We are so grateful to each of our instructors who volunteer their time and talents to present at the Jamboree. Our 2026 instructors include:
Shane Conley Born in Dayton, Ohio and raised in Miami and Shelby counties of a farming family. Retired from Five Rivers MetroParks. Interests include; genealogy, local history, hiking, reading and travel. I was long ago designated the family ‘historian’ and given old family documents, diaries, photos, etc. Collected stories of previous family generations starting at age nine by writing letters to my then living grandparents and great-grandparents. An active member of Ancestry.com since 2001. Volunteer for Troy Local History Library, and Recording/Corresponding Secretary for Miami County Historical and Genealogical Society, Preble County Historical Society Underground Railroad Committee member. A member of numerous local historical and genealogical groups. Continuing a life-long quest to discover and tell the narrative of my ancestors and helping others to find their own family stories.
Lisa Forshee was born in the state of Kentucky but have lived in Dayton, Ohio for the past 28-years. I’m a widowed mother of three adult children and have been doing genealogy research for about 25-years. I volunteer at the Family History Center in Fairborn and am most passionate about pre-1850 research and using property tax records to find additional clues that can assist me in my research.
Michael Garrambone is a retired Army Officer and Military Operations Research Analyst for DCS Corporation in Dayton, Ohio. He graduated from the University of Florida in Engineering Science and Mechanics and earned master degrees in operations research, business, and education. Mike is a librarian at the FamilySearch Center in Fairborn, Ohio with interests in Italian genealogy, historical research, computer graphics, and teaching. His research includes tracking Italians, African Americans, Irish immigrants, and Native Americans. He is a web browser, database keeper, map user, and ardent mentor. He enjoys scanning and editing images and researching sources at all levels. He garners information from field trips and national archive visits. He shares interesting stories and unusual events from his own research. He presents interesting and useful techniques that researchers can apply to their own genealogical discoveries.
Jenny Harvey discovered her passion for family history research 34 years ago and has been dedicated to helping others uncover their roots ever since. From 2016 to 2019, she served as an assistant to the director of the FamilySearch Center in Fairborn, where she supported community members in their genealogical pursuits. In 2018, she earned an Associate Degree in Family History Research, further strengthening her expertise in the field. Since 2019, Jennifer has served as the director of the FamilySearch Center in Fairborn, where she continues to guide individuals and families in exploring their heritage. She has taught numerous classes to the community on a wide range of genealogical topics, sharing her knowledge and enthusiasm for connecting people with their ancestors.
Garry Knight has been researching his family history for 30 years. He has shared his findings and experiences in several articles for genealogical society newsletters and presentations.
He is a member of several Genealogical Societies including the Montgomery County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society, where he has served on the board as President, Vice-President, Chair of the Lineage Society Committee and other. Garry has also participated in table discussions for various genealogical events, been interviewed for genealogy related newspaper articles, and appeared as a guest on the Ohio Roots Podcast.
Peggy Lauritzen AG, FOGS has been involved in genealogy since before her birth. My parents were excellent genealogists, and instilled the same love of history and family in me and my three sisters. One of my favorite pictures is of my mother on her way to do cemetery research four days before my birth. My roots run deep into the South, where I am Accredited. They involve the states of Kentucky, Virginia, Tennessee, North and South Carolina, and some areas of Pennsylvania. I love the area of Appalachia, and have written several Legacy QuickGuides that you may purchase from the site:
http://familytreewebinars.com/peggylauritzen
Dana Palmer, CG®, CGL(SM) specializes in lineage society applications, publishing family books, and Midwestern research – specifically Ohio. She also has experience researching in the U.K, Denmark, Germany, Czech Republic, Hungary, and Romania. In addition to her client work, she reviews military repatriation cases for Eagle Investigative Services, Inc., is part of the Silver Books team for the General Society of Mayflower Descendants, and lectures at RootsTech, the National Genealogical Society (NGS), and the Ohio Genealogical Society (OGS) conferences. She became a certified genealogist (CG) in 2009 and a certified genealogical lecturer (CGL) in 2019. She has been a genealogy instructor at Sinclair Community College since 2010. She belongs to several lineage societies including ISDUP, NSDAR, USD 1812, and Colonial Dames. She has received numerous awards for her books and volunteer efforts. She loves problem solving and tracking down those elusive ancestors!
Jim Phillabaum was born and raised in the Miami Valley. He served in the United States Marine
Corps from 1963 to 1972. He is a retired Firefighter/Paramedic and is also retired from First
Financial Bank. Jim has been involved in Family History for the better part of 6 decades. He has been in demand as a speaker and instructor in multiple genealogical subjects.