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 & 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.
Cheri Daniels, MSLS
Library Director
Ms. Daniels manages the operations of the SAR Genealogical Research Library and provides reference services to its many patrons who visit this nationally recognized genealogy destination. Her additional duties include providing stewardship for the developing library collection, promoting the library and educating patrons in genealogy methodology through various programs, both onsite and virtual. Ms. Daniels works closely with the Librarian General to promote and improve the operations of the SAR Library.
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.
Megan Krebs
Director of Finance
Ms. Krebs 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.
Brittany Austin
Donor Relations Coordinator
Ms. Austin 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.
Daniel Brashear
Director of Purchasing and Merchandise
Mr. Brashear manages the daily operations of SAR's Merchandise Department.
Susan Acree
Merchandise Assistant
Mrs. Acree is a career employee who has worn many hats through the years. In her current role, she assists in the areas of customer service, maintaining inventory counts, and additional duties needed by the Registrar's office.
Katie Baker
Merchandise Assistant
Ms. Baker 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 is also technical lead on systems development projects, webmaster, end user support and coordinates with various committees concerning organizational initiatives.
Jon 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.
Jessie Hagan, AA
Staff 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
Staff 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.
Susan Julien, MLIS
Staff 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.
Bill Burchfield, MSLS
Staff Genealogist
Mr. Burchfield began his tenure with the NSSAR in 2022 and currently verifies and approves applications as a Staff Genealogist. Bill comes to SAR from the Kentucky Historical Society where he served as a Technical Services Librarian.
Brendan Potter
Staff 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 former 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.
Deborah Maddox
Staff Genealogist
Mrs. Maddox began her second tenure with the SAR in 2022 and currently verifies and approves applications as a Staff Genealogist. She was previously with the SAR as a Staff Genealogist from 2004 to 2013. Mrs. Maddox started researching family history in 1989 which led her to attend many genealogy conferences, seminars, and institutes to further her understanding of complex genealogy concepts and research methods. She has developed & presented many genealogy seminars for the SAR in addition to public and private groups. She is also a member of the DAR.
Kristen Edds
Staff Genealogist
Ms. Edds began her tenure with the NSSAR in 2022 and currently verifies and approves applications as a Staff Genealogist.
Mike Dittoe
Staff Genealogist
Mike has been a Genealogist at SAR since 2018. He is active in the Louisville Genealogical Society and is also a member of the Kentucky Genealogical Society, Ohio Genealogical Society, and Fairfield County Ohio Genealogical Society. Mike has proven ancestors in the following lineage societies: National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution; The Society of the War of 1812; First Families of Ohio; Society of the Families of the Old Northwest Territory.
Philip Bloyd
SAR Foundation Development Manager
The SAR Foundation office is available for donation inquires and other information.
Brittany Austin
Donor Relations Coordinator
Ms. Austin assists the SAR Foundation Manager in handling general inquires, assisting donors, administrative tasks as well as other duties assigned.
Peg Cochran
Digitization Specialist Director
Ms. Cochran has been with the headquarters for several years working in our Finance Department. Her new challenge will be leading the effort to digitize various document files that will be critical in improving our flow of digital information.
Jeff Bell
Digitization Specialist/Genealogy Support
Mr. Bell is in his second tenure with NSSAR. Previously, serving the Society as a Genealogist. Mr. Bell is a long time member of SAR and will be assisting in our efforts to digitize the various document files, thus improving our flow of digital information. Additionally, Mr. Bell will be assisting the Genealogy Department as needed.