About Cari A. Taplin, CG

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Cari A. Taplin is related to Roy Rogers. Or at least that’s what her family told her. As a result, finding her true heritage has been her focus since the year 2000. She is a native of Wood County, Ohio but now lives in Longmont, Colorado. Cari holds the Certified Genealogist® credential and has served in a wide variety of volunteer and leadership positions for local, state, and national societies. As the owner of GenealogyPANTS, she provides speaking services. She also lends help and shares her expertise as an administrator on the highly popular Facebook Group “The Genealogy Squad.” Cari currently works for Ancestry ProGenealogists. Cari’s personal research focuses on midwestern and Great Lakes states.

Below is a listing of Cari’s experience and credentials:

Credentials:

National and Regional Conference Speaker

  • New England Regional Genealogical Consortium Conference, 2025, Manchester, NH

Seminar & Institute Lecturer (2025 – Present)

  • “Genetics for Genealogists: Fundamentals of DNA,” Patti Hobbs, coordinator, presented 3 lectures, Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research, Spring 2026
  • “Repository Research: From Website to Doorway,” Cyndi Ingle, coordinator, presented 3 lectures, Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research, Spring 2026
  • West Valley Genealogical Society, Arizona, Seminar Speaker, presented 4 lectures, February 2026
  • GRIP Genealogical Institute, course coordinator, “The Spirit of the Inland Seas: Research in the Great Lakes,” June 2025
  • Texas Institute of Genealogical Research, Kelvin Meyers, coordinator, presented 2 lectures, June 2025
  • Suncoast Genealogical Society, Seminar Speaker, presented 2 lectures, March 2025

Webinars and Lectures Presented (2025 – Present)

  • San Angelo Genealogical and Historical Society (TX), “Genealogical Grit: Persevering Through Tough Problems,” April 2026
  • Williamson County (TX) Genealogical Society, “Using Timelines to Analyze Your Research,” January 2026
  • Larimer County (CO) Genealogical Society, “Harvesting Family History in Agricultural Records,” September 2025
  • Chicago Genealogical Society, “Unfamiliar Territory: Building a Locality Guide,” September 2025
  • Florida Genealogical Society, Tampa, “Genealogical Grit: Persevering Through Tough Problems,” August 2025
  • Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research, Evening Lecture, “My Cousin Trigger,” July 2025
  • Tennessee Genealogical Society, “Who Lived Next Door? Using the FAN Club in Your Research,” July 2025
  • Cranberry Genealogy Club (PA), “Using Church Records to Find Ancestral Origins,” April 2025
  • Canton Public Library (OH), “The Third Coast: How the Great Lakes Shaped America,” March 2025
  • Anne Arundel (MD) Genealogical Society, “Genealogical Grit,” March 2025
  • North Carolina DAR Lineage Committee, “Using Timelines to Analyze Your Research,” February 2025
  • Kinseekers Genealogical Society (FL), “Deeds to Dirt: Analyzing Research with Maps,” February 2025
  • Central Florida Genealogical Society, “Deeds to Dirt: Analyzing Research with Maps,” January 2025
  • Pastfinders (FL), “Using Google MyMaps,” January 2025
  • Boulder Genealogical Society, “Using Google’s My Maps,” January 2025

Study Groups

Publications & Projects

  • National Genealogical Society Quarterly (NGSQ), book review, “Forensic Genealogy: Theory & Practice. By Michael S. Ramage and Catherine B. W. Desmarais, with Kelvin L. Meyers, Angie Bush, David Gurney, Cairenn Binder, and Rich Venezia. Edited by Thomas W. Jones,” September 2025
  • National Genealogical Society Quarterly (NGSQ), book review, “The Complete Guide to FamilyTree DNA: Y-DNA, Mitochondrial, Autosomal and X-DNA. By Roberta Estes,” March 2025

Awards

  • The Graham T. Smallwood Award, 2022 – from the Association of Professional Genealogists
  • The Distinguished Service Award, 2014 – from the Boulder Genealogical Society
  • Walter Lee Sheppard Jr. Prize, 2013
  • Real People Writing Real History Award (with Mary McRoberts), 2007 – Boulder Heritage Roundtable

The words Certified Genealogist and the designation CG are registered certification marks of the Board for Certification of Genealogists®, used under license by authorized associates following peer-reviewed competency evaluations. Certificate No. 1058, expires 24 February 2030.

Earlier Activities