My journey into genealogy began over 40 years ago with a single, faded Naturalization document — the kind that sparks more questions than it answers. Back then, “research” meant hours in the quiet hum of the National Archives, cranking microfilm readers, poring over bound indexes, and sending away for records by mail, hoping the envelope that came back held a piece of the puzzle.

Long before search bars and digitized databases, I learned the detective work of genealogy the old-fashioned way: following leads from courthouse to cemetery, deciphering cramped handwriting, and building stories from scattered fragments.

I hold a B.A. in International Studies from The American University (1994), a degree that sharpened my skills in cross-cultural research, historical analysis, and critical thinking — all of which are essential to tracing families across borders and centuries.

Today, I combine that deep, hands-on experience with modern tools and technology, working across digitized archives, historical maps, GIS data, and DNA results to uncover and connect family histories. Whether it’s tracing German immigrants through passenger lists, untangling early American families from frontier records, or resolving century-old brick walls, I bring both the persistence of the pre-internet era and the precision of today’s research capabilities.

For me, genealogy isn’t just about names and dates — it’s about understanding the lives lived in between. Every family has a story, and I’m here to help tell yours.