Today we’d like to introduce you to Bob Ives and Bob Taylor.
Hi Bob Ives and Bob Taylor, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Here are some links that tell about our story:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ElSw7Ka7zfDFo5-f3_hUG1_RJuVk2-imVbcmx9SByD8/edit?tab=t.0
https://www.thefhguide.com/faq.html
Vice President and Executive Director: Bob Ives
Bob Ives
Bob Ives, Executive Director for the Family History Guide Association, received a Master’s Degree in computerized curriculum design and went to work as the Director of Instructional Technology for the Utah State Office of Education. Bob was instrumental in the spread of technology in the state and the development of cutting edge programs such as satellite distance learning with IBM.
He later formed his own technology consulting and training company, Educational Renaissance, Inc. and worked as an IBM business partner for 15 years. He has traveled across the U.S. and the Pacific as a trainer for IBM Educational Systems, as well as McGraw-Hill and Allyn & Bacon. Bob has served on state and national committees such as the NCTM Technology Committee and the Governors’ Computer Literacy Task Force. He has given presentations across the United States, Canada, Singapore, Australia and Malaysia.
Bob is currently the Technology Coordinator for the Sandy Utah Granite Family History Center, the third largest FamilySearch center in the Salt Lake Valley. He and his wife Dawn have two sons and four grandchildren. Bob has a B.S. from Brigham Young University, an M.Ed. and Administrative Certification from the University of Utah. He has also served as an adjunct professor for Utah State University.
Director of Development: Bob Taylor
Bob Taylor
Bob Taylor has been actively doing family history for over 25 years. He has combined his passion for genealogy with his background in instructional design to produce an industry-leading learning resource for family history—The Family History Guide website.
Bob earned his BA degree from Brigham Young University and MA degree from California State University, Los Angeles, both in Music Education. A career change led him to instructional design and technical writing, where he has worked for large technology corporations such as Intel and Western Digital. At Intel University, he redesigned key training courses for employees and managers worldwide, as well as teaching management courses in the western U.S. He has authored many online and written learning systems, helping others accelerate learning in technology, music, and family history.
Bob has been a featured presenter five times at the RootsTech Conference in Salt Lake City, as well as the WikiTree International Symposium for 2022. Bob has presented at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Riverton FamilySearch Library, and the BYU Family History Conference. He has also presented to genealogical societies in over 20 U.S. states and in Canada.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
In the beginning it was just Bob Taylor and Bob Ives. We clicked as to what we saw the potential could be for a website to help people all over the world find out about and connect with their family history – who they were, where they came from and stories of their heritage.
We started an LLC in 2015 and several years later we became a 501c3 non-profit being funded entirely by private donations. Our first big break came when we were asked to do a presentation at RootsTech to a large audience. From there the word began to spread and we began to hear the now famous question from users, “Why haven’t we heard of this site before?” Indeed, our biggest challenge has been to get the word out to the world.
Funding has also been a challenge for us. We decided early on that the site would always be free to users so as not to create any roadblocks for people wanting to get involved with family history.. We are still completely free to this day. We were self-funded in the beginning but have been richly blessed along the way with supporters and a stellar Board of Directors and management team.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Vice President and Executive Director: Bob Ives
Bob Ives
Director of Development: Bob Taylor
Bob Taylor
Bob Taylor has been actively doing family history for over 25 years. He has combined his passion for genealogy with his background in instructional design to produce an industry-leading learning resource for family history—The Family History Guide website.
Bob earned his BA degree from Brigham Young University and MA degree from California State University, Los Angeles, both in Music Education. A career change led him to instructional design and technical writing, where he has worked for large technology corporations such as Intel and Western Digital. At Intel University, he redesigned key training courses for employees and managers worldwide, as well as teaching management courses in the western U.S. He has authored many online and written learning systems, helping others accelerate learning in technology, music, and family history.
Bob has been a featured presenter five times at the RootsTech Conference in Salt Lake City, as well as the WikiTree International Symposium for 2022. Bob has presented at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Riverton FamilySearch Library, and the BYU Family History Conference. He has also presented to genealogical societies in over 20 U.S. states and in Canada.
Bob Ives, Executive Director for the Family History Guide Association, received a Master’s Degree in computerized curriculum design and went to work as the Director of Instructional Technology for the Utah State Office of Education. Bob was instrumental in the spread of technology in the state and the development of cutting edge programs such as satellite distance learning with IBM.
He later formed his own technology consulting and training company, Educational Renaissance, Inc. and worked as an IBM business partner for 15 years. He has traveled across the U.S. and the Pacific as a trainer for IBM Educational Systems, as well as McGraw-Hill and Allyn & Bacon. Bob has served on state and national committees such as the NCTM Technology Committee and the Governors’ Computer Literacy Task Force. He has given presentations across the United States, Canada, Singapore, Australia and Malaysia.
Bob is currently the Technology Coordinator for the Sandy Utah Granite Family History Center, the third largest FamilySearch center in the Salt Lake Valley. He and his wife Dawn have two sons and four grandchildren. Bob has a B.S. from Brigham Young University, an M.Ed. and Administrative Certification from the University of Utah. He has also served as an adjunct professor for Utah State University.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
Bob Taylor:
When you think about what you will be doing for the next part of your life, don’t focus only on your passion for that thing. Think also about how it will influence the lives of others for good, on a small, medium or large scale. That will keep you going when you face obstacles or life throws you a curve.”
“I’m actually glad I didn’t know where my journey would lead, so I could experience the ups and downs and the remarkable surprises as part of the journey.”
Bob Ives:
The best advice I can give is BE FLEXIBLE! I had what I thought was a good idea of what I wanted be my life’s work.. I learned very quickly that if you stay true to your core beliefs that when changes are presented to you you have a solid base on which to make decisions even though the future may be a little murky.
Pricing:
- The Family History Guide is a FREE resource
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thefhguide.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefhguide/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheFamilyHistoryGuide/
- Twitter: https://www.pinterest.com/thefamilyhistoryguide/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thefamilyhistoryguide
- Other: https://x.com/seethefhguide
