Matt Weismantel, chair, is the delegate from the Rogue Valley Genealogical Society. As an adoptee, he has been interested in genealogy all his life, finding and researching his birth and adoptive families. Matt is pursuing his genealogical certification, graduating from the NGS American Genealogical Studies courses and ProGen 47. He retired from a career as a higher education administrator and holds degrees in historical geography and certification in cartography. Matt volunteers at Ellis Island with the American Family Immigration History Center and the Research Library. He is a member of NGS, the Association of Professional Genealogists (APG), and several other organizations. Matt has previously been in leadership roles with the New Jersey Genealogical Society and New Jersey Chapter of APG, and he was involved with the NJ Coalition for Adoption Reform & Education in its successful effort to open records.

Eric Vaughn, vice chair, started his genealogical journey nearly twenty-five years ago wanting to know more about his mother’s parents and what brought them to Fulton, New York, from Eastern Europe. This project turned into a passion that he now contributes to every day. He serves as the delegate, president, and social media chair of the Rochester Genealogical Society (RGS). He co-founded the introduction to genealogical research classes RGS launched in 2022 and coordinated the technology interest group. Eric enjoys helping others with their genealogy research and conducts talks and workshops on topics including utilizing newspapers with family history and genealogical research, photo identification, planning research trips, and more. Eric is a member of NGS and works full-time as a career coach with graduate students and postdocs at the University of Rochester.

Dr. Edna Briggs is the delegate, president, and historian for the California African American Genealogical Society (CAAGS). She has been a funeral program collector since childhood, and joined CAAGS in 1994 and began researching her family’s history. One database now contains approximately 1,200 descendants of her enslaved fraternal great-grandmother. She’s taught genealogy classes and presented on African American genealogy research. She holds a Doctor of Public Administration from the University of Southern California and had a career in public administration, policymaking, and healthcare management. In retirement, she advocates for small genealogical societies and works on converting her genealogy research into published products. Edna is a member of the Southern California Genealogical Society, the African American Historical and Genealogical Society (AAHGS) and its Arkansas Chapter, AAHGS/PAAC (Preserving African American Cemeteries), and the Arkansas Genealogy Society.

Kathy Kaldis, The Ancestor Finder, is a professional forensic genealogist, teacher, and speaker. She has worked at the New England Historic Genealogical Society and the Massachusetts Society of Mayflower Descendants. A contracting researcher with KLM Research Services, Kathy specializes in New England, maritime, military, lineage, and finding missing and unknown heirs in probate, mining/oil rights, and real estate cases. She earned the Boston University Certificate in Genealogical Research, has completed many genealogical institutes, and is an alumna of the ProGen Study Groups. She has served in leadership positions in various societies including the Cape Cod Genealogical Society and Central Massachusetts Genealogical Society. Kathy is also a member of and the delegate for the Massachusetts Society of Genealogists, and a member of NGS and Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR).

Lorrie Martin, is the delegate and current president for the Genealogical Society of Greater Miami. After working in finance and operations, the search for biological family in 2018 led her to the field of genealogy. She decided to become a professional genealogist focusing on forensic research and earned the Boston University Certificate in Genealogical Research. Lorrie is a member of NGS, APG and the APG Forensic SIG, the Florida State Genealogical Society, and others. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Miami and Master of Public Administration from Florida International University. Lorrie has experience serving on boards in her community including the Pinewood Cemetery Advisory Board for the City of Coral Gables.

Karen Molohon, vice president for society and organization management and immediate past chair, is active in the genealogical community as an instructor, lecturer, and society officer. Karen has done genealogy research for over forty years and serves as the delegate for the Cobb County Genealogical Society. She is past director of the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research (IGHR) and past president of the Cobb County Genealogical Society and Georgia Genealogical Society. Karen is also a member of NGS, APG, Illinois State Genealogical Society (ISGS), and the Fielding Lewis Chapter of DAR. She was a member of the NGS 2024 Nominating Committee. A retired information designer and project manager for an international airline telecommunications company, she holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and master’s degree in Educational Psychology and Guidance from Eastern Illinois University, and a master’s in Technical and Professional Communication from Southern Polytechnic State University (since merged with Kennesaw State University). Karen is the genealogy instructor for Kennesaw State University Osher Lifelong Learning Institute.

Charity Rouse, MLS, secretary, is the delegate and director of local history for the Spartanburg County Public Libraries in South Carolina where she has worked since 2014. The Kennedy Room of Local History & Genealogy has a growing archival collection, along with managing the object collection from a local museum, and the library draws researchers from around thirty states each year. Prior, Charity was on the genealogy and local history staff at the Topeka & Shawnee County (Kansas) Public Library. She earned her Master of Library Science from Emporia State University and holds two music degrees. She is a member of NGS and the Pinckney District Chapter of the South Carolina Genealogical Society. In addition to working on her family’s genealogy, Charity enjoys teaching genealogy skills at in-person and virtual library programs. She is interested in strengthening the role of genealogy librarians in NGS.

Amy Urman, a private investigator, professional genealogist, and speaker, is dedicated to uncovering hidden stories, tracing ancestral threads, and locating elusive assets as the owner of Nosy Wilma LLC. Amy’s interest in investigation and genealogy began with a curiosity about history and lineage. As a co-founder and past president of the Pima County Genealogy Society, she played a pivotal role in nurturing a small genealogy club into a larger non-profit society. She now contributes as the delegate and with committees and the Great Lakes Special Research group. Amy volunteers on the Arizona DAR State Lineage Committee and previously served in logistics for the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG). She has completed the NGS American Studies Basic Course, is an alumnus of ProGen28, and earned the Boston University Certificate in Genealogical Research. She is a member of NGS, the Arizona Association of Licensed Private Investigators, DAR, Arizona Genealogical Advisory Board, Chicago Genealogical Society, ISGS, and APG.

Evan Wilson is a professional genealogist specializing in Southern research and the intersection of genealogy and history. He’s a researcher for AncestryProGenealogists and was a scholar of medieval English and Latin literature before his current career. He fell in love with genealogy as a child in Birmingham, Alabama, but his education and life path took him to the San Francisco Bay Area, where he is based today. Though he’s in California now, he happily spends his days paging through Virginia court records, reconstructing Mississippi neighborhoods, and uncovering feuds in early Tennessee. He serves as delegate and recording secretary for the California Genealogical Society (CGS). A believer in the value of in-person experiences, he is helping restart CGS research trips to Salt Lake City and organizing a series of informal social events in the CGS library that he hopes may serve as a model for other societies. Evan is also a member of NGS, APG, AAHGS, and many state societies.

Jen Zinck, CG, is a researcher, speaker, and educator with a passion for learning and applying genealogy standards to help reclaim lost and forgotten stories of our ancestors. She earned her credential from the Board for Certification of Genealogists in 2021. Jen serves as the delegate and president for the Connecticut Professional Genealogists Council. As the publications chairperson for the Connecticut Society of Genealogists, she oversees the quarterly magazine, Connecticut Genealogy News, and the semiannual peer-reviewed journal, The Connecticut Nutmegger. Jen is also a member of NGS and enjoys sharing her contagious enthusiasm for family history with people of all ages.