My fascination with genealogy and family history began when I was young. Stories of family lore sparked a fire of interest for me that grew with me over the years. Then, after my father passed away in 2005, I was surprised to discover dozens of boxes containing thousands of documents, family records, and photographs in his office attic.

As I went through those boxes, I recalled my father, over the years, mailing me early computer printouts of his findings and charts of our family tree.  Proud of my heritage, I kept every page that he sent me in a special red binder. Going through my father’s boxes, I was amazed to find information that had not been shared and photos that I had never seen before. Those boxes contained an ancestral treasure trove that I have since shared with family near and far.  With the fire burning in me, I then tackled the ancestry of my wife’s family lineage which lead to more discoveries. Learning and doing the genealogy for our families opened a door for me that lead the way to formal training and eventually to my decision to change careers and become a professional genealogist. 

My first career choice was that of a soldier and then civil servant. Upon graduation from college, I was commissioned a regular officer in the United States Army Signal Corps. I served on active duty for eleven-plus years, followed by another ten years in the Reserve. After leaving active duty, I transitioned to a civilian career working Information Technology (IT) and Project Management (PM) assignments. I worked with several U.S. Government program organizations and Federal Agencies, including a stint with the National Archives and Records Administration, before moving to the Department of Homeland Security as a federal employee. After a combined thirty-five years of service, I retired as a senior GS-15, incredibly well-versed in the best practices and application of IT and PM skills.

I started my second career as a professional genealogist on a part-time basis. While working several genealogical research projects for friends and family, I developed my unique ‘Requisite Research’ approach. Then, in 2017, I transitioned into offering full-time professional genealogy services to clients. My prior PM experience and my knowledge of IT computer systems gives me a unique understanding of records digitization, records databases, online digital archives, and how to use them in genealogy and other research projects. As a professional, I strive to stay abreast of new methodologies and available research venues by regularly attending professional conferences and reading professional journals in addition to continuing my professional education. Through this maintenance of my professional knowledge, and with my background, I ensure my clients are provided with best-in-class focused, professional genealogy and responsive, personal customer service.