ABOUT
WAYNE SHUMATE
My quest started in 2007 when I tried to find where my maternal grandparents, Francesco Coppola and Antonetta Sodano, lived in Italy. I quickly found a passenger list for Antonetta Sodano that listed her town of birth as Pomigliano d'Arco, in the Province of Napoli. That was amazing, but my journey quickly stopped since no Italian vital records could be found online. Several years later in 2013, I discovered FamilySearch had posted original birth, marriage, and death records online for Pomigliano d'Arco. This incredible discovery allowed me to trace my Italian ancestors in Pomigliano d'Arco back to the late 1700's. While I have enjoyed my own genealogy research, I enjoy even more helping family and friends with theirs, especially those with Italian ancestors. I feel my computer background combined with strong research and analytical skills have given me the ability to find records and solve problems. In addition to my own research work, I currently volunteer with the Mecklenburg Genealogical Society, Charlotte, NC, and help with technology, applications, and genealogy projects. I have also volunteered with the Wilkes Genealogical Society, North Wilkesboro, NC, and digitized 190 WGS Quarterly Bulletins and 50 Publications, totaling 10,200 pages. Prior to my genealogy obsession, I served as an IT and telecommunications director, and consulted on telecom planning and enterprise mobility. I have also worked as a High School administrator, teacher, and coach. And as an engineer for an aerospace company. My degrees include: M.B.A. from Queens University; M.A.T. Mathematics from the University of North Carolina; and B.S. in Aerospace Engineering from N.C. State University. I am relentless in the quest. |