2016 Superstar Genealogists

Join me in congratulating those in the specified countries/areas receiving the most votes in the Rockstar Genealogist poll 2016, the gold award winners, your 2016 Superstar Genealogists.

International, USA, Genetic Genealogy

Judy G. Russell
Debuting as Superstar Genealogist in three categories, Judy Russell, holds credentials as a Certified GenealogistSM and Certified Genealogical LecturerSM from the Board for Certification of Genealogists®, where she serves as a member of the Board of Trustees, Judy is best known for her numerous speaking engagements and her blog, The Legal Genealogist.
A Colorado native, Judy has a bachelor’s degree in journalism with a political science minor from George Washington University in Washington, D.C. and a law degree from Rutgers School of Law-Newark. She has worked as a newspaper reporter, trade association writer, legal investigator, defense attorney, federal prosecutor, law editor and, until her retirement in 2014, spent more than 20 years as an adjunct member of the faculty at Rutgers Law School.

Australia/New Zealand
Jill Ball
Returning to the Superstar Genealogist position she first held in 2013, Jill describes herself as an amateur Australian genealogist who enjoys dabbling with online tools. Jill who enjoys geneatravel is an active member of several Australian and International genealogy societies.

During her working life prior to "retirement" Jill was a Librarian, Teacher and Head of Information Technology. Jill's blog is Geniaus.


Canada

Gail Dever
Jumping into the Superstar Gold award position, Gail Dever writes daily about genealogy news, resources and issues facing the genealogy community at Genealogy à la carte and on a variety of social media. She is a popular speaker on social media and genealogy. A native of Toronto, resident of Montreal, Gail has a bachelor degree in French literature from Laval University and has held several senior positions in public affair, including external communications and advertising. Gail also manages BIFHSGO's website.


England, Scotland, Wales

Kirsty Gray
Kirsty returns to the #1 position, Superstar Genealogist, she occupied in 2013 and 2015. Formerly a scientist and teacher she turned her interest to professional genealogy in 2002, Kirsty is Managing Director of Family Wise Ltd which conducts research for private individuals, solicitors, academics and companies worldwide. She is active on various social media, a sought-after lecturer internationally and has appeared on TV genealogy programmes in several countries. Kirsty will be a featured speaker at Rootstech 2017 and the Ontario Genealogical Society conference 2017.

Ireland

Maurice Gleeson
Debuting as a Superstar genealogist, with a background as psychiatrist, pharmaceutical physician and part-time actor, Maurice is widely know for his YouTube videos on genetic genealogy. He has organized the genetic genealogy lectures for Genetic Genealogy Ireland in Dublin and Who Do You Think You Are? Live in the UK since 2012. He is co-administrator for the Gleason/Gleeson, Spearin, Farrell, Irish Caribbean DNA and WW1 Missing Legacy projects.


Over the next few days the blog will reveal top Rockstar Genealogist lists as follows:

Wednesday: Australia/News Zealand and Canada
Thursday: England/Scotland/Wales and Ireland
Friday: International, USA and DNA