Sheila Ruiz Harrell has been a practicing genealogist for well over thirty years and professional for the past ten. Being a direct descendant of 25 of those who arrived in California by 1781 has led her through the locating, reading, and understanding of original mission records, in addition to following the descendants of these first settlers throughout California. She is a member of Los Californianos, California Mission Studies Association, National Genealogical Society, Association of Professional Genealogists, and has been a member of Los Descendientes (descendants of the founders of the Santa Barbara Presidio), and Los Pobladores 200 (descendants of the founders of Los Angeles), in addition to several local genealogical and historical societies and organizations.

Doreen Dishman is a 7th generation Californian having over twenty years of experience in a wide range of genealogy and historical records research both personal and professional with a major emphasis on early California. She is a member of San Luis Obispo Historical Society, San Luis Obispo Genealogy Society, California Mission Studies Association, National Genealogical Society, Association of Professional Genealogists, Los Californianos, and formerly of Los Descendientes.

...and together we specialize in early California Hispanic research from 1769-1900 with a focus on pre-1850, including our own personal connections to Native American families in California. Our research identifying descendants of those who arrived with Gaspar de Portola, Juan Bautista de Anza, Fernando Javier Rivera y Moncada, Hijar-Padres, Workman-Rowland Party, and other early expeditions is based on reading and interpreting the original mission registers, land grants, court documents, church records, census, and padrones. We are extremely familiar with these records and very confident in our findings.