Suzanne Sheridan – Photographer, Songwriter
A professional photographer and award-winning singer/songwriter, Suzanne has indeed lived up to her advertising: “the best photographer in New York is…in Westport, CT”. As the co-founder of both The Legacy Project USA, Suzanne has used her photographic skills and talents to benefit many, many clients. Her sensitivity, compassion, humanity, and beauty are reflected in her photographs – of which there are thousands. Her songwriting skills have gained her several awards, including a John Lennon Songwriters Award. She has performed her Joni Mitchell/Leonard Cohen tribute concert in the US, Canada, and Australia. She will write a song written especially for you if you choose to include that in your Legacy Project.
Rozanne Gates – Writer, Interviewer
As the partner of Suzanne Sheridan and co-founder of The Legacy Project USA, Rozanne comes to this work with many years of experience in the business of show business – as an actor’s agent for 22 years (interviewing hundreds of actors); as Production Manager at the Westport Arts Center; as Director of Development at the Fairfield Theatre Company; and creator of “Shop Talk” (interviewing theatre professionals for theatre professionals) at the Drama Book Shop in New York City. She has authored the books “How to Succeed in the Business of Show Business…or everything they don’t tell you in acting school but I will” and “A Tale of Courage in Red, White, and Blue – the Life Story of Ed Johnson,” “The Story of Elaine and Gerry Rosenberg,” “The Operatic Life Journey of Giovanna Malangone Ambrusco,” and “The Writings of Ann Galloway” – all for The Legacy Project USA; many newspaper and magazine articles; and press releases for many organizations including Ina Chadwick’s MouseMuse Productions. As an actor’s agent, Rozanne started the careers of Edward Norton, William H. Macy, Chris Noth, Joe Mantegna, Rainn Wilson, Lynne Thigpen, Bronson Pinchot, and Robert Prosky to name a few. Outside of interviewing people for The Legacy Project USA, Rozanne’s next biggest passions are tennis, horses, dogs, and traveling.
Vanessa Wood – Genealogist
Vanessa is The Record Lady. Her genealogy experience ranges from the UK to Colonial America to present-day. She completed Boston University’s rigorous Genealogy Research course. Thirty years experience beginning with microfiche to the use of current AI research tools. Vanessa is a relentless investigator who pulls history and and the fine details of records together to tell an ancestor’s story. She has identified adoptee’s parents through DNA testing, proven lines to Revolutionary War patriots, researched African-American families to before the Civil War, assisted in interpreting autosomal DNA testing results. Her articles have been published by the Virginia Genealogical Society, Tennessee Genealogical Society, Illinois State Genealogical Society, Cornwall Family History Society (UK), and Maryland Genealogical Society. She is the author of Pryor Wives and Notable Americans of the 1930 Census. Vanessa is experienced in on-site research ranging from local town clerk offices to university collections, and the U.S. National Archives. Vanessa is a DAR member.