Speakers for the BCG Skillbuilding Track

L. to R. Jay Fonkert, Margaret Fortier, LaBrenda Garret-Nelson and Amy Giroux 

L.  to R. Sharon Hoyt, Jan Joyce, Rebecca Koford, Nicole LaRue

L. to R. Angela McGhie, Jill Morelli, Trish Nicola and Nancy Peters

 L. to R. Mary Roddy, Judy Russell, Rick Sayre and Ann Staley

Karen Stanbary

Speaker Bios:

J. H. Jay Fonkert, CG is co-managing editor of Minnesota Genealogist and has published more than eighty articles.  His favorite research targets are Kentucky Fawkners and English Tidballs.

Margaret R. Fortier, CG, researcher, lecturer and writer, has expertise in immigration, and naturalization, particularly for Portuguese, Italian, and French Canadian ancestors.

LaBrenda Garrett-Nelson, JD, LLM, CG, CGL, FASG, is a trustee of BCG who lectures and writes about both methodology and African American genealogy.

Amy Larner Giroux, PhD, CG, CGI, whose research interests include methodology, case studies, military records, burial iconography, and ethnic studies, is a coauthor of NGS guidebook Research in Florida.

Sharon Hoyt, MLIS, CG,  is a researcher, lecturer, and writer, and a winner of the NGS and Minnesota State Genealogical Society Family History Writing Contests.

Jan Joyce, DBA, CG, CGL, AG,  is a genealogy write and researcher, who speaks on genealogy topics including methodology and helping researchers be creative for improved results.

Rebecca Whitman Koford, CG, CGL,  focuses on Maryland and military records.  She is executive director of BCG and director of Gen-Fed.

Nicole Gilkison LaRue, CG, is a full-time professional genealogist with articles in NGS Magazine and NGSQ.  Special interests include researching women, “brick-wall” obstacles, and paleography.

Angela Packer McGhie, CG, FUGA, is the education director of NGS and a trustee of BC

Jill Morelli, CG, Lectures on Methodology and Scandinavian topics.  She founded the online Certification Discussion Group in 2017, sharing her journey to receive the credential.

Trish Hackett Nicola, CG, specializes in the Chinese Exclusion Act files at NARA in Seattle, women’s history, and Pacific Northwest pioneers.

Nancy A. Peters, CG, CGI, coeditor of NGSQ, is a researcher, author, lecturer and institute instructor; she authored the “Research Reports” chapter in Professional Genealogy (2018); served as BCG Trustee.

Mary Kircher Roddy, CG, lectures at regional and national events on methodology and unique ways to search.  She has written for national journals and magazines.

Judy G. Russell, JD, CG, CGI, The Legal Genealogist, provides expert guidance through the murky territory where law, history, and genealogy come together.

Rick Sayre, CG, CGI, FUGA, is a trustee of BCG, whose expertise areas include NARA, land records, government documents, federal land, military records, and urban research.

C. Ann Staley, CG, CGL, is an educator; consultant; faculty, NIGS,; membership chair, GSG; author of articles for NGS Magazine; and coauthor of NGS guidebook, Research in Florida.

Karen S. Stanbary, CG, lectures nationally on using DNA in genealogical problem solving.  She serves as a Trustee for BCG and chairs its DNA committee.