Speakers

  • June 20, 2026

    Edward J. Swierczewski Jr. Edward John Swierczewski, Jr. has been a professional educator for over 30 years and completed multiple courses from GRIP and SLIG. In addition, he has attended many webinars and conferences and graduated from ProGen. He founded Integrative Genealogy LLC and serves as the Chief Genealogical Officer. He is an award-winning genealogical…

  • May 16, 2026

    Ari Wilkins, FTxSGS is a genealogist, lecturer and instructor who has been actively researching family history for over twenty-five years. Ms. Wilkins is a graduate of Louisiana State University. She speaks on a variety of genealogical subjects and specializes in African American research and Southern research. As a lecturer, Ms. Wilkins has spoken nationally at…

  • April 18, 2026

    Arthur Sissman, based in Naples, FL, has been active in family history research since 1999 and genetic genealogy since 2015. He has built over 200 family trees and tested his autosomal, Y-DNA, and mtDNA across all major platforms. Using his “3-Legged Stool Protocol” — Surname, Place, and DNA — Arthur uncovered previously unknown relatives and…

  • March 21, 2026

    Melissa Barker will present “Vertical Files: What Are They and How to Use them” Speaker: Melissa Barker is a Certified Archives Manager and Public Historian currently working at the Houston County, Tennessee Archives & Museum. She is affectionately known as The Archive Lady. She lectures, teaches, and writes about the genealogy research process, researching in…

  • February 21, 2026

    “Researching Cemetery and Funeral Home Records: Looking for the Dead! “ Deborah A. Abbott, PhD, is a professional genealogist specializing in genealogical methodology, manuscript collections, and African American family research. She is a member of the Cuyahoga County (OH) Archives Commission, the Lakeview Cemetery Community Outreach Committee (Cleveland, OH), past president of the African American…

  • January 17, 2026

    Irene B. Walters will present a program on “US Courts System – History and Records”  The system of US Courts holds many records that can be both helpful and confusing in your genealogical researching. Come learn some terminology, history, record keeping, and record searching practices that hopefully will alleviate some confusion when navigating the world…

  • September 20, 2025 Additional

    Arthur Sissman, based in Naples, FL, has been active in family history research since 1999 and genetic genealogy since 2015. He has built over 200 family trees and tested his autosomal, Y-DNA, and mtDNA across all major platforms. Using his “3-Legged Stool Protocol” — Surname, Place, and DNA — Arthur uncovered previously unknown relatives and…

  • September 20, 2025

    Jamie Lee McManus Mayhew PLCGS “Introduction to LucidChart” Meet Jamie Lee McManus Mayhew, the heart and soul behind California Cousins, where genealogical puzzles meet their match. Jamie’s adventure into the annals of history began as a teenager, not in dusty old archives, but in the cozy corners of her living room, with her mother as…

  • November 15, 2025

    “10 Unexpected Places to Find Ancestor Photos Online“ Elizabeth Swanay O’Neal, Certified Genealogist®, is a researcher, writer, educator, and national genealogical speaker. Her specialties include methodology, technology, and online research resources. Elizabeth has studied at the National Institute for Genealogical Research (NIGR, now known as GenFed) in Washington, DC; the Forensic Genealogy Institute (FGI) in Dallas,…