2025 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.

Daniel Bućko is a Polish professional genealogist 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. A native of Dabrowa Bialostocka, 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.​

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 native of New Britain, Connecticut, recently retired as 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 advanced degrees from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and 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 forty 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 four-volume series In Their Words: A Genealogist’s Translation Guide, Volume 1 Polish, Volume 2 Russian and Volume 3 Latin and Volume 4, German.

Paul Woodbury, AG®, MEd is a Senior Researcher at Legacy Tree Genealogists where he has helped solve hundreds of research cases around the world.

Paul holds a Bachelor’s in Genetics and Biotechnology and a Master’s in Instructional Design & Educational Technology from the University of Utah.

Whether identifying living biological parents, proving the historic multiple identities of an unknown ancestor, or researching with DNA and documents anywhere in between, Paul treats his clients’ cases with care and professionalism.

In addition to genetic genealogy, he loves research in France (for which he has received accreditation through the International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists), Spain, Italy, Scandinavia and Latin America. He regularly presents on genetic genealogy topics in webinars, institutes, and conferences.