Kate Townsend, chair, is an experienced researcher, investigator, and genealogist who turned her passion for family history into a business: Family History Investigations, LLC. Kate previously worked as an investigator in corporate America. She brings this investigative know-how to her genealogical record sleuthing and analysis. Kate completed Boston University’s Certificate in Genealogical Research in Spring 2020 and is enrolled in ProGen 58. She currently serves as the Co-Program Chair of the North Hills Genealogists. She is a member of APG and NGS.

Karen Molohon, vice chair, is active in the genealogical community serving as an instructor, lecturer, and society officer. She’s done genealogy research for over 40 years. Karen serves as vice president and NGS 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 Georgia Genealogical Society. Karen is also a member of APG, Illinois State Genealogical Society, NGS, and Fielding Lewis Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Sue Fitzpatrick, secretary, cultivated a knowledge of early New England history from a young age. This has been key in exploring her families’ deep roots in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. She is currently retired, which has provided the opportunity to contribute in numerous ways in the research and preservation on local history in her community. She currently serves as an officer on multiple local, state, and national historical and lineage society boards including National Society Descendants of American Farmers, California State Society of Daughters of American Colonists, and California State Society of Colonial Dames XVII Century. She served for three years as the Board Librarian for the Santa Clara County Historical & Genealogical Society. Additional active memberships include NGS, Minnesota Genealogical Society, and Wisconsin State Genealogical Society.

Stacy Ashmore Cole became interested in genealogy after retiring from the federal government. After finding documentation that her Georgia family had held people in slavery, she was inspired to create a website, “They Had Names: African Americans In Early Liberty County, Georgia, Records” (theyhadnames.net). Her research has been published by Enslaved.org and the Georgia Genealogical Society Quarterly. She is president of the Coastal Georgia Genealogical Society, as well as publicity director and webinar coordinator for the Georgia Genealogical Society. She has served on the Midway Museum Board of Governors (Liberty County), and is a member of NGS, the Metro Atlanta Chapter of the Afro-American Historical & Genealogical Society, the Savannah Area Genealogical Association, and the North Carolina Genealogical Society.

Jessica Horne Collins is a former information systems analyst who now documents ancestors rather than software bugs. Jessica represents Clayton Library Friends, the support organization for Houston Public Library’s genealogy special collection, on the NGS Delegate Council. She is also a contributing editor for Stirpes, the journal of the Texas State Genealogical Society.  Jessica completed ProGen 48 and GenProof 67 and is working toward her goal of BCG certification. An eighth-generation Louisianan, Jessica’s research interests include her home state, her adopted home of Texas, as well as Mississippi and locations across the Deep South.

Ashley Craig is the Community Outreach Specialist for the Library of Virginia, where she coordinates the Library’s genealogy workshops series, genealogical programs, and community outreach. Ashley graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University with a bachelor’s degree in History with a concentration in Early Modern British History and colonial Virginia. She also received a Master’s degree in History with a concentration in early and colonial Virginia, African and Indigenous slavery, and 19th and 20th-century race relations in Virginia. She previously was the Site Coordinator of Preservation Virginia’s John Marshall House. She serves as the delegate from the Library of Virginia and looks forward to welcoming everyone to Richmond for the NGS 2023 Family History Conference.

Barbara J. “Judy” Quigley Fenner started researching her family history fifty years ago and has not stopped trying to uncover information, especially on the Irish side of her family. She is a member of NGS, the New England Historic Genealogical Society, and Cape Cod Genealogical Society where she currently serves as president. She also is a past president of the Falmouth Genealogical Society and co-chair of two New England Regional Genealogical Consortium conferences. She is a speaker and instructor on genealogy and is bilingual in English and Portuguese.

Kate Huffman is from St. Louis, Missouri, and is active in the genealogy community. After graduating from the University of Missouri with a degree in Anthropology and Art History & Archaeology, she earned a certificate in Genealogical Research from Boston University Center for Professional Education. Kate owns and operates Historic Kate Genealogy, is the chair of multiple committees in her DAR chapter, and serves as Public Relations Director for the Missouri State Genealogical Association. Kate is also a Certified Interpretive Guide from the National Association for Interpretation and volunteers as a historical reenactor for local events in her free time.

Cheri Hudson Passey, vice president of society and organization management on the NGS Board of Directors, is a professional genealogist, instructor, writer, and speaker and the owner of Carolina Girl Genealogy, LLC. She 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. She is a member of NGS, a past president of The Grand Strand Genealogy Club, and currently serves as its program chair. Cheri is treasurer of GeneaBloggersTRIBE and served as secretary for the Federation of Genealogical Societies before the merger with NGS.

Kristi Sexton is an experienced genealogist, speaker, and instructor. With a master’s degree in auditing, looking for the missing piece comes natural to her. Kristi teaches for the family history program at Brigham Young University – Idaho and is a graduate of ProGen 42. She currently serves as president of the Orange County California Genealogical Society while being heavily involved with FamilySearch as an affiliate library and book scanning center in her area. She is a member of APG and NGS, and served as 2021-2022 secretary for the Delegate Council Steering Committee.

Matt Weismantel, as an adoptee, has been interested in genealogy all his life, finding and researching his birth family and adoptive family. He was involved with the New Jersey Coalition for Adoption Reform & Education in its successful effort to open records. He recently retired from a career as a higher education administrator with degrees in historical geography and certification in cartography. At Ellis Island, he volunteers with the American Family Immigration History Center and at the Research Library. He is a former Trustee of the Genealogical Society of NJ and Secretary of the NJ Chapter of the APG. He is a member of NGS and several state genealogical societies. He is pursuing his genealogical certification, and is a graduate of the NGS American Genealogical Studies courses and ProGen 47.

W. Samuel Williams, immediate past chair, is a professional genealogist with a focus on Central Virginia, African American, and Greek American research. Sam received the NGS Certificate in American Genealogical Studies and is currently in ProGen Study Group 50. He has presented on genealogical topics to local societies and at conferences. He serves on the Program Committee for the Virginia Beach Genealogical Society and is a member of APG, NGS, Virginia Genealogical Society, and the Virtual Genealogical Association. Sam was recently elected as secretary for the NGS Board of Directors.