User:IsonJ

[[Image:Jim-ison.jpg|119x166px]] James L. Ison, AG, CG
Jim Ison, AG, CG, is the manager of strategy and planning at the Patron Services division and market research manager at the Marketing division in the FamilySearch department. He was the first director of the FamilySearch Center at the the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Education

 * Master of Science: George Washington University: Emphasis: Computer Systems Administration
 * Bachelor of Arts: University of South Carolina: Emphasis: International Relations

Credentials

 * Accredited Genealogist in Mid-South 2007 by the International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists (ICAPGen)


 * Certified Genealogist 2008 by the Board for Certification of Genealogists (BCG)

Certifications

 * Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, Covey Leadership Center, 1994-2003
 * Management courses, University of Phoenix, 2003-2004
 * Path of Dialogue, PRAXIS/Vitality Alliance, 1997-1998

Genealogical Institutes

 * Advanced Methodology and Evidence Analysis, Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research, 2005
 * Research in the South Part I, Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research, 2006
 * Producing a Quality Family Narrative, Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy, 2010

Service

 * Association of Professional Genealogists (APG), Trustee, 2010-2011
 * ICAPGen, Mentor, 2010
 * Salt Lake Utah Chapter APG, President, 2009
 * Salt Lake Utah Chapter APG, Vice-President, 2008
 * John Parker Historical Society, Trustee, 2004-2006
 * National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, Director FamilySearch Center, 2004-2005

Conference Presenter

 * Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society (AAHGS): 2008, 2006, 2005
 * Brigham Young University Family History Conference: 2008
 * Federation of Genealogical Societies: 2010
 * ICAPGen: 2009
 * International Black History Summit: 2009
 * NARA IV Black History Symposium: 2010, 2009
 * National Genealogical Society: 2010
 * National Underground Railroad Freedom Center: 2008, 2005
 * Northern California Roots Simulcast: 2005
 * Northern Kentucky University Borderlands III: 2005
 * Utah Genealogical Association: 1998

Presentations

 * Fugitive Slave Act and Underground Railroad
 * GPS—Finding Your Way Through Tough Research Problems
 * Have AG, Why CG
 * Migration Patterns: An Alternative for Locating African Origins
 * Using the Genealogical Proof Standard for African American Research

Publications

 * "Courage, Cooperation, and Perseverance," Crossroads, (Utah Genealogical Association, March 2008).
 * Discover Your Family's History, (Cincinnati: National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, 2005).
 * Elijah Moore, Sr. Family of Anderson County, South Carolina, 1996.
 * “How to utilize modern technology to enhance family history research,” Church News, June 20, 1998.
 * "Major League Mormons," This People, Fall 1991.
 * Mormons in the Major Leagues: Career Histories of 44 LDS Players (Cincinnati: Action Sports, 1991).
 * Where in the World Are Your Ancestors, 1998.

Quoted

 * Clayton Norlen, “Connecting to African Roots,” Deseret News, February 8, 2009.
 * Family Tree Magazine, "A Center for Freedom--and Family History," February 2005.
 * http://homeandholidays.com/jesus-loved-children/ October 30, 2009
 * Jenny Manglesdorf, "Putting Performance on the Line," CSC World, Fall 1987.
 * John Johnston, “Finding your family: Freedom Center helps hundreds see their past,” The Cincinnati Enquirer, February 1, 2005.
 * Karen Vance, “Church offers genealogy help at museum site,” The Cincinnati Enquirer, August 13, 2005.
 * Lex Hemphill, "Mormons Make a Dent in Majors," Salt Lake Tribune, July 28, 1991.
 * Rebecca M. Taylor, “Finding Ancestors, Uniting a Ward,” Ensign, July 2006.
 * Thomas S. Monson, “First Presidency Message: Precious Children, a Gift from God,” Ensign, June 2000.
 * Thomas S. Monson, “Precious Children, a Gift from God,” Ensign, November 1991.

Professional Experience

 * FamilySearch Marketing, 2009 to present—complete market research, customer segmentation, and reporting projects.
 * FamilySearch Patron Services, 2006 to present—complete planning, surveying, and reporting projects at the FamilySearch Library and worldwide support.
 * Provident Bank, Senior Vice President for Applications Development—directed development and maintenance of business applications.
 * Keane, Engagement Program Manager—directed application outsourcing contracts at Great American Insurance Company.
 * Keane, Director of Staffing and Employee Development—directed resourcing, utilization, and professional development.
 * Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC), Operations Manager—co-managed consulting and systems integration practice for Ohio.
 * CSC, Center Director—managed CSC’s largest commercial contract with AT&amp;T.
 * CSC, Deputy Program Manager—co-managed nationwide contracts at EPA.
 * CSC, Operations Director—directed one of NASA’s largest computational centers.

Recommended African American Research Books

 * Black Roots by Tony Burroughs
 * Finding a Place Called Home by Dee Parmer Woodtor
 * Genealogists Guide to Discovering African American Ancestors by Franklin Smith and Emily Croom
 * Mississippi to Africa by Melvin J. Collier
 * Slave Ancestral Research, It' Something Else by Mary Fears
 * Somerset Homecoming by Dorothy Spruill Redford

Recently Read Business Books

 * 33 Million People in the Room by Juliette Powell
 * Brand Jam by Marc Gobe
 * Delivering Profitable Value by Michael Lanning
 * Driving Results Through Social Networks by Rob Cross and Robert Thomas
 * Groundswell by Charlene Li and Josh Bernoff
 * Inbound Marketing by Brian Halligan and Dharmesh Shahr
 * Linchpin by Seth Godin
 * What Would Google Do? By Jeff Jarvis

Other Recommended Reading

 * Albion's Seed by David Fischer
 * His Promised Land edited by Stuart Sprague
 * Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin
 * The Nine by Jeffrey Toobin
 * The World Is Flat by Thomas Friedman