History, Founders & Alumni

History

In 2012, a group of knowledgeable genealogists, citizen scientists, geneticists and IT professionals knew that advances in DNA technology could provide invaluable help to  those who were seeking unknown family members. This group of varying people helped to create what has become DNAAdoption and helped usher in the use of DNA for finding birth family.

One of the initial offshoots of this work was DNAGedcom.com which was started under the direction of Rob Warthen. This was the first system that allowed users to bring together lots of their DNA information quickly.  In fact, using this tool allowed Rob to find his wife’s birth father.

In 2013, this group realized there were not enough people who understood DNA well enough to help all those needing help.  The process of documenting all this information then began. Their plan was to take the combined knowledge of the group and provide a web site and training.

In 2015, DNAAdoption became an official 501(c)3 to ensure that its goal of educating and training the next generation of DNA Search Angels continued.  The folks below are not as active members of DNAAdoption as they were at one time, but we wanted to thank them for their hard work and dedication.

 

Co-Founders Emeritus

Rob Warthen – Co-Founder

Rob is the owner of and inspiration behind the tools at DNAGedcom and a co-founder of DNAAdoption and mitoYDNA. He got involved with DNA from his wife’s adopted mom who asked him to help his wife find her birth family.  Using only a few 4th cousin matches and his tools, he was one of the first to find birth family exclusively using DNA.  He generously donates DNAGedcom accounts to classes and provides tech support to our websites. He created a document for those who struggle with the Journey and are impatient with the time it takes.

 

Karin Corbeil – Co-Founder, Co-Inventor of  The Methodology, Director Emerita

Karin, an adoptee, served on the board of DNAAdoption and for over 5 years.  Karin was and still is considered the heart and soul of the organization. She helped Diane and Gaye develop The Methodology. She still works with Rob as a collaborator and manager of support for DNAGedcom.com.

 

Diane Harman-Hoog – Co-Founder, Co-Inventor of  The Methodology, Director Emerita

Diane conceived of The Methodology and worked with Gaye and Karin to develop it from the various posts from the original DNAAdoption discussion group. She was a co-founder of DNAAdoption and helped describe from a user’s vantage point what a Search Angel needs from DNAGedcom.  She was a driving force behind much of the success of DNAAdoption.

 

Gaye Tannenbaum – Co-inventor of The Methodology, former Team Member

Gaye, an adoptee, provided key concepts for developing The Methodology then worked with Diane and Karin to develop it. Gaye is a search angel and adoptee rights advocate who supported DNAAdoption during its formative years.

 

Emeritus Team Members

CeCe Moore-  former Team Member

CeCe came to support DNAAdoption in the beginning as a genetic genealogy expert.  Her pioneering atDNA work was foundational to the development of The Methodology by three of the four co-founders. She provided mentorship to early team members.

 

Richard Slaughter – Director Emeritus

Richard is an adoptee who contributed to DNAAdoption during its formative years.  He was known as the one everyone seemed to match with.

 

Margaret Kuni – former Team Member

Margaret is a highly respected Traditional Search Angel. She supported DNAAdoption during its formative years.

 

Mesa Foard – former Team Member

Mesa is an adoptee and an adoptee rights advocate. She supported DNAAdoption during its formative years and help document the first update to The Methodology.

 

Jon Masterson – Director Emeritus

Jon is an adoptee and the first Board member from outside the US. He learned and used The Methodology to find his family. Jon developed the first tool that automated providing relationship predictions based on the amount of shared DNA.

 

Jim O’Neil – former Team Member

Jim is an adoptee who found his birth family using The Methodology. He provided instrumental web admin support for DNAAdoption’s website overhaul.

 

Richard Weiss – Director Emeritus

Richard is an adoptee who found his birth family using The Methodology. He provided affiliate outreach and and websupport as well as being a Search Angel.