SAR National Headquarters Staff by Department
Telephone: (502) 589-1776 • FAX: (502) 589-1671
Don Shaw, MA
Executive Director
Mr. Shaw oversees the operations of the National SAR Headquarters, while collaborating with the SAR General Officers and other officers of the organization on the continuing efforts of promoting the goals of the SAR and promoting the well-being of the organization.
Kelly Moore
Administrative Coordinator
Kelly coordinates various activities including SAR's annual Congress and semi-annual Leadership Meetings. provides clerical support for meetings, maintains the current officers list for all levels of the SAR, records approved committee appointments, processes incoming mail. and provides clerical and coordination support to the Executive Director.
Colleen Wilson, BS
Director of SAR Education Center and Museum
Ms. Wilson oversees the creation and implementation of SAR Outreach Education programs, resource materials and learning initiatives. She promotes the SAR Youth Award Programs and the Dr. Tom & Betty Lawrence American History Teacher Award. Additional responsibilities include the coordination and facilitating of projects under the direction of General Officers and National committees.
Rae Ann Sauer, MLS
Assistant Director of Education & Archivist:
Mrs. Sauer is the primary support to the SAR Center Director and is required to maintain a working knowledge of day-to-day Genealogical Research Library operations and the education programs. As the Archivist, she is responsible for the preservation and organization of all museum and archival collections.
Zac Distel, MA, MPA
Curator & Program Exhibit Director
Mr. Distel develops and coordinates programs and supporting exhibits with Outreach Education and the Genealogical Research Library that engage the SAR membership and public audiences. Additional responsibilities include object inquiries concerning SAR collections.
Joe Hardesty, MLS, MEd
Library Director
Mr. Hardesty oversees the operations of the SAR Genealogical Research Library and assists the general public and SAR members in general research inquiries; his other functions include working with the Librarian General to promote and continue to improve the operations of the SAR Library.
Brian Christensen
Library Assistant
Mr. Christensen assists the Library Director in handling general inquires, data entry and other clerical work along with other duties assigned by the Library Director.
Robin Christian
Assistant to the Librarian & Cataloger
Mrs. Christian assists the Library Director in handling general inquiries. She processes and catalogues all donated or purchased materials; her other functions include clerical work and data entry along with any other duties assigned by the Library Director. She also directs incoming telephone calls or inquires.
Mary Butts, CPA
Director of Finance
Ms. Butts oversees all accounting functions of the SAR; her other functions include working with the various financial committees and the Treasurer General to insure a secure financial operation of the SAR’s monetary assets.
Peg Cochran
Finance Assistant
Ms. Cochran assists in all accounting functions of the Society, including deposit reconciliations, merchandise inquiries involving payments, payroll and a multitude of other tasks required to keep our Finance Department operating smoothly.
Susan Griffin
Director of Merchandise
Ms. Griffin manages the Merchandise operations, including the purchasing and stocking of materials as well as the processing of orders from SAR state-level societies, chapters, and individual SAR members.
Daniel Brashear
Assistant Director of Merchandise
Mr. Brashear assists in the management of Merchandise operations of the SAR, as well as pulling and packing customer orders, maintaining inventory counts, and any additional duties assigned by the Merchandise Director.
Susan Acree
Merchandise Assistant
Mrs. Acree assists in the Merchandise operations of the SAR, including customer service, maintaining inventory counts, and any additional duties given by the Merchandise Director.
Mike Scroggins
Director of Operations
Mr. Scroggins oversees the daily operations of the Registrar, Genealogy, Information Technology and Special Events functions of the SAR Headquarters. He also acts as the operations and logistics coordinator for various scheduled buildings events and administers repairs to and maintenance of the SAR facilities. His additional functions include Membership and Web database systems management, and administrative support and coordination to the Executive Director.
Mick Pitzer, MSMIT
Chief Technology Director
Mr. Pitzer oversees the daily operations and strategic planning of the National SAR Headquarters technology systems. He also technical lead on systems development projects, webmaster, end user support and coordinates with various committees concerning organizational initiatives.
John Toon
National Registrar
Mr. Toon performs data entry functions for new SAR members and supplemental applications and processes all approved applications. He generates the greetings cards for new SAR members along with the certificates and all other membership materials. He also provides administrative support to the Finance Department for budgetary purposes and the Operations Director on reporting SAR membership statistics and trends.
Cynthia Miller
Assistant Registrar
Mrs. Miller is the primary assistant to the Registrar. Her duties include entering and processing applications as well as assisting various departments as needed.
Mike Dittoe
Genealogist
Mr. Dittoe began his tenure with the NSSAR in 2018 as a Library Assistant. In 2019. he joined the Genealogy Department and currently verifies and approves applications as a Staff Genealogist. . Mr. Dittoe is also a member of the SAR and serves the Louisville Genealogical Society in numerous capacities.
Jessie Hagan, AA
Genealogist
Mr. Hagan began his tenure with the SAR in 1991 and currently verifies and approves applications as a Staff Genealogist. He also assists with information technology projects, application digitization, record copy processing and genealogical research for the NSSAR. Mr. Hagan became a SAR member in 1991 and served as the Kentucky Society Registrar for nearly two decades. He is also the current Registrar of Colonial Wars.
Denise Hall
Genealogist
Ms Hall began her tenure with the SAR in 2006 and currently verifies and approves applications as a Staff Genealogist. Previously, she has served as National Headquarters Registrar (2007-2008), Communications Specialist (2008-2011), which included designing, producing, and editing the NSSAR Leader Express (our national leadership newsletter). Denise was a presenter for the Genealogy and History Conference of the Louisville Free Public Library in 2017 and is a member of the DAR.
Bev Hicklin, BS
Genealogist
Mrs Hicklin began her tenure with the SAR in 2006 and currently verifies and approves applications as a Staff Genealogist. Mrs Hicklin is also a long time member of the DAR.
Susan Julien, MLIS
Genealogist
Ms. Julien began her tenure with the SAR in 2017 and currently verifies and approves applications as a Staff Genealogist. Ms. Julien is a certificate holder of the Boston University Genealogical Research Certificate program and has completed extensive DNA training, including the Advanced DNA Practicum at SLIG, and the Advanced DNA program at GRIP. Ms. Julien is also a member of DAR.
Pam Kalbfleisch
Genealogist
Mrs. Kalbfleisch began her tenure with the SAR in 2018 and currently verifies and approves applications as a Staff Genealogist. A certificate holder of the Boston University Genealogical Research Certificate program, Pam has attended several genealogical research institutes and seminars. She is currently working towards acquiring the Certified Genealogist credential and is also a long time member of the DAR.
Leslie Miller, BS
Genealogist
Mrs MIller began her tenure with the SAR in 2012 and currently verifies and approves applications as a Staff Genealogist. Mrs Miller became a Junior Member of the DAR in 1980 and has served that organization in several roles including but not limited to National Chairman of the Historic Preservation Committee (2019-2022), and has served as National Vice Chairman for Membership- Prospective Members and National Vice Chairman - Memorial Service., KSDAR State Chaplain (2010-1013), Kentucky State Organizing Secretary (2013-2016), State Chairman of the Chapter Development & Revitalization Commission, Chapter Regent and Registrar, and was the 2009 KY State Outstanding Chapter Regent before becoming the Kentucky State Regent in 2016.
Brendan Potter
Genealogist
Mr. Potter began his tenure with the SAR in 2017 and currently verifies and approves applications as a Staff Genealogist. Mr. Potter is also a member of the SAR and President of the Kentucky General Society War of 1812 Society. Brendan has served as Aide De Camp to the President General of NSSAR and DAR Liaison for the Governor Isaac Shelby Chapter.
Sarah Strapp-Dennison
SAR Foundation Development Director
The SAR Foundation office is available for donation inquires and other information.
Malik Gomez
SAR Foundation Development Assistant
Mr. Gomez assists the SAR Foundation Director in handling general inquires, data entry and other clerical work along with other duties assigned by the SAR Foundation Director.