A West Virginia native and former advertising creative director, Kelley Conner Lear brings twenty years of communication experience to her genealogy practice. Her research in Central Appalachia and the surrounding regions focuses on the lives of often-overlooked ancestors. Kelley is a Certified Genealogist® and Trustee of the Board for Certification of Genealogists. She is president of the Virginia Genealogical Society and has served on its Board since 2022. She recently mentored ProGen 69 and chaired APG’s Professional Development Committee, serving on its board from 2023–25. She holds a B.A. in Communications, a Professional Learning Certificate from the International Institute of Genealogical Studies, and is an alumna of ProGen 52, Certification Practicum 2, and GenFed. Kelley is committed to supporting high-quality genealogical work and education guided by Genealogy Standards.
