Highlights from RootsTech 2025

We’re back from a wonderful trip to Salt Lake City, Utah, where we had an amazing experience at RootsTech 2025! This global conference never fails to bring together passionate family history enthusiasts, and this year was no exception. From engaging conversations with Geni users to unveiling an exciting new feature, our time at RootsTech was packed with some unforgettable moments.

The Geni Booth

The Geni booth had a steady number of visitors throughout the conference. Attendees from around the world stopped by to chat, ask questions, and share their own family history discoveries. Also catching people’s attention was our ever-popular Geni notebooks! These handy notebooks have become a genealogy conference essential and we were thrilled to see so many excited faces stop by to pick up the must-have item.

Many visitors also took advantage of the opportunity to sit down at the booth and receive one-on-one assistance from the Geni team. They were able to investigate matches, resolve merge issues, and gain a deeper insight into using Geni for their family history research. We were even able to connect brand new Geni users to the World Family Tree right at the booth!

The Power of Collaboration

One of the most memorable moments happened on the very first day. A Geni user approached us with a pressing question about a Scottish ancestor – an ancestor she was counting on being correct as she prepared for an upcoming trip to Scotland. Uncertain about the accuracy of the lineage, she sought our help to verify the connection.

Our curator Ashley Odell quickly posted the inquiry in a public discussion and the Geni community sprang into action. The verdict? Unfortunately, the ancestor in question was not the correct one, and the incorrect connection had to be removed. While initially disappointed, the user was incredibly appreciative of the correction. However, the story didn’t end there! Thanks to the dedication and expertise of our curators and users, the correct Scottish ancestor was soon identified. When the user returned to our booth later, she was overjoyed to learn that she had been successfully reconnected to the right lineage. This powerful example showcased the incredible collaborative spirit that makes Geni so special.

Showcasing the Family Tree Fan Chart View

Another major highlight of the conference was the opportunity to share Geni’s latest feature: the family tree fan chart view! On Friday, Geni’s General Manager, Mike Stangel, delivered an engaging presentation at the MyHeritage booth, showcasing the newest addition to our family tree views. The response was fantastic! Attendees loved the new visualization, which makes it easier than ever to explore family connections in a clear and intuitive format.

Many stopped by our booth afterwards for a hands-on demo, eager to dive into their own family trees using the fan chart.

Dinner with the Geni team and curators

One of our favorite parts of RootsTech is the chance to meet in person with Geni’s curators who made the journey to Salt Lake City. We had a lovely dinner with Ashley, Jarrett Ross, and Raquel Levy-Toledano.

RootsTech 2025 was an unforgettable experience. We’re thankful to everyone who stopped by the Geni booth, attended our presentation, and participated in the collaborative spirit of genealogy. We can’t wait to do it all over again next year!