Presented by Cynthia Patton on November 3, 2026 at 6:00 PM MDT

Have you ever had a client deadline but keep losing hours on outside distractions, chasing a rabbit hole, or failing to reign in your expectations for the “perfect” research report. In this session we will look at the top 10-time wasters genealogist face and some practical ways to reclaim the lost hours and focus on more profitability. Time management is a challenge for all of us, especially when you throw our family and social obligations in the mix. Finally, how can we find the time to enjoy our own research projects? The solutions we will discuss are easily attainable including: time blocking, using templates, and becoming more “time aware”.

Cynthia Keefer Patton is a professional genealogist from Kansas City, Missouri, a member of the Heartland Chapter of the Association of Professional Genealogists (APG), and Registrar for the White Alloe Chapter, DAR. She is a BU Certification Program graduate. Cynthia retired from the US Army and holds degrees in both Journalism and Political Science. She has resented for numerous historical, genealogical, and civic organizations.

Presented by Dawn Carlile on October 14, 2026 at 6:00 PM MDT

Learn which tests and tools each company offers, and why you may want to choose a specific company for testing. A comparison of my ethnicity results, the total number of matches from each, the number of close matches, and the unique matches from each company. The five companies covered are 23andMe, AncestryDNA, FamilyTreeDNA, Living DNA, and MyHeritage DNA.

Dawn Carlile is a professional genealogist, educator, and lecturer who enjoys teaching others about researching their families as much as she does about researching her own and the families of others. After many years of helping others with their research, Dawn started Genealogy Roots and Branches in 2021. Having completed many institute courses at Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy, GRIP Genealogy Institute, Institute of Genealogical and Historical Research, and Genealogical Institute on Federal Records, she has even more on her list. Dawn is the current president and an instructor for the Oregon Genealogical Society, a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists, National Genealogical Society, and several other state and county genealogical societies.

Presented by Alice Childs on October 15, 2026 at 7:00 PM MDT

When our United States ancestors spent their entire lives in the same town or county, finding available records to document their lives is not overly complicated, although it can still be difficult. However, when families moved from place to place, they sometimes seem to appear out of nowhere or vanish without a trace. This session will explore methodologies for tracing ancestral migration, illustrated through migration examples from various localities. It will then highlight key research principles and resources through the presentation of Asahel Chappell’s migration journey.

Alice Childs is an Accredited Genealogist® professional specializing in U.S. Mid-Atlantic states research. She has presented at RootsTech, the APG PMC, the New York State Family History Conference, the UGA Summit of Excellence, and various local conferences. Alice has also volunteered as a mentor for aspiring professionals in the ICAPGen and ProGen study groups and served as the Communications Manager for the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy. Currently, she is the Assistant Director at the Brigham Young University Center for Family History and Genealogy, where she mentors students in genealogy research and facilitates the creation of quality online family history resources available to the public at no cost.

Presented by C. Ann Staley on October 28, 2026 at 7:00 PM MDT

As researchers we gather all sorts of information, but once we have it what do we do with it? How can our findings be analyzed to tell us what we need – and where to find it? How can we tell what we don’t have and need to find? And now that I have all this family data, how can I share it with other family members? Technology available today might help you in answering those questions. This presentation will be geared to PCs and MSWindows and will include: • Setting up an SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) • Forms – some like ’em; some don’t • Your computer (PC) – programs/apps already installed that can assist you • Using word processors, spreadsheets and databases to your advantage • Organizing your family data in a family tree program • Note-keeping systems in the computer age • Using computer artificial intelligence to analyze your genealogy data

C. Ann Staley, CG®, CGL ®, FNGS, has spoken regionally, nationally, and at sea. She serves as the Conference Booth Coordinator for the Genealogical Speakers Guild; is on the faculty of The International Institute for Genealogical Studies; as a volunteer of the National Genealogical Society; and as a volunteer of the Florida State Genealogical Society. She served previously on the board of the Association of Professional Genealogists and has taught at the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research (IGHR). Ann is the author of articles for the NGS Magazine and is the co-author of the NGS Research in the States Series: Florida. She has been researching her family from Alabama, Mississippi, Indiana, and Virginia to France, England, Ireland, and Germany. Her specialties are methodology, vital records and their sources, computer research resources, and conference planning. Ann is a member of the National Genealogical Society, Association of Professional Genealogists, Genealogical Speakers Guild, and the Florida State Genealogical Society.