Jennifer is a Project Manager at Legacy Tree Genealogists, where she combines a lifelong love of storytelling with a passion for helping people uncover their roots. Her journey into genealogy began in 2020 when she started tracing her own family tree—an adventure that led to unexpected discoveries, including traces of Coptic Egyptian and Eastern European ancestry in her predominantly Italian lineage. With a background in customer service and experience as an insurance agent, Jennifer brings … [Read more...]
Meet Whitney, Project Manager for Legacy Tree Genealogists
Whitney’s love of family history began with the stories shared around the dinner table. Growing up in the South, her family was never short on colorful tales – some of which sounded a bit too good to be true. Driven by curiosity, Whitney set out in college to separate myth from fact, embarking on a research project to build a family tree as a Christmas gift for her parents and grandmother. The process not only uncovered fascinating truths but also sparked conversations and connections across … [Read more...]
Meet Lisa, Project Manager for Legacy Tree Genealogists
Lisa Ratzesberger brings a warm and personal touch to her work in genealogy, shaped by years of experience in client-focused roles. She started her career in credit unions, helping members with their accounts and loans. After taking time off to raise her three children, she stayed active by volunteering in her community. Once her kids were in school, Lisa moved into the insurance world, where she got licensed and continued her focus on great customer service. No matter the job, she’s always been … [Read more...]
Meet Annie, Project Manager for Legacy Tree Genealogists
Annie Kenline is a Project Manager at Legacy Tree Genealogists, where she brings a passion for storytelling, organization, and helping others connect with their family's past. With a professional background in construction project management, Annie is no stranger to high-pressure environments and tight timelines—experiences that have sharpened her skills in attention to detail, clear communication, and timely product delivery. She loves working with researchers and clients to bring complex … [Read more...]
Meet Shari, Project Manager for Legacy Tree Genealogists
Shari's journey into genealogy began with childhood curiosity, as she delved into old family photographs and stories. A memorable piece of advice from her father — "Watch out for the first few branches; they might swing back and hit you!" — added humor to her early explorations. As an adoptive parent, her passion for genealogy took on new meaning. She understands deeply how powerful it is to help others bridge the gap to their biological roots and carries that empathy into her work with every … [Read more...]
Meet Terra, Client Support Director for Legacy Tree Genealogists
Terra Costin grew up listening to interesting stories about her family history from various family members, and always wondered which were true and which were embellished. Did her great-grandmother really run away with the circus in the 1930s, never to be seen or heard from again? Was her great-great-grandfather really the founder of Ricks College (now BYU-Idaho)? Did her ancestors really own a farm that provided potatoes to the Lays potato chip company? And more importantly, she always wondered … [Read more...]
Meet Laura, Project Manager for Legacy Tree Genealogists
Laura’s journey into genealogy didn’t come from family tradition—it came from a longing for connection. Born in New Jersey but mostly raised in New Mexico, she grew up largely detached from extended relatives, with no one in her immediate family showing much interest in tracing their roots. But Laura was different. She wanted to understand where she came from, who her ancestors were, and how their stories shaped the life she knew. That curiosity became a lifelong pursuit. Her greatest … [Read more...]
Meet Derek, Project Manager for Legacy Tree Genealogists
Meet Derek, one of Legacy Tree Genealogists talented project managers! Derek brings decades of project management experience to our team. Derek has a depth of experience in project management from a nearly 30-year military career managing linguists and intelligence professionals. The skills Colonel (Ret) Tolman developed serving the intelligence community transfer over nicely to the family history and genealogy community. As he says, “It’s nice to transition from looking for the bad guys as … [Read more...]