OWNER

PRINCIPAL RESEARCHER, VIRGINIA

FORENSIC GENEALOGIST

Over 150 historical and genealogical client projects completed since 2017. Active 5-year cooperation agreement to conduct heir research of Holocaust victims to restore property rights in Poland. Over 80 live consultations in Coaches Corner at RootsTech 2018-2020. Fairfax (Virginia) Genealogical Society, Conference Chair from 2017-2020. Planned and executed three two-day conferences with multiple simultaneous sessions and three one-day genealogy fairs with national-level speakers and vendors for a membership over 500.

BACKGROUND: Seventeen years in the federal government as a Russian linguist, Senior Analyst, Senior Professional Staff Member for the U.S. House of Representatives Intelligence Committee and the Vice Deputy Chief Financial Executive for Counterintelligence and Human Intelligence at the Defense Intelligence Agency. Previous positions included newspaper reporter, radio news anchor, and corporate accounts receivable manager for TNT Skypak.

PRINCIPAL RESEARCHER, MARYLAND

Transitioned to Backstories in October 2022. Instrumental contributions to celebrity family research, community based project focused on reparations, and early 19th century research in Maryland and Pennsylvania.

Graduate of 14-month ProGen 55 . Holds a Certificate in Genealogical Research from Boston University’s Center for Professional Education. Completed the Genealogical Research Institute on Federal Records (GenFed). Experience with research in the National Archives and Records Administration I and II (Washington, DC and College Park, MD) and unique experience with the special collections of Swarthmore College (Quaker records) and Gettysburg College. Geographically situated to access local, state and national repositories from Washington, DC to Maryland to southeastern Pennsylvania.

BACKGROUND: Transitioned to genealogy as a profession from a career in communications and marketing.

RESEARCH ASSISTANT

Joined Backstories in August 2022. Significant contributions to traditional genealogy projects incorporating both documentary and genetic evidence. Instrumental to an ongoing community-based project in recording displaced residents to be considered for reparations.

BACKGROUND: Ava is a senior at James Madison University majoring in biology and hopes to hone her skills in genetic and traditional genealogy as a profession.