Ogden Utah FamilySearch Center 2014 Conference presenter biography

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Presenter Biographies and Titles

Jeff Allen

Jeff Allen is a sophomore at Syracuse High School and enjoys outdoor activities such as camping and fishing, and playing football and socce. He is looking forward to getting his driver's license in January. Jeff's interest in family history was sparked after attending Family Discovery Day at Rootstech and hearing Elder Anderson speak about finding your cousins.
Presentation Titles:
18. YOUTH: Using Puzzilla to find your Cousins
62. Using Puzzilla to find your Cousins (repeat)

Scott Allen

Scott has an MS degree in Instructional Technology and is employed by Utah Education Network. During his spare time, Scott enjoys learning about his family history and using technology to share information online and make connections with living relatives. Scott and his family reside in West Point, Utah.
Presentation Titles:
18. YOUTH: Using Puzzilla to find your Cousins
43. Saving Your Family History Securely in the Cloud
62. Using Puzzilla to find your Cousins

Terry Allen

Presentation Titles:
18. YOUTH: Using Puzzilla to find your Cousins
62. Using Puzzilla to find your Cousins (repeat)

Liv Anderson CG AG

Liv Anderson was born in Norway and her first encounter with genealogy was at the Trondheim Archive in Norway at age 12. After completing Business College in Norway, she came to the United States where she visited what then was called the Genealogical Society of Utah.  Here she enjoyed searching for her ancestors and after finding her four generations on both her mother’s and father’s sides she continued and was able to go back to the early 1500s. She has worked for the church for more than 30 years and since 1995 as a Scandinavian Research Consultant at the Family History Library.  Liv is both a Certified and an Accredited Genealogist.
Presentation Title:
20. How to find ancestors in Digitalarkivet (Digital archives) of Norway

Amy Archibald

Amy Archibald lives in Clearfield Utah with her husband and two children.  She became interested in family history as a young teen and has spent more than 30 years searching for clues, sources, stories, photos and cousins.  She has been teaching others the ins and outs of family history for over 18 years.  She has organized reunions for many years and loves finding cousins around every corner.  She believes that everyone you meet is just a distant cousin yet to be connected.
Presentation Titles:
8. Finding the Living Among the Dead: Using the Internet to Find Your Living Cousins
45. Family Reunion Planning: Tools & Resources for Successful Events

Juan Balderas Nápoles

Presentation Titles:
27. FamilySearch Family Tree (en Español)
54. FamilySearch.org (en Español)

Doris Bateman

Doris Bateman graduated from Davis High, attended WSU, and graduated from BYU with a degree in Sociology and Psychology.  She has worked in various social service work positions.  She has been actively working in and teaching family history for the last twenty-plus years, and has been a Stake Family History consultant. Currently, she is a Family History Consultant in her ward and serves on the staff of the Ogden Family History Library where she has taught classes in Roots Magic, FamilySearch, and documentation. She is married to Douglas G. Bateman and has 6 children and 9 grandchildren.
Presentation Titles:
1. How Do I Start My Family History?
41. Documentation Made Easy—It’s All About Sources

Mike Booth

Michael T. Booth is vice-president of RootsMagic, Inc. He is an accomplished trainer, having given hands-on entertaining presentations to thousands of individuals. With over 35 years of computer programming experience, Michael's latest creations are "Personal Historian" and "Family Atlas". He is also a developer of the popular RootsMagic genealogy software. Michael lives in Ogden, Utah with his wife, Sandy and their six children.
Presentation Titles:
9. What’s New in RootsMagic 6
23. RootsMagic + FamilySearch = Easy

Jay Burrup

Jay is a native of Downey, Idaho. He served an LDS mission in Milano, Italy, and graduated from Brigham Young University with a bachelor’s degree in history and master’s degree in Library and Information Science. He was hired as an archivist at the Church History Library in 1985 and earned recognition as a Certified Archivist in 1991. During his employment he has helped acquire and catalog thousands of LDS-related historical records and photographs and has conducted over 150 oral history interviews in the U.S. and Europe with Church leaders, missionaries, and members. He has published and contributed to a number of books and articles related to LDS Church, family, and local history. Jay is married to the former Dorothy Anderson of Taber, Alberta, Canada. They are the parents of four daughters. The Burrups live in West Valley City.
Presentation Titles:
19. Brief Introduction to the Church History Library
35. Introduction to LDS Congregational Records (branches, wards, stakes, districts, and missions)

Emma Lu Draper

Emma Lu Draper has been actively working in and teaching family history, as a staff member, at the Ogden Research Library for a number of years and serves as a ward Family History Consultant. She holds a degree in English and Communication, also a Masters Degree in Education and has taught literature and writing personal histories for the past 20 years. She is a wife, mother, grandmother, published author and lecturer, also enjoys writing histories, playing piano, gardening, and sewing.
Presentation Title:
7. Born to Write My History

Carolina Aranda Symes de Espinoza

Carolina nació en Santiago de Chile.
Actualmente, ella es voluntaria del CHF de Ogden y Lider de HF de su barrio, lo cual ayuda a muchas familias hacer su genealo gía. Su meta es lograr lo que Nuestro Padre Celestial le ha mandado, “hacer la obra vicaria por todos sus antepasados fallecidos”. Ella ama la obra del templo y dice que es un arduo, largo pero hermoso camino que las bendiciones vienen a diario en la vida cuando nuestro Padre Celestial nos da un gozo infinito e indescriptible. Las bendiciones están a la puerta y solo hay que tomarlas y trabajar juntos con el Señor.
Presentation Title:
13. FamilySearch Indexación (en Español)

Gaylon Findlay

Gaylon Findlay is the president of Incline Software, the company that creates Ancestral Quest. Incline Software is based in South Jordan, Utah. Gaylon has been developing genealogy software since 1993, and is the primary author of both Ancestral Quest and Personal Ancestral File. Prior to his work in genealogy, he spent his high school years in Frankfurt, Germany, served an LDS mission in Finland, graduated from Brigham Young University and spent 12 years in the San Francisco Bay Area as a computer consultant. He is married to Gale Johnson of Westminster, California, and they are the parents of 5 children.
Presentation Titles:
12. What’s New in Ancestral Quest
65. Ancestral Quest and FamilySearch Family Tree

Katie Gale

Katie loves making research easier for family historians worldwide. She recruits, trains, and motivates individuals and groups to help with the indexing effort. The community has indexed over one billion records and we’re still going strong! Visit familysearch.org/indexing to join the fun.
Presentation Title:
29. Introducing the New FamilySearch Indexing Tool

Hudson Gunn

Hudson Gunn
Presentation Title:
34. Genealogy is not Just for Grandmas, Billion Graves
68. Billion Graves (en Español)

Emil O. Hanson, PhD.

Emil O. Hanson, PhD., is currently serving as the Director of the Ogden Family History Center. He has been an educator most of his adult life, retiring 18 years ago, as the Dean of Student Administrative Services at Weber State University. He is married and is the father of 6 adult children with many grand and great grandchildren. He is a convert to the LDS faith and will testify of the importance of family history work.
Presentation Titles:
21. Writing Your Personal History
39. Research Using the Ogden FamilySearch Library’s Website, Ogdenfsl.org

Joanne Hanson

Joanne was born and raised in Salt lake city, Utah. She graduated from West High School and Business school in Salt Lake. She later graduated from Weber State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education. She is married to Emil O. Hanson, Director of the Ogden Family History Center. She is the mother of five boys plus one daughter and another daughter (a niece) grandmother and great-grandmother of many special ‘beings’. She retired as teacher and coordinator at Head Start with Ogden City Schools. She has served with her husband as a missionary and a volunteer at the Ogden Family History Library for the past seventeen years. She has taught many courses at the center over that period of time and been a presenter at many family history conferences. She has been a co-creator of teaching manuals and a CR for the center. She has been a lifelong volunteer in church activities and was a leader in the cub scouts program for over fourteen years. She is the third generation family history gatherer with a daughter coming along as the fourth generation.
Presentation Titles:
6. “I Didn’t Know That!”
50. Organize in Color (Pt1)
64. Organize in Color (Pt2)

Matthew Hovorka

Matthew Hovorka was only 4-years-old when his parents started the company Family ChartMasters and enveloped his life in genealogy. He is now 15 and has developed extensive knowledge about his rich family history. He has spoken at the BYU Family History Conference and RootsTech and is working on correctly sourcing the history that has already been researched in his family. He enjoyed traveling to England and visiting the farm his ancestors occupied in the 1600s and holding some of their wills older than the Constitution of the United States. Matthew is a MineCraft enthusiast and wants to become a Malocologist. He is currently attending the Utah County Academy of Sciences High School.
Presentation Titles:
4. YOUTH: Get to Know Your Geezers

Fritz Juengling PhD, AG

Doctor Juengling did his Bachelor’s degrees in German studies and Secondary Education at Western Oregon University. He received his Master’s and Doctorate in Germanic Philology with minors in both English and Linguistics at the University of Minnesota. He is an Accredited Genealogist® in German research. He is a German and Dutch Research Consultant and Patron Services Team Manager for the International Unit at the Family History Library.
Presentation Titles:
38. Learning to Read Old German Script, (Pt1)
53. Learning to Read Old German Script, (Pt2)
59. German Church and Civil Records: Extracting Genealogical Information

Don Koldewyn

Don Koldewyn graduated from Weber High School, Weber State College and the University of Utah. After retiring fourteen years ago, he has been “anxiously engaged in a good cause,” which is family history research, specializing in the Netherlands. He is a ward Family History Consultant and a volunteer at the Ogden Family History Center, where he is always excited to help people learn how to use the online Netherlands databases. He also conducts the Netherlands Research Society meetings where those involved with Dutch Family History meet and help each other with research.
Presentation Title:
52. Netherlands Internet Research

Sarah Langsdon

Sarah Langsdon is the Associate Curator of Special Collections. Sarah works with the local community in documenting the history of Weber and Davis Counties through photographs, diaries, letters, scrapbooks, and manuscripts. She holds a MA in history from Utah State University and MLIS from San Jose State University. She is the author of several books on Ogden.
Presentation Title:
63 What Family History Materials are held in Weber’s Archives and Special Collections?

Bradley Marchant

Bradley D. Marchant is a native of eight states. He has been doing family history research since he was 16-years-old, so nearly half his life. He is currently employed as a Scandinavian consultant at the Family History Library. Bradley regularly does research in multiple languages and is known for his keen sense of research skills and thinking outside of the box. He loves a good challenge! When not chasing down ancestors, he can usually be found chasing his dog Prince Caspian on hikes!
Presentation Titles:
5. Online Swedish Research
17. British Descendant Research 1760-1911
33. More on your Mormon Lines
58. Beginning Danish/Norwegian Research

Marilyn Markham MLS, AG

Marilyn Markham, MLS, AG, has worked in the Family History Department for thirty years, including as a reference consultant at the Family History Library for fourteen years. She has taught many times at the Family History Library and at genealogical conferences.
Presentation Titles:
15. Great Internet Sites for US Family History
42. US State and Federal Censuses
55. How to Really See What Records Are Telling About Your Ancestor

Susan Matt, PhD

Susan Matt is Professor of History and Chair of the History Dept. at Weber State University. She received her BA from University of Chicago and her MA and PhD from Cornell University. She is author of Keeping Up With the Joneses: Envy in American Consumer Society, 1890-1930 and Homesickness: An American History.
48. Homesickness and Immigration

Lisa (Mary Elizabeth) McBride AG

Lisa is an Accredited Genealogist® in Mid-South US Research. Her favorite subject is military history of Tennessee and Virginia. She is a native of the Chicago area with ancestors coming from England, Switzerland and South Africa. She and her husband Jim have 8 children and 17 grandchildren. Currently, she is a FamilySearch employee managing relationships with directors for family history centers in Southwest and Northwest North America
Presentation Titles:
3. Expanding Your Family Tree
30. Expanding Your Family Tree (repeat)
46. FamilySearch Wiki

Naomi Newbold

Naomi Newbold, a native of Utah, received a Bachelor’s degree in Family History from Brigham Young University in 2009. She specializes in Nordic and Germanic genealogy and currently works as a Nordic research specialist for the Family History Library. On her personal time, Naomi does private research for clients. Naomi is fluent in Danish, and can read Swedish, Norwegian, and German.
Presentation Titles:
11. Meyers Gazetter: Using the Online Version
25. Research Logs: Your Key to Success
32. A Beginner’s Guide to Digitally Preserving and Organizing Your Family History

Mark Olsen

Mark is working as the Business Development Manager for MyHeritage and as Stake High Councilor over Family History. He is engaged in the work of Family History from morning until night and the weekend as well. Mark and Sara are the parents of 7, have one grandbaby and one daughter serving a mission in San Jose, CA.
Mark Olsen
Presentation Title:
22. My Heritage

Leonard Plaizier

Leonard Plaizier has served at the South Davis Family History Center since 1996 as an Advisory Council Member, Technology Specialist, and Outreach Specialist. Leonard has been associated with the South Davis Family History Fair in various capacities the past 11 years. He enjoys bridging genealogy and technology.
Presentation Titles:
36. Using Legacy Family Tree to Help Your Family Learn about Their Ancestors
51. Legacy Family Tree and FamilySearch Family Tree

Edith Reeves

Edith Reeves graduated from Davis High and Weber State College with a major in History and minor in Library Science. She selected both fields with the intent of researching family history. She served a mission in the Switzerland Zurich Mission. She married Ben Reeves a year after her return. They have 5 children and 6 1/2 grandchildren. Currently she is serving as Family History Consultant, and has recently been released as a church service missionary in Family Tree and Product Support. As a staff member at the Ogden FamilySearch Library, Edith teaches classes in FamilySearch Family Tree.
Presentation Titles:
2. Family Tree: The Basics
57. Family Tree: Correcting Relationships

Marlo Schuldt

Marlo Schuldt is President of LifeStory Productions, Inc., an Orem, Utah based company that develops family history software and provides assistance to individuals desiring to gather, prepare, print, and share family history. With BS and MS degrees from Brigham Young University, he recently patented the Heritage Collector Software. He is the father of five and the grandfather of twelve including twin grandsons.
Presentation Titles:
49. Turning Family Memories into Video Productions, (Pt1)
61. Turning Family Memories into Video Productions, (Pt2)

Cassidy Shupe

Cassidy Shupe serves as a volunteer at the Ogden FamilySearch Library. She is a senior at Weber High School. This summer, besides planning the youth track at our conference, she works as a lifeguard.
Presentation Title:
4. YOUTH: By the Youth, For the Youth.

Annie Strawn

When Annie came to the U.S. years ago as a young bride who spoke only Danish, she found a job at the Family History Library, where she worked for several years.  She knows Denmark and Danish research from the point of view of a native and has taught these skills to others for many years. She serves on the staff of the Ogden FamilySearch Library and leads the Scandinavian research group at the library.
Presentation Title:
31. Danish Research on the Internet

Heidi Sugden AG

Heidi Sugden, AG®,  a native of Vienna Austria, graduated from the University of Utah with an M.A. in German Literature.  She has been employed at  the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah for over 15 years as a French research consultant.  Heidi is accredited for French Research and is an also an expert in Austrian and German Research.  The loves of her life are her 24 grandchildren. 
Presentation Titles:
10. Strategies for Successful French Research
24. German Research on the Internet – Useful Web Sites
37. French Research Sites and Databases
67. French Church and Civil Records & Paleography Issues

Kelly R. Summers AG

Kelly R. Summers is an Accredited Genealogist®. She currently is a part-time faculty at Brigham Young University, teaching Beginning Family History, Beginning Scandinavian Research, Beginning Spanish & Latin American Research, Beginning Italian & French Research. Kelly also designs and teaches online Genealogy courses at Salt Lake Community College.
Presentation Titles:
16. Adding Sources, Photos and Stories to FamilySearch Family Tree
47. Adding Sources, Photos and Stories to FamilySearch Family Tree, (repeat)
60. Beginning Southern Research

Jessica Taylor

Jessica Taylor has loved history and genealogy for many years. She got her Bachelors in Anthropology at the University of Utah and her Masters in Medieval Studies at the University of York. She has been an employee of Ancestry.com for four years and performed genealogical research for the hit TV show, "Who Do You Think You Are?" She currently works for ProGenealogists, a research company of professional genealogists. Jessica specializes in UK and Irish genealogy and enjoys helping people discover their past.
Presentation Titles:
44. Researching in the British Isles
56. Irish Research

Jonathan Walker

Jonathan Walker resides in Smithfield, Utah. He served a LDS mission in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico, many years ago where he learned the Spanish language and learned to love the people of Mexico. Jonathan has over 20 years of genealogical research experience, doing his own research and helping others do theirs. He is also the Family History Consultant in his local LDS Spanish Branch in Smithfield. He has a great desire to help others find and be successful in finding their ancestors.
Jonathan Walker – Reside en Smithfield, Utah. Sirvió en una misión mormona en Hermosillo, Sonora, México, hace muchos años. En dónde aprendió el idioma español y aprendió a amar a la gente de México. Jonathan tiene más de 20 años de experiencia en la investigación genealógica haciendo su propia investigación y ayudar a otros a hacer las suyas. Él es también el consultor de historia familiar en su local de LDS rama española, en Smithfield. Él tiene un gran deseo de ayudar a otros a encontrar y tener éxito en la búsqueda de sus antepasados.
Presentation Titles:
40. La Investigacion Hispana (en Español)
66. Latin American Research in English

Travis & Beverly Weaver

Elder and Sister Weaver serve as the Area Family History Advisors for Northern Utah for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
14. Family History Consultant & Priesthood Leadership Training

Arron Wheeler

Arron Wheeler received his BS and Master of Education Degrees at Weber State.  He served an LDS Mission in Ecuador from 1982-1984.  He is a Spanish teacher in a junior high school and has traveled to schools in Ecuador, Spain & Costa Rica.  He has been involved in genealogical research for several years and is a well-known family history teacher and consultant in his local area.  Arron and his wife, Dianna, have four children and live in Plain City.
Presentation Title:
28. I Found My Tree Online, Why Do I Need Family History Software?

A family history conference hosted by FamilySearch. For online genealogical classes and videos see RootsTech.org.