peers know that they are loved.

Seth enjoys jazz piano, musical theater, construction projects, playing the drums, rugby, math, and hanging out with friends. Seth also is a two time National Champion in Ballroom dance. Seth loves sharing the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and is looking forward to serving a full-time mission.

If you have any questions about family history, or the gospel, he would love for you to reach out! His Instagram account is @sethchristensen25.

Shannon Combs-Bennett is an award-winning author and lecturer based in Northern Virginia. She presents on various topics, from genetic genealogy to methodology. Shannon is a doctoral student at the University of Strathclyde in History with Genealogical Studies, studying trends in American genealogy and lineage societies from 1970-2020.

Shannon Green, CG®, is a genealogy researcher and writer. She earned the Certified Genealogist credential in 2017 and renewed her credential in 2022. Shannon has published articles in the National Genealogical Society Quarterly (NGSQ), the NYG&B Record, and the NEHGS Register, as well as several other publications. Her research focuses on the lives of women, which too often are not well documented. She has an undergraduate degree from Duke University and an MBA from Vanderbilt University. Shannon lives in Greenwood Village, Colorado with her husband and three children.

Shauna Hicks has been tracing her own family history since 1977 and worked in government mainly in libraries and archives for over 35 years in Australian archives in Brisbane, Canberra, and Melbourne.

She has tertiary qualifications from Queensland universities including a Master of Arts in Australian Studies, a Graduate Diploma in Library Science, and a Diploma in Family Historical Studies from the Society of Australian Genealogists. She is a Fellow of the Queensland Family History Society; Patron of History Queensland, and a recipient of the Australian Society of Archivists Distinguished Achievement Award and the Australasian Federation of Family History Organisations’ Services to Family History Award. In June 2024 she was awarded the Order of Australia Medal for services to community history.

She has published twelve family history research guides and is a well-known speaker at conferences, seminars, workshops, and genealogy cruises in Australia and overseas. Shauna is the Director of her own genealogy business at www.shaunahicks.com.au and is the author of the blog, Diary of an Australian Genealogist.

Sheldon is a Director of Audience Engagement and Growth in the Priesthood and Family Department. Sheldon’s professional focus is helping organization better understand their audiences and how to best meet their needs. Sheldon is married to Nicole, and they are the parents of five children.

Stephen Wendt, MLIS, is a professional genealogist, instructor and writer. He is the owner of Roots Quest. Stephen assists global clients with their diverse genealogical research needs.

Holding a master's degree in Library and Information Science from Kent State University, Stephen has published several articles for Family Tree Magazine and assists as an instructor for Family Tree University.

Additionally, he has a strong online presence in various Facebook genealogical groups, which he launched several years ago, in which members have the opportunity to learn, ask questions and make potential connections with other members.

A specialist in Prussian, German and Scottish genealogy, Stephen regularly speaks on a variety of topics at the international, national and at the local level. Some of the highlights of his speaking career has been to present for Roots Tech in 2024, as well as on a number of occasions for the International German Genealogy Partnership (IGGP), for The Foundation for East European Family History Studies (FEEFHS), for the Ohio Genealogical Society (OGS), as well as for a whole host of other organizations.

Stephen's methodology for presenting on any given genealogical topic focuses on material in which the student can walk away from the class with the idea that he can take actionable decisions for his own research.

Steve 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. In fact, 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, deciphering multiple relationships, 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.

Spencer Smith is a Software Engineering Leader at Storied, where he brings nearly 20 years of experience in mobile app development and a passion for creating user-friendly, engaging digital experiences. Since joining Storied in 2023, Spencer has focused on crafting intuitive tools that connect people to their stories and the stories of their ancestors.

Outside of work, Spencer is a devoted husband and father of five. He is also an avid marathon runner, channeling his love for problem-solving and innovation into both his professional and personal pursuits.

Stephanie O'Connell is a professional genealogist who holds the Certified Genealogist credential from the Board for Certification of Genealogists. With a specialty in Irish research, Stephanie is passionate about delving into the social histories of our ancestors, especially illuminating the often-overlooked stories of women. She has served as a ProGen Mentor and SLIG instructor and has spoken at major genealogy conferences, including RootsTech, NGS Family History Conference, and the New York State Family History Conference.

Sunny Jane Morton is a genealogy educator who has created hundreds of articles and tutorials for genealogists. She is a Contributing Editor at Family Tree Magazine (US); Content Director at Your DNA Guide; co-author of the award-winning How to Find Your Family History in U.S. Church Records; and author of Story of My Life: A Workbook for Preserving Your Legacy, now in its 2nd edition. She will be teaching a writing course at GRIP Genealogy Institute in 2025; you can also find her courses on Family Tree University and at Legacy Family Tree Webinars.

Susan J. Court, M.A., J.D., is a genealogist and family historian, the author of 12 family histories and 20 published articles and blogs, and a teacher and frequent presenter on genealogy and storytelling. She is currently Co-President of the Kentucky Genealogical Society, a member of other genealogical and historical societies, and the U.S.D. 1812 and the Jamestowne Society.

Accredited in Pacific States and Canada: Western Provinces by ICAPGen, Susan Skilton works as a Research Manager for AncestryProGenealogists. Her publications background includes writing on the topic of correcting the identification of a captive in the French and Indian War, published in the New York Genealogical and Biographical Record (2017). She speaks and writes on topics of history and genealogy relevant to U.S. researchers.

Tamra Stansfield is the North America Manager of FamilySearch. She began her employment at FamilySearch in 2008. Her past roles include German research consultant, patron services manager, manager of the Family History Library, product manager for Help Products in the Engineering Department, and North America area manager for Utah, the Northeast, and Southeast. She is an emeritus Accredited Genealogist AG® of ICAPgen® in German Research. She resides in Salt Lake City with her husband Jon, surrounded by children and grandchildren.

Taralyn Parker is a former journalist turned blogger/family historian. During the covid-19 crisis, she helped create the 21-day Family Connections Experiment: a Family History Project. Whether she is teaching classes at Rootstech or traveling to her ancestors’ homelands, she is passionate about discovering and sharing family history.
Working in the industry for 10+ years, Taralyn manages social media platforms for various companies and organizations including the local family history center. When she is not diving into records, Taralyn enjoys living the small-town life with her husband and four children.

In 1965, at Central Davis Junior High, T.C. Christensen won the Intramural Shot put. It's all been downhill since then.

T.C.'s film work includes 10 IMAX / Large format films, hundreds of TV Commercials, 32 Feature length films including 17 Miracles, Forever Strong, The Cokeville Miracle and some great home movies. His work also includes many LDS films such as Testaments, Joseph Smith: Prophet of the Restoration and Only a Stonecutter.

In 2010, T.C. was invited to join the American Society of Cinematographers.

His film work includes 10 IMAX films, 32 Feature films including 17 Miracles, Forever Strong, The Cokeville Miracle, also many LDS films such as Testaments, Joseph: Prophet of the Restoration and Only a Stonecutter. His films have won over 300 International Awards.

Few are aware of his physical prowess. Although he weighs slighty less than a horse, he continues to have a vertical leap of 18 inches.

T.C. lives with the lovely Katy Christensen in Farmington, where he continues to be tutored in the finer points of putting dirty dishes into the dishwasher and closing drawers all the way.

Todd is the senior product owner at FamilySearch.org; he is responsible for developing tree apps, improving new user experiences, and keeping the tree database running. He and his wife live in Utah and have 5 children. He has over 30 years of technology and management experience.

Trish Melander is an Accredited Genealogist (U.S. Mid-Atlantic States) who has worked in the industry for 20 years. Currently at FamilySearch in long-term strategic planning, she regularly locates difficult records for family historians to access, and delights when they can be used in her own research! Outside of the office, she can be found wandering cemeteries, sometimes to find ancestors and sometimes for peaceful landscape oil painting locations.

Uri Gonen has been working at MyHeritage since 2005 where he took on different challenges and roles in product development and product management. He has been part of the wild journey of MyHeritage from a small startup to a dominant company in the genealogy space. Among his involvement in key projects of the company, Uri was the original developer behind Family Tree Builder, and the product manager of MyHeritage’s genealogy search engine. Recently, Uri was involved in several genealogical projects such as PedigreeMap, Pedigree View, Tree Consistency Checker and several integrations with FamilySearch. Before joining MyHeritage, Uri has worked in other software startups in Israel, the United States and Canada. He now lives and works in Toronto, Canada.