AMERICAN RESEARCH BUREAU - Key Persons
Afton was born and raised in Bountiful, Utah and is proud of her German ancestry. During her studies, Afton developed geneaological reseach and problem solving skills through classes in Family History and Engineering. She is detail oriented and is adept at noticing disrepancies on records and documents. Afton enjoys the teamwork aspect of her job, where a group of experts combine their skills to put all of the pieces of the puzzle together. She also enjoys working with clients and finds great satisfaction in helping them establish their heirship. During her free time, Afton loves road and mountain biking, traveling, cooking, and helping individuals compile their life histories in book form.
Alyssa was born and raised in Eastern Washington on the banks of the mighty Columbia River. She earned an Associate's Degree from BYU-Hawaii and her Bachelor's degree in Family History & Genealogy from BYU. Alyssa then worked at the Granite Mountain Records Vault digitizing records for Family Search. She also spent time on Ancestry's corporate research team. Alyssa loves the rewarding feeling of locating a missing heir and connecting them to their lawful inheritance as well as to lost family members. She counts attention to detail and the ability to solve difficult research problems among her greatest skills. Outside of work, Alyssa enjoys traveling, trying new restaurants with her husband, reading, and playing board games with family and friends.
Job Titles:
- HR Manager
- Human Resources Leader
Amber is a Human Resources leader with over a decade of experience in adding value to organizations in talent acquisition, training, compensation and benefits administration, performance management, legal compliance, employee relations and more. She is SHRM-CP certified and studied at BYU-Idaho and Western Governors University in HR Management and Business Administration. Amber finds personal fulfillment in improving the employee experience and partnering with leadership to meet business goals with people solutions. Her greatest joy in life is being a mother and feels her greatest personal strength is tenacity. Outside of work, Amber enjoys spending time with family, hiking, fishing, shopping, and organizing (yes she has a label maker and she does use it)!
Anita joined ARB in 2018 and delights in helping her team take care of clients and partners by streamlining financial and accounting processes. Prior to co-founding businesses in Texas and Utah, Anita earner her accounting degree from Utah Valley University. Anita loves the unique line of work ARB is involved in that helps keep assets in the family. In her time outside of work, Anita loves running the trails near her home, sailing, golfing, and spending time with her family.
Job Titles:
- Assistant
- Office Administrator
Anna has spent most of her life in entertainment: show choir, theatre, and even the opera! She even pursued a degree in vocal performance before turning her attention to a double major in philosophy and psychology. Anna's greatest work skills are learning new systems quickly, adapting, and organizing. She enjoys helping people take care of the small tasks so they can focus on their big tasks. Anna also enjoys the arts and crafts such as painting, drawing, and creating things. She plans to illustrate a children's flip book soon. Anna also enjoys watching movies and taking walks with her husband and her dog.
Ashley joined ARB's research team in 2020, bringing a passion for solving difficult puzzles. Prior to joining ARB, Ashley earned a Bachelor's Degree in Family History/Genealogy from BYU and a Master's Degree in Library and Information Science (emphasis in Archival and Digital Records Management) from Simmons College. Ashley previously worked in the genealogy field for the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society and AncestryProGenealogists, while also completing internships at the Society of Genealogists in London and the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. She regularly attends and speaks at genealogy conferences across the country. In her spare time, Ashley enjoys watching documentaries, reading biographies, and following sports, particularly the Utah Jazz.
Aubrey joined American Research Bureau's research team in 2015. She is passionate about connecting people with their lawful inheritances and has been a dedicated genealogist for many years. Aubrey is fair, balanced, optimistic, and leads with a positive attitude. Before joining the ARB team, she worked in Human Resources. Aubrey enjoys any chance she gets to sing and dance. And yes, Aubrey is related to Ernest Hemingway.
Job Titles:
- Senior Probate Researcher
Barry has been with American Research Bureau for over 30 years. He approaches everything with energy, enthusiasm, and speed. His honest, professional approach has enabled him to connect thousands of unknown and missing heirs with their lawful inheritance. Originally from Las Vegas, Barry is now an avid runner in the Wasatch Mountains of Utah - sometimes competing in 100-mile trail races! He also enjoys spending quality time with his family.
Job Titles:
- Assistant
- Office Administrator
Rebecca comes to ARB as an experienced administrative assistant. She is able to quickly learn new systems and programs and adapt to process changes. Rebecca enjoys assisting in the process that heirs go through to be connected to their inheritance. She also enjoys the collaborative nature in the ARB office and knowing how crucial each role is to provide successful outcomes for our clients. Outside of work, Rebecca enjoys spending time with family, doing her own family history research, solving jigsaw puzzles, reading fiction and non-fiction books, and going to the movies. Her adventurous side enjoys canoeing down alligator infested rivers in Florida!
Carl earned a physics degree from Bucknell University and has since written software for computer security, finance, and AI classification systems. He has two patents for audio processing algorithms that filter noise from speech. Carl likes to write expert systems and tools that help people do their jobs. He also enjoys solving interesting problems. For fun, Carl plays the guitar, hikes, kayaks, and dances the tango. Whenever possible, he enjoys these activities with his four children.
Carolyn was born in England then spent much of her childhood among the alligators and snakes in rural Florida swamps. It was during this early phase in her life that she fell in love with family history research. To pursue her passion, Carolyn honed her skills by helping others with their genealogical research. She later received a Family History & Genealogy degree from Brigham Young University. Carolyn is always excited to solve mysteries and make family connections. She has established herself as a DNA Matchmaker, combining genetic genealogy and traditional family history research to solve complex cases. A mother of ten, Carolyn has a diverse set of interests, from hiking, biking, and sailing, to sewing, quilting, and restoring furniture. She has lived and traveled throughout much of the United States and abroad, and is happy to now call Utah home.
Chad was born and raised in Smithfield, NC, a small town outside of Raleigh, where he spent a lot of time helping out on his grandparent's farm. He attended the University of North Carolina - Wilmington where he earned a BA in Political Science with a minor in Journalism. Following experiences in property management and financial technology, Chad spent time with a law firm as a case manager which led him to join ARB. Chad enjoys assisting clients through the process of receiving their inheritance. He loves the impact ARB services have on the lives of our clients. Outside of work, Chad loves being in the great outdoors - hiking, snowshoeing, camping, backpacking, etc.. He also loves supporting his hometown sports teams - the Panthers and the TarHeels!
Crystal became passionate about genealogy at a young age after watching the mini-series Roots which her cousin helped produce. This passion led her to the Family History Library where she discovered an article about the capture of her ancestral home during the Civil War. She was hooked. Crystal most recently worked at Ancestry specializing in lineage society and United States research. She is a popular Roots Tech Speaker helping beginners learn how to research and discover the stories of their families. Crystal loves collaborating with a team to solve complex challenges. She also loves talking with clients and helping them connect to family and learn their stories. Outside of work, Crystal loves traveling, painting outdoors, metalsmithing, and creating jewelry out of precious metals. Crystal previously had an online store and her work was once featured in Matthew Mead Magazine. She also traveled on the Queen Mary II from London to New York and lectured as a guest genealogist.
Daniel joined ARB in 2019 with over 20 years of experience in the architecture and development of websites and software tools. A graduate of Weber State University with a Bachelors of Computer Science, Daniel has been programming Java for almost as long as the language has been in public use. Daniel enjoys working with the amazing researchers at ARB and is particularly impressed with their expertise and empathy. Daniel caught the programming bug early in life and has fond memories from his childhood working with his dad and brother on very early computer systems and games. Outside of work Daniel enjoys spending quality time with his wife and four children.
Danny was born and raised in Massapequa Park, NY. While attending Stonehill College, he played goalkeeper for the soccer team and earned a B.A. in History. Following college, Danny was a financial advisor for Prudential and then spent eight years in operations with Goldman Sachs where he developed keen process management, business intelligence, and team collaboration skills. Just prior to joining ARB, Danny spent time honing his business development skills at a client experience software company. Danny brings a passion for historical research and a desire to create positive experiences for his clients to his work. He is detail oriented and possesses strong technical skills. Outside of work, Danny enjoys spending time with his wife and daughter, skiing and hiking in the mountains, and is an avid follower of NY sports and the English Premier League.
Job Titles:
- CIO
- Key Contributor to ARB
Darren has been a key contributor to ARB's leading technical resources for nearly three decades. He began programming in middle school and hasn't let up since, earning bachelor's and master's degrees in electrical engineering from Brigham Young University. Darren enjoys working with the bright people at ARB, overcoming complex business challenges, and creating solutions that help the ARB team succeed. When he's not writing code or inventing new tools, you can find him trail running or swimming.
Job Titles:
- Director of Client Inheritance
Dave Schwartz joined ARB shortly after his brother Dan, following his completion of a mathematics degree from Brigham Young University. As Client Inheritance Director, Dave counts as his greatest asset his ability to analyze a multitude of information and sift out the elements absolutely essential to solving the case. An enthusiastic outdoors person, Dave especially enjoys camping and backpacking trips with his family.
Elizabeth joined ARB in 2020 after graduating from Brigham Young University with a Bachelor's degree in Family History/Genealogy. During her education, Elizabeth spent time interning with FamilySearch, Society of Genealogists in London, and the Harold B. Lee Library. Elizabeth brings excellent research and organization skills, as well as a passion for connecting families, to her work. She particularly enjoys learning from others' experiences and loves solving the puzzles that her work invariably brings. Elizabeth grew up enjoying detective and mystery pieces and brings this fascination of solving mysteries to her work. Outside of work, you will likely find Elizabeth in the great outdoors with family and friends, or challenging herself to learn a new skill.
Emily graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in History. She has also spent time interning at archives and libraries and worked for the Utah Juvenile Court. Emily enjoys discovering how things connect; whether that is connecting families, events, or seeing how all the pieces of a process come together to enable things to work. Emily loves connecting the dots as it allows her to learn quickly and see the whole picture while not losing sight of the individual parts. She also enjoys helping people - working to make a positive difference in their lives. Emily's passions are reading and learning new skills through experience, such as gardening and singing.
Erik joined ARB in 2013 following 20 years in Linux administration, including more than 10 years in High Performance Computing. Erik loves building systems and learning new things. He enjoys helping people overcome technological difficulties and providing tools to help make their jobs easier. A talented ceramic artist, Erik is, at heart, a builder of things. When not building new systems and tools at ARB he can often be found in his home studio, working on some new creation.
Forrest is a graduate of BYU with a degree in Family History and Genealogy. During college, he completed several interesting internships, including an internship in Norway at a museum and with the Chester Fritz Library at the Univeristy of North Dakota. Prior to ARB, Forrest worked at Price Genealogy solving complex family histories through DNA and tracing Scandinavian Genealogy back to the 1700s. He is adept at using logic to examine a puzzle from every angle until the right answer becomes clear. Forrest finds it thrilling to discover family connections that have been lost or forgotten and he enjoys helping ensure that estate inheritances go to all family members who should rightfully inherit. Outside of work, Forrest enjoys spending time with family, playing board and card games, juggling, playing the piano, and studying and speaking the Norwegian language. He also edits a newsletter for the Solørlag of America, a social group for people with ancestors from Southwestern Norway.
Research and genealogy are Hazel's passions. Hazel has completed internships at FamilySearch, the LDS Church History Library, and Family Locket Genealogists. She was also a research assistant at the Neal A. Maxwell Institute of Religious Scholarship and a Teaching Assistant in the Department of History while completing her bachelor's degree in Family History and Genealogy at Brigham Young University. Hazel is particularly adept at solving complex research problems and feels rewarded when helping clients claim their inheritance. Outside of work Hazel enjoys traveling and all things Harry Potter.
Growing up 30 minutes outside of Boston, Hillary gained a love and appreciation for history at an early age. Her love of history led her to earn a degree in Family History and Genealogy from Brigham Young University. Hillary has interned at the National Archives Museum in Washington DC, lived abroad in England, China, and Taiwan, and is fluent in Chinese. She prides herself in conducting difficult research and loves see all the pieces of the puzzle come together. Hillary get chills when she holds a vital record, a piece of history, in her hands, as she ponders what has transpired in that person's life. When not at work, Hillary loves to travel, play the harp, cheer on the Boston Red Sox, and can't get enough of everything Disney.
The senior of four Schwartz brothers, Dan serves as ARB Research Director. Dan joined the company in 1987 while working on his business degree at Brigham Young University. One of the foremost experts in the field of forensic genealogy, Dan has testified as an expert witness in more than 75 estate proceedings throughout the U.S. He counts among his greatest thrills solving difficult cases. Dan loves boating, is an avid sports fan and youth sports coach.
As Office Manager, Janine focuses primarily on keeping information moving within the organization and between ARB and its clients. Janine is well suited for this task with her background in office management, coaching, teaching, and as an NCAA athlete. In every aspect of her life she has focused on organization and communications. Janine enjoys working with people and has developed a great desire to help others be successful. Janine loves seeing the amazing joy that comes to individuals and families because of the work done at ARB. During her free time, Janine is an avid tennis player and treasures spending time with family.
Joel joined ARB after spending several years creating detailed family histories for private clients. Joel has a master's degree in American history and brings exceptional research skills to his work as a Research Manager. He is particularly adept at solving cases with family connections that are difficult to establish and loves helping to ensure that ARB clients can claim their lawful inheritances. Joel plays the French horn and is a self-confessed political junkie.
The final Schwartz sibling to join ARB, younger brother Jon has been with the company since 1997. He wasn't necessarily pre-destined for a career in forensic genealogy, however, having earned a bachelor's degree in music at Brigham Young University. A multi-instrumentalist, Jon plays piano, organ, clarinet, sax, and trumpet. Fortunately for the company, Jon chose to become a Probate Researcher full-time, applying his persistence and love of problem solving to the work of uniting clients with their lawful inheritances.
Kody joined the Marine Corps in 2012 and served in two deployments: one in the Middle East as a Machine Gunner and the second in Australia as a Section Leader. Following his time in the Marines, Kody spent time in the Utah National Guard and worked as a fraud prevention specialist at LendingClub Bank. Through these experiences, Kody developed a keen eye for reviewing documents and communicating effectively. At ARB, Kody enjoys collaborating with his capable and skilled teammates and helping his clients establish heirship. Kody earned a BA in Psychology from the University of Arizona. Outside of work, Kody winds down by reading, running, and always having a few good carpentry projects in process.
Margaret, the Operations Manager at ARB, has been with the team since 2014. She brings a positive energy to running the day to day operations with a smile on her face every day. In her 26 years as Regional Customer Service Manager with Nordstrom, she developed a knack for implementing processes and motivating people. She loves to learn and solve problems, making her great at streamlining ARB's business processes. When not at work, she enjoys traveling, a love she developed after living in Brazil for three years as a teenager.
Mariana joined ARB following a career in healthcare where she most recently served in the Senior Care space. While in Senior Care, Mariana honed her skills at helping clients understand new and complex topics. Mariana earned a bachelors degree in Human Services and is very organized and efficient. This may come in part from her time spent in the Air Force. Mariana brings great energy and drive to her projects and really enjoys helping others find answers to their questions. At her heart, Mariana is a problem solver. Outside of work, she has served a humanitarian mission in Honduras and is an avid reader of many different genres. Mariana also loves good movies and music.
Megan loves people. Connecting the dots as she catalogues people's stories and experiences brings her great joy. At work, Megan is skilled at solving tough genealogical puzzles that solidify family connections. Outside of work, Megan loves reading, singing, playing the piano and performing in local theatre productions. Prior to coming to ARB, Megan earned her Masters Degree in Twentieth Century History from Utah State University and spent three years as a researcher for the Joseph Smith Papers Project. When not performing at work or on the stage, you'll find Megan travelling or riding the fastest roller coaster she can find.
Michael is an accomplished genealogist, having studied family history and genealogy at multiple universities and ultimately earning a Masters degree in Genealogical, Paleographic and Heraldic Studies. Michael has worked as a professional genealogist since 2007 and in the heir search industry since 2012. Michael enjoys creative problem solving and has great attention to detail. He enjoys working with a great group of people at ARB. Michael's smarts and passion for genealogy are evidenced in his ability to write from memory the names of his ancestors on each line in correct placement until the 7th generation - well over 100 names!
Armed with two master's degrees, a PhD in Political Science, and over 10 years in client facing roles, Nate decided to start his own genealogy business. Fortunately ARB was able to join forces with Nate and utilize his exceptional problem solving skills to locate missing and unknown heirs. Nate is highly skilled at connecting the dots utilizing professional research techniques and loves the collaboration and comradery with his teammates. Prior to joining ARB, Nate spent time teaching English in China and has traced his ancestry back to a Serbian great-great grandfather who was knighted by the Emperor of Austria. Royalty indeed!
Nathan hails from the Pacific Northwest, where he studied journalism at the University of Washington. He joined the ARB team early on in his career, and he is especially gratified when he can secure an inheritance for someone who may have otherwise been left out. Skilled in "big picture" thinking, Nathan pulls together many different clues to solve difficult research puzzles. He enjoys taking time to reflect while hiking in the nearby mountains, and while completing woodworking projects.
Saffron graduated with her M.A. degree in Anthropology from the University of Idaho, with her thesis focusing on the evidence of the theory of revitalization in relationship to Basque symbolism on gravestones in the Intermountain West. The research skills she acquired pertain to her role as a Document Specialist - piecing together relevant information to provide full evidence relating to the subject at hand. In this case, proving rightful heirship. Saffron loves the camaraderie her coworkers provide, as well as how much they care about the people they work for during the heirship process. Outside of work, Saffron enjoys spending time with her husband and friends, weightlifting, reading, and collecting plants. Unbeknownst to many, she also played the piano for eleven years!
Connecting with people and building trust has always been a strength for Shawn. He loves sharing the good news of an inheritance with his clients. Shawn loves spending time in the great outdoors, backpacking, camping, or spending time on the water. He spent two amazing years serving the people of South Africa as a missionary for his church. Prior to joining ARB, Shawn earned a Bachelor's Degree in Business Management from BYU-Idaho. During his education, Shawn had the privilege of serving as a fishing guide in Juneau, Alaska. Following graduation, he spent time hiring and training new teams across the country at new store openings for a major retailer.
Job Titles:
- Senior Research Specialist
Sophie joined ARB in 2018, however, she is not new to the industry. Previously, Sophie spent over 11 years in the industry in a variety of roles, including court reporter, probate researcher, and case manager. Sophie enjoys providing expert testimony and thrives on challenging research and problem solving, helping families discover their past. A native of the Republic of Georgia, Sophie's passion is travel. She loves to explore other cultures, try new cuisine, and make memories with her family. As a resident of New York City, Sophie also enjoys attending Broadway musicals.
The third Schwartz brother, Research Director Steve joined ARB upon graduating from Brigham Young University in 1992. A history major, Steve relishes solving puzzles. He thrives on organization and considers this one of his most valuable skills when solving difficult research problems. Steve is blessed with an ability to listen to people, learning their stories and pulling it all together. All of which comes in handy given that he spends a great deal of his time doing just that with his large family.
Following her double major in Political Science and International Cultural Studies at BYU-Hawaii, Teddy began working as a case manager in the legal services field. Her certifications in legal studies and peace building, along with her analytical mind, help her solve complex problems for her clients. Teddy loves people and enjoys being part of helping to improve the quality of someone's life. Knowing that what she is doing is making a difference in the life of another brings her great satisfaction. Teddy is also fluent in the Spanish language. When not assisting clients, Teddy loves boxing classes, scuba-diving and musicals. As the youngest of many grandchildren, Teddy was named after her grandfather.
The former Chief Marketing Officer of Lexmark International, Todd Hamblin has spent much of his career creating great customer experiences. As ARB's CEO, he takes great satisfaction in watching his team solve complex searches, enabling clients to keep their valuable assets in the family. Though Todd takes every chance he gets to travel and has climbed two of the world's "seven summits", Mt. Kilimanjaro and Mt. Aconcagua, he is thrilled to call the beautiful state of Utah home.
Job Titles:
- Senior Probate Researcher
Another ARB veteran, Troy earned a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Utah and a master's degree in Asian studies from the University of Washington. Troy joined ARB in 1991. He has been involved with research throughout his ARB career and now serves as a Probate Researcher. Troy comes by his research skill naturally, given that he has identified five generations of his own family history. Troy enjoys cycling, hiking, and sailing when he's not chasing genealogical mysteries.