OPTIONAL WORKSHOPS
There is an additional cost for workshops.
You may choose to attend one workshop in the morning
and/or one in the afternoon.
Workshops are not recorded, and each workshop is limited to 30 people.
Saturday, September 20, 2025
Morning Session
10:30 a.m.–1 p.m. EDT
(All times are Eastern Daylight Time)
Saturday, September 20, 2025 10:30 a.m.–1 p.m. EDT
Practical Tools for Your Forensic Genealogy Practice - Part 1
This hands-on workshop is designed for genealogists who conduct research for attorneys, particularly in probate, real estate, and other legal matters. Whether you’re launching or refining your forensic genealogy business, this session will provide practical tools to support your work in legal contexts. In the morning, instructors will walk participants through setting up efficient workflows, developing clear client contracts, improving communication practices, and minimizing liability. Sample documents will be provided, and attendees will have time to collaborate in small groups to begin customizing them for their own practices.
Participants may register for morning and afternoon sessions separately, or for the full-day workshop.
Bios
Michael Ramage is co-author of Forensic Genealogy: Theory and Practice, as well as a full-time, board-certified genealogist with more than 20 years’ experience. His legal background includes family, adoption, business, real estate and estate law. He specializes in missing and unknown heirs in trusts and estates, and real estate in the mid-Atlantic region.
Catherine Desmarais is co-author of Forensic Genealogy: Theory and Practice, former APG vice president, and she specializes in forensic genealogy to resolve military repatriation, estate, and realty cases. As a US Department of Defense qualified genealogist, she and her research team have located families for more than twelve hundred World War II and Korean War soldiers.
Catherine B.W. Desmarais, CG®
Michael Ramage, JD, CG®
Morning Session
10:30 a.m.–1 p.m. EDT
(All times are Eastern Daylight Time)
Organizing Big Projects
Saturday, September 20, 2025 10:30 a.m.–1 p.m. EDT
Being well-organized around big projects is essential for success as your business expands.
In this workshop, I will share my actual templates and will give students time to do exercises to assess their processes, brainstorm areas for improvement, and benchmark best practices with other attendees. These templates are used to manage my business today and have a proven track record, including adoption by other historic preservation professionals who have collaborated with me on multiple projects.
In the workshop, we will cover landing the client (the proposal, the "not to exceed" estimate, the calendar to completion, the signed agreement); onboarding the client (onboarding checklist, timekeeping log, and digital folder structure for tracking individual pieces of the project); and the research and writing phase (templates, use of AI and specific programs to manage the process and improve productivity).
Bio
Rhonda Lauritzen is the founder of Evalogue Life and a professional biographer with multiple published books. She has an MBA from the University of Utah. Her two most recent books were traditionally published in late 2024: A Child in Berlin by Post Hill Press and Creative Insecurity: Lean Into the Unknown and Unleash Your Inner Misfit by Simon & Schuster. She believes that when you tell your story, it changes the ending.
Rhonda Lauritzen
Afternoon Session
3–5:30 p.m. EDT
(All times are Eastern Daylight Time)
Design Smarter: Reimagining Reports, Courses and Presentations
This practical, hands-on workshop helps genealogists transform reports, course materials, and presentations from functional to fantastic. No graphic design skills or expensive software required.
Cathie Sherwood is the founder of Family History Academy, providing online courses and resources to support family historians at all levels. She is a highly regarded family historian, educator, and international speaker with over four decades of expertise in tracing Irish, English, and Scottish ancestry. She holds a Master’s Degree in Education, and a Diploma in Family Historical Studies.
Cathie Sherwood, M.Ed.
Afternoon Session
2–4:30 p.m. EDT
(All times are Eastern Daylight Time)
Practical Tools for Your Forensic Genealogy Practice - Part 2
In the afternoon, the focus shifts to affidavit writing. Using provided case examples, participants will draft partial affidavits with guidance from instructors. The session includes examples of challenging scenarios and small group exercises to practice real-world problem-solving in forensic genealogy.
Participants may register for morning and afternoon sessions separately, or for the full-day workshop.
Bios
Linda M. Hunter, MS, PLCGS, has been researching for over twenty-five years, primarily in the Mid-Atlantic Region. Growing up in northwest Pennsylvania, she served as a Naval Officer for 28 years, living in and deploying to six different countries and five US states. Upon her retirement from the U.S. Navy in 2015, Linda turned her passions for family history and tackling tough analytic problems into a genealogical career. She focuses on forensic genealogical endeavors, primarily locating missing and unknown heirs for attorneys. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in History from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and Master’s Degrees in Applied Mathematics and Systems Technology (Space Operations) from the Naval Postgraduate School.
A fifth generation Texan and professional forensic genealogist since 1996, Kelvin Meyers is a well-known speaker and author. Kelvin specializes in heir location and mineral rights cases. He is the author of the mineral rights chapter of Forensic Genealogy Theory and Practice, and a fellow of the Texas State Genealogical Society.
Kelvin Meyers, FTxSGS
Linda M. Hunter, MS, PLCGS