BIO

I was born on May 3, 1979 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and have spent much of my life in the region. I was raised in a Reconstructionist Jewish household and grew up attending Congregation Dor Hadash, where my grandfather was one of the early presidents.

I attended Solomon Schechter Day School (later part of Community Day School), followed by the Pittsburgh Public School system through high school at Reizenstein and Allderdice. During high school, I was involved in stage crew for musical productions and participated in marching band activities.

My early career included a variety of roles in customer service, retail, and technical environments, including work at Wendy’s, a comic book store, and a computer lab. I initially pursued studies in Computer User Support at CCAC before ultimately transferring to Point Park University, where I earned a B.A. in Applied History.

PROFESSIONAL FOCUS

My work and interests have centered around genealogical research, historical context, and record analysis. Over time, this developed into a broader approach to understanding how inconsistencies in records, naming patterns, and documentation practices affect genealogical conclusions.

Genealogy, in practice, often involves working with incomplete, conflicting, or evolving information. My focus is on evaluating evidence, recognizing patterns, and interpreting records within their historical and cultural context.

GENEALOGY AND LEADERSHIP

In 2017, I restarted the Jewish Genealogy Society of Pittsburgh and currently serve as its President. I also serve in leadership and volunteer roles within the broader genealogy community, including involvement with the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies (IAJGS) Technology Committee and as a Town Leader for the German-Jewish SIG.

PERSONAL INTERESTS

Outside of genealogy, I have long been interested in comic books, science fiction, and related media, including Marvel, DC, Star Wars, and Star Trek.

I also enjoy biking local trails and have historically enjoyed music and karaoke, particularly rock genres.