Laura Olmsted

Laura, DNAngels' Founder and Executive Director, brings over a decade of Corporate Sales Management expertise, earning multiple awards. With a healthcare background as a licensed Navigator for the Affordable Care Act, she seamlessly transitioned into the non-profit sector. Her Business Management education equipped her for the dynamic growth of DNAngels, evolving from a passion project to a 501(c)(3) organization that has solved 5,000+ cases. In her role as Executive Director, Laura coordinates interdepartmental projects while serving as the Lead Genetic Genealogist, contributing to the resolution of numerous cases. A member of the National Genealogical Society (NGS) and the International Society of Genetic Genealogy (ISOGG), she holds multiple certificates from NGS and actively participates in webinars and workshops. Laura's expertise was showcased as a keynote speaker at the 2022 Illinois State Genealogy Society Annual Conference, and she has been featured in various media outlets, including the New York Times and ABC News.

Laura's genealogical journey began with her Aunt Shirley's family history book, leading her to discover a surprise through a DNA test while creating a family history book for her grandchildren. Mastering the interpretation of DNA matches, mirror trees, and centimorgans, she identified her biological father within two weeks. This personal experience provided insights into the emotional needs of NPE, adoptees, and donor-conceived individuals, inspiring Laura to establish DNAngels.

Transforming her pain into purpose, Laura built DNAngels with a volunteer team sharing the core mission and values. Recognizing the lack of support for those uncovering sensitive information, she is on a personal mission to assist others in navigating newfound knowledge and finding closure. Laura firmly believes in using skills and experience to help others, emphasizing that knowing one's biological parentage should not be reserved for the financially privileged. "I choose to use my skills and experience to help others. I firmly believe a person should not have to be financially privileged in order to know who their biological mother or father is."