Skip to Main Content
  • PMC 2022 logo

2022 PMC Speakers

Mia BennettMia Bennett is a professional genealogist based in Gloucester, UK specializing in using DNA to solve family history mysteries. She gives talks internationally on DNA and family history. Mia is an Associate of AGRA and is studying for a Higher Certificate in Genealogy at the IHGS. She is an alumnus of SLIG. As a businesswoman in engineering, she has learnt the skills to grow a business and now applies the learning to her genealogy business. 

Shelley BishopShelley Bishop is a professional genealogical researcher, writer, and speaker with a passion for finding and preserving ancestral stories. She is a frequent contributor to NGS Magazine, Family Tree Magazine, and other publications. Shelley speaks regularly at genealogical conferences, seminars, and meetings. As owner of Buckeye Family Trees, www.buckeyefamilytrees.com, she specializes in Ohio research. Shelley is a ProGen Study Group graduate, a GenProof Study Group mentor, and president of APG’s Great Lakes Chapter.

John BoerenJohn Boeren, LLM, PLCGS is a genealogy professional in the Netherlands with 30+ years of experience. He runs his own business, called ‘Antecedentia | Genealogy in the Netherlands’ since January 2015. He is a (board) member of several national and international genealogical societies. John is a graduate from the National Institute for Genealogical Studies (2019, 2020) and is currently enrolled in the certificate program of the University of Strathclyde.

Kathleen BrandtKathleen Brandt, founded a3Genealogy in 2008. She is a professional international genealogist and consultant. You can see Kathleen's work on historical productions aired on TLC, NBC, The History Channel, and The Travel Channel. Although Kathleen and a3Genealogy are headquartered in Kansas City, MO, research projects are conducted in six continents. Kathleen is a Licensed Private Investigator, and Keynote Speaker. Prior to launching a3Genealogy she lived and worked internationally as a corporate executive for twenty years.

Fiona BrookerThrough her company Memories in Time, Fiona Brooker loves to teach and help people with their research, understand their DNA results and most importantly share their research with family. Fiona has been President of the New Zealand Society of Genealogists (NZSG) and convened multiple national conferences. She has a Higher Certificate in Genealogy from the Institute of Heraldic and Genealogical Studies and is a member of PHANZA and APG and co-founder of Talking Family History.

Sara DawsonSara Dawson - owner of Descent Detective - guides clients through the tangled webs and brick walls along the path to discover their connections to the past. She believes that when we experience history through the stories of our ancestors, the past comes alive. We uncover mysteries and treasures, creating a full awareness that educates us on our truth and constructs the pillars of our family story that provides a powerful sense of belonging.

PJ EliasPJ Elias is an aspiring professional genealogist with eight years of research under his belt. Currently PJ is enrolled at the National Institute for Genealogical Studies, most of the research he does is focused on Western Slavs. PJ is also the chairmen of The Hidden Branch, a genealogical organization which aims to empower (more) young people to get into the field of genealogy and to provide them education.

Claire GlynnDr. Claire Glynn is an associate professor of forensic science at the University of New Haven, in Connecticut, USA. She has extensive professional experience in Forensic DNA. She combined her lifelong passion for genealogy with her career as a forensic DNA expert, and now actively consults and provides subject matter expertise in Forensic Genetic Genealogy to law enforcement agencies across the US and internationally. She is also the Founding Director of the university’s online Graduate Certificate in Forensic Genetic Genealogy.

Colleen GreeneColleen Robledo Greene, MLIS, is an academic librarian, college educator, and tech nerd who has been researching her family history since 1997. She is the Digital Literacy Librarian at California State University, Fullerton, and teaches an online graduate-level genealogical research methods course for San Jose State University. Colleen is a nationally recognized genealogy speaker and educator specializing in methodology, Mexican & Hispanic research, libraries and archives, and technology.

Rhonda LauritzenRhonda Lauritzen is a professional biographer who founded https://evalogue.life/ and has published several books. Before venturing into life storytelling, she served as a college Vice President and was a corporate CEO before that. A strong business background—with an MBA in marketing and entrepreneurship—prepared her for a successful startup. Today, she feels fortunate to make a living in her area of passion, people’s stories. She specializes in oral history, writing, and teaching.

J. Mark LoweJ. Mark Lowe, FUGA is a lifelong genealogist, who enjoys sharing what he has learned from other researchers. He has coordinated Southern focused institutes for IGHR (Georgia), SLIG (Utah) and TIGR (Texas). He enjoys teaching for Legacy Family Tree Webinars, The Genealogy Show Spring event, providing content for podcasts and assisting genealogical television series. (i.e. Follow Your Past, African American Lives 2, Who Do You Think You Are?)

Annette Burke LyttleAnnette Burke Lyttle owns Heritage Detective, LLC, providing professional genealogical services in research, education, and writing. Annette is a popular speaker and leads Best Practices Study Groups, providing in-depth education on the genealogical research process in an interactive setting. She is coordinator of the Fall Virtual Intermediate Foundations course for the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy. Annette is president of the Association of Professional Genealogists and editor of The Florida Genealogist.

Angela McGhieAngela Packer McGhie, CG, FUGA has a passion for teaching genealogy. Her current positions include Education Director for the National Genealogical Society and trustee of the Board for Certification of Genealogists. Angela enjoys teaching at national genealogy conferences and institutes. She was the first administrator of the ProGen Study Program and is now on the board of directors. She has served as an APG chapter president and published articles in the APG Quarterly.

Lisa MedinaLisa Medina is a university registrar, with experience in business process analysis and project management. As a genealogist and experienced lecturer, her focus is in Mexican records.

 

Shellee MoreheadShellee Morehead, PhD, CG®, has a PhD in from the University of Utah and is on faculty at the New England Institute of Technology. She was certified by the Board for Certification of Genealogists (BCG) in 2012 and researches, writes, and lectures on various family history topics. Her specialties include Rhode Island, Italian, and genetic genealogy with a new course, “DNA for Dog Lovers.”

Amber OldenburgAmber Oldenburg is a researcher, lecturer, and social media marketer with a degree in family history research from BYU-Idaho, where she currently an adjunct professor in their family history program and social media manager for Your DNA Guide. She specializes in Midwest and Great Lakes states research.

Cheri Hudson PasseyCheri Hudson Passey is a professional genealogist, instructor, writer, speaker, and the owner of Carolina Girl Genealogy, LLC. Cheri is the host of the genealogy chat show GenFriends and is a genealogical researcher subcontracted by Eagle Investigative Services, Inc., for the US Army Past Conflict Repatriations Branch. Cheri writes the blog "Carolina Girl Genealogy," where she has shared research tips, methodology, and family stories for ten years.

David RencherDavid E. Rencher, AG®, CG®, FUGA, FIGRS, is employed as the Chief Genealogical Officer for FamilySearch. He is one of the rare few who have earned both credentials: Accredited Genealogist® with ICAPGen in Ireland research and Certified Genealogist® with the Board for Certification of Genealogists. He is a past president of the Federation of Genealogical Societies and currently serves as a director on the board of the National Genealogical Society.

Diane RichardDiane Richard provides genealogical lectures, research, and writing. Longtime editor of the North Carolina Genealogical Society Journal. Diane has written 500+ articles and delivered numerous lectures about the availability and richness of under-utilized genealogically relevant records while providing research tips, techniques, tools, and strategies. Co-leader of Tar Heel Discoveries, an in-person program offering guided NC genealogical research. Board member of NC Historical Records Online, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing public access to original NC records.

Judy RussellJudy G. Russell, JD, CG®, CGLSM, the Legal Genealogist®, is a genealogist with a law degree who provides expert guidance through the murky territory where law and family history intersect. An internationally-known lecturer and award-winning writer, she holds credentials as a Certified Genealogist® and Certified Genealogical LecturerSM from the Board for Certification of Genealogists®. Her blog is at https://www.legalgenealogist.com.

Lori SamuelsonLori Samuelson is an educator, researcher, writer & lecturer. She blogs weekly at GenealogyAtHeart.com focusing on sensitive subjects and heartwarming genealogical finds. Lori has written for The Florida Genealogist, Family History Daily, Ancestor Cloud and GenBiz. She is currently working on her second eBook, Thanks to the Yanks, a collection of love letters written by an Indiana farm boy to his sweetheart during World War I. Lori volunteers as a Board Member of her local hospital and with her city’s historical society.

Meryl SchumackerMeryl Schumacker, CG®, is a full-time genealogist and founder of We Go Way Back LLC in Manhattan. Meryl specializes in New York City-area genealogy from the seventeenth to twentieth centuries, Jewish, and genetic genealogy. Her work has been published in The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record and appeared on The Daily Show with Trevor Noah and Who Do You Think You Are? In 2017, she was awarded APG’s Young Professional Scholarship.

Cathie SherwoodPassionate about history and addicted to family history, Cathie Sherwood has been researching her Irish, English, and Scottish ancestors for over forty years. She is the owner of Family History Academy, which offers high-quality courses and workshops. She is also the principal of Ancestor Discovery, a professional family history research service. Cathie managed research projects and developed innovative course curricula as a university academic and now applies those skills and knowledge to her current roles.

Paul WoodburyPaul Woodbury, AG® is a research team manager at Legacy Tree Genealogists where he has helped solve hundreds of genetic genealogy cases. He graduated from Brigham Young University where he studied Genetics and Family History. He also holds a master’s degree in Instructional Design and Educational Technology. In addition to genetic genealogy, he loves French research for which he has received accreditation through the International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists.

Dates to Remember

Early Bird Registration Closes:
31 August 2022

Registration for the Full Conference Closes:
16 September 2022

Recordings Sales Close:
15 April 2023