2025 Genealogy Conference with Blaine Bettinger

The North Hills Genealogists will be hosting a hybrid 2025 family history conference featuring Blaine Bettinger, Ph.D, J.D., also known as The Genetic Genealogist.

Join us Saturday, November 8, 2025 for an all-day in-person, or remote via Zoom (live only, no recording), conference as we explore how to further use genetic testing (DNA) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in our genealogical research. Lunch is not included, but we are providing an option to pre-purchase a box lunch. You may also bring your own bagged lunch or visit one of many nearby restaurants including Five Guys Burgers, Jason’s Deli and Wendy’s. If you pre-purchase a box lunch, you will receive a follow-up email to select your lunch options.

Are you the type of person who thinks it's fun to spend a day learning about how to conduct research on the internet and dive deeper into the records you find, extracting every last clue that they can give? How about spending a day with like-minded individuals learning about how to best conduct genealogical research to discover your ancestors’ life stories? Then this experience is for you!

Blaine Bettinger, Ph.D., J.D., is a professional genealogist specializing in DNA evidence. In 2007 he started The Genetic Genealogist (www. thegenetic genealogist.com), one of the earliest blogs on the topic. Blaine is the author of The Family Tree Guide to DNA Testing and Genetic Genealogy, and co-author with Debbie Parker Wayne of the 2018 Genetic Genealogy in Practice, the world’s first genetic genealogy workbook. He also co-authored “Genetics for Genealogy” with Judy Russell in 2018’s Professional Genealogy: Preparation, Practice & Standards (ProGen PPS) (Elizabeth Shown Mills, editor) and was the chapter author for “Visual Phasing Methodology and Techniques” in 2019’s Advanced Genetic Genealogy: Techniques and Case Studies (Debbie Parker Wayne, Editor).

Blaine is or has been an instructor for genetic genealogy courses at the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research (IGHR), Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG), Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh (GRIP), and Virtual Institute of Genealogical Research. Blaine is a graduate of ProGen Study Group 21, a trustee for the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society, and a member of the DNAngels Board of Directors since 2022 (President since January 2023), and a member of the Scientific Working Group on DNA Analysis Methods (SWGDAM) “Investigative Genetic Genealogy Working Group” since 2019. He is also the founder in 2017 of Genetic Genealogy Tips & Techniques, a very active Facebook group with more than 75,000 members.

(Doorprize drawings during morning break and lunch break)

8:00 AM - Doors open (in-person). Sign In to Zoom (on-line).
Socialize & networking

8:45 AM - Opening Remarks

9:00 AM - Two morning lectures with a break

Late AM - Lunchtime Break

Afternoon - Two afternoon lectures with a break

Final Q&A until 4:00 PM ET

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION with LECTURE DESCRIPTIONS and PRINTABLE BROCHURE/REGISTRATION FORM IS AVAILABLE AT www.NorthHillsGenealogists.org

Email us at Q29uZmVyZW5jZSB8IE5vcnRoSGlsbHNHZW5lYWxvZ2lzdHMgISBvcmc=

Saturday Lectures: $65 (NHG Member) $75 (non-member)

Saturday Optional box lunch (menu selection provided after registration, includes a vegetarian option): $20

There will be a number of door prizes awarded during the morning breaks and at the lunchtime break.

MORNING SESSIONS

"Sprinters, Caffeine Addicts, and Daredevils! Understanding DNA-Based Traits" – Delve into how genetic testing reveals insights into our traits and predispositions beyond ancestry. This lecture will explore how specific genetic markers can indicate tendencies like athletic ability, caffeine metabolism, and risk-taking behavior.

"DNA-Based Relationship Estimators and Analyzers" – Explore the tools and methodologies used in genetic genealogy to estimate and analyze relationships between individuals based on DNA data. This lecture will cover how relationship estimators analyze shared DNA segments to predict familial connections.

AFTERNOON SESSIONS

"10 Generative AI Prompts Every Genealogist Needs to Know" – The “prompt” is perhaps the most important aspect of generative artificial intelligence (AI). The prompt is how we direct AI tools to give us the output we desire. However, forming these prompts can be challenging and is rarely a one-shot attempt. We will identify how to formulate (and reformulate!) AI prompts and look at ten example prompts that can save us significant time and effort.

"Memories in the Digital Age: AI Transcription of Handwritten Diaries" – My mother kept a diary off and on throughout her adult life. She recently passed, and I would like to preserve her diaries and be able to share the content with my siblings. Follow along as I digitize and transcribe her handwritten journals using artificial intelligence (AI).

"Question & Answer Session" until 4pm EDT

The conference will conclude with a Q & A from questions submitted by attendees.

The Sechler Law Firm building is situated in the Thorn Hill Industrial Park in Warrendale, PA, which is near Cranberry Township. It is close to I-76, I-79 and I-279. Watch for our signs directing you from Commonwealth Drive.

Also check out other Business events in Warrendale, Conferences in Warrendale, Arts events in Warrendale.