2023 Polish Genealogy Conference
Speaker Biographies

Lisa A. Alzo, M.F.A., is a freelance writer, instructor, and internationally recognized lecturer, specializing in Eastern European genealogical research, writing your family history, and using the Internet to trace female and immigrant ancestors.

She grew up in Duquesne, Pennsylvania and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Nutrition from West Virginia Wesleyan College in 1987 and a Master of Fine Arts degree in Nonfiction Writing from the University of Pittsburgh in 1997.

Lisa is the author of eleven books, including The Family Tree Polish, Czech and Slovak Genealogy Guide, the award-winning Three Slovak Women and hundreds of magazine articles. Lisa is a contributing editor for Family Tree Magazine and works as an online educator and writing coach through her website Research, Write, Connect, <https://www.researchwriteconnect.com>.

She also developed the Eastern European Research Certificate Program for the National Institute for Genealogical Studies. Lisa is a frequently invited speaker for national conferences, genealogical and historical societies, and webinars. An avid genealogist for more than 30 years, Lisa also chronicles her family history adventures on her blog, The Accidental Genealogist https://www.theaccidentalgenealogist.com. Visit https://www.lisaalzo.com for more information.

Matthew Bielawa was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut and is the Associate Registrar at Central Connecticut State University in New Britain, Connecticut.  Mr. Bielawa currently serves as Vice-President of the Polish Genealogical Society of Connecticut and the Northeast, Inc.

He earned a B.A. degree in Slavic and East European Studies from the University of Connecticut in 1989 and a M.A. degree in Slavic Languages and Literatures from New York University in 1994.  His research specialization is in Eastern Galicia / Western Ukraine. Mr. Bielawa has visited Ukraine and Russia several times including a semester study at Leningrad State University.

He is webmaster of “Genealogy of Halychyna/Eastern Galicia”, a site devoted to Polish and Ukrainian genealogical research in Eastern Galicia/Western Ukraine.

Dr. Mieczysław B. B. Biskupski received his doctorate from Yale University and holds the Blejwas Endowed Chair in Polish History at Central Connecticut State University. He taught at Yale and was a Visiting Professorship in Political Science at the University of Rochester. He was a Fulbright Professor of History at the University of Warsaw and a Fellow of the Central European University in Budapest. Among other distinctions, he was appointed to the Honour Roll of Polish Scholarship by the Polish Ministry of Education and was elected to the Société polonaise des Sciences et des Lettres à l ’étranger in London. He holds the Krzyż Komandorski Orderu Zasługi of the Republic of Poland. He has been President of both the Polish Institute of Arts and Sciences and the Polish American Historical Association in the United States as well being a Director of the Józef Piłsudski Institute in New York.

He has published eighteen books – and more than one-hundred shorter pieces – and has conducted research throughout Europe and North America in sixteen languages. Among his most recent books Independence Day: Myth, Symbol, and the Creation of Modern Poland (Oxford University Press) and War and Diplomacy in East and West: A Biography of Józef Retinger (Routledge). His next book, in Polish, will be published in a few months. He is currently working on both a comparative intellectual study of Dmowski and Piłsudski.

Biskupski’s family originated in Wilno with another branch from Warsaw. He is now a citizen of the Republic of Poland. He has five children, one of whom, Jadwiga, also gained her doctorate in Polish history from Yale.

Daniel Bućko is a Polish professional genealogist and native Polish citizen residing in Poland. He has significant experience conducting genealogical research in Poland, Slovakia, Lithuania and Belarus.

Daniel started tracing his own ancestry in 1998 and, after years of experience and a tremendous passion for genealogy, he took his talent to the professional research stage in 2015, spearheading genealogical efforts for clients and reuniting families separated for more than a century across continents.  He also obtains DNA profiles from Polish residents to confirm unknown / lost family members for those who are interested in DNA technology.  Additionally, Daniel facilitates access to private family documents, information, and photographs not available in the public domain.  His genealogical facility comprises a fusion of traditional archival research, cutting-edge DNA technology, and firsthand communication with prospective family leads.

In addition to his native Polish, Daniel speaks English, Russian, and Belarusian. He has resided in Kraków since 2003 and is a graduate of Jagiellonian University in Kraków (2008).

Daniel is a member of the Małopolskie Genealogical Society in Kraków, Poland, Association of Professional Genealogists, and Association of Polish Professional Genealogists. He was also a founder of the local genealogical initiative The Walerian Bujnowski Sokółka Area Genealogical Society (2010).  Daniel has been a featured speaker at the genealogical conference of the Polish Genealogical Society of Connecticut and the Northeast in New Britain, CT, Polish Genealogical Society of Massachusetts, Polish Genealogical Society of New York State, and The Nashi Predky Society.

In addition to traditional research, Daniel has extensive experience organizing Polish genealogy guide services in Poland, helping his clients locate living relatives in Poland, confirming Polish citizenship by descent, and locating heirs for legal cases.

Denise Kolesar’s interest in history and genealogy began at a young age, listening to stories
of her grandparents and older relatives.  Jotting down notes at the time, she knew four generations and all of her Polish, Slovak and Ukrainian ancestral villages at an early age.  Her main area of interest is the Mountain Road, Polonia and Springhill areas northwest of Neepawa in Manitoba.

She has co-authored and authored two local history books and has completed family history books on two of her families.

Denise is a member of the Polish Genealogical Society of Connecticut and the Northeast and a founding member of the East European Genealogical Society.  She has relatives in New Britain, Connecticut.  Denise lives in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Tom Sadauskas has been actively conducting genealogy research since 2000 with a special focus on Eastern Europe.   All four of his grandparents and his father were born in Lithuania.  He has made several trips to Lithuania and Germany to conduct genealogy research and has been successful in reestablishing contact with relatives in Lithuania as well as making contact with newly uncovered ones.

Tom is a 2009 graduate of the Genealogical Institute on Federal Records (Gen-Fed).  His numerous presentations at genealogy conferences include those organized by the Polish Genealogy Society of Connecticut & the Northeast Inc. (PGSCTNE), the Washington D.C.
and Baltimore Family History Centers and the Fairfax Genealogical Society (FxGS).

Contact Email: tomdoesgenealogy@gmail.com

Jonathan Shea,  A.G.,  a native of New Britain, Connecticut, is a professor of foreign languages in the Connecticut Higher Education System.  His academic preparation in the field of languages and linguistics has been enriched by living experience in Europe and study at the Universidad de Madrid in Spain, St. Petersburg State University in Russia and the Uniwersytet Jagiellonski in Poland.

In addition to being a foreign language educator, Shea is a trained archivist and professional genealogist with specialization in Eastern Europe and Ireland and frequently lectures and presents workshops internationally on the topics of document translation and other linguistic issues, immigration history and European archival resources.  The founding President of the Polish Genealogical Society of Connecticut and the Northeast, Inc., he now serves as its Reference Archivist and as the long-time editor of its journal, Pathways & Passages.

He holds a B.S. degree (magna cum laude) in Spanish from Georgetown University, Washington, D.C. and an M.A. in Slavic Languages and Literatures from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst plus a M.L.S. in Library Science and Archival Management from Southern Connecticut State University.

In addition to the languages he teaches, Spanish, Polish and Russian, he also speaks Italian and French and has reading knowledge of Portuguese, German, Belarusian and Ukrainian.

He has over twenty years of experience in the field of genealogical research, documenting his own family (with roots in the former provinces of Łomża and Grodno, Poland, and Counties Offaly and Mayo, Ireland) as well as the families of others.  The Family History Library in Salt Lake City has recognized him as an Accredited Genealogist in the field of Polish research.

His most recent publication Going Home: A Guide to Polish-American Family History Research is a comprehensive reference work on genealogical research methodology.  He has also co-authored with William Fred Hoffman the three volume series In Their Words:  A Genealogist’s Translation Guide, Volume 1 Polish, Volume 2 Russian, Volume 3 Latin and Volume 4 German.

Kinga Urbanska is a genealogist, historian, archivist and the founder and co-owner of Your Roots in Poland – the most recognizable genealogical company in Poland. She received a Master’s degree in history, archival and historical sources at the Pedagogical University of Kraków.  She also manages projects to save local historical sites.

Kinga is interested in the Polish history of the 19th century and emigration. Her favorite research region is Galicia. She focuses on non – metrical family history sources such as military records, personal files (career and education), newspapers, obituaries, cemeteries, nobility, censuses and court records. Her company also sponsors Polish Roots Tours so individuals can discover their Polish ancestor’s places of origins. She assisted with uncovering Polish roots in the TV show, Finding Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr, where she had a chance to work on the family research for (among others) Dustin Hoffman, Juliana Margulies, Tea Leoni, Gloria Stainem and Bernie Sanders. Genealogy is her job and passion.

More about her and her work at: www.yourrootsinpoland.com.