From Majeske to MagiKey

April 22, 2010 Tecumseh, Michigan- When Virginia Majeske moved to Tecumseh thirty years ago with her husband and four children, it was the beginning. Her husband Tom, had just started working at the Milan Ford plant, they bought a house in a new subdivision in Tecumseh, Michigan. Three more children would be born here, and all would graduate from Tecumseh High School. Two of her daughters became valedictorians. For thirty years she was a homemaker, taking care of her home and children. When others asked her what she did for a living, the answer was always the same “Mother”, because it was a job. She took on the primary responsibility for their home and seven children while Tom traveled on business during the week. She coached the high school’s Equations team for many years when no faculty member was willing too, and often spoke out on the importance of having programs for gifted students. She home schooled the younger ones for a time to make sure their needs were met. Active in her church and community, the lack of a paycheck did not mean she wasn’t working. In thirty years things change. Six of her children are married, all have left home. Tom’s career at Ford is winding down, and now they are beginning a new stage in their life together. In today’s perplexing economic environment, no one can count on a stable future. “Do what you know.” Is what they say, whoever “they” are. So Virginia has turned a hobby into a new career. A volunteer at the Family History Library in Adrian, Virginia along with two of her daughters, Raelyn Davis and Kaylene Thaler, has formed a new company, The MagiKey, LLC. (www.themagikey.com) Currently offering their first product, MagiKey Family Tree with Census Tracker, they launched their new company and product at the Ohio Genealogical Conference (OGS) in Toledo, Ohio on Apr 22, 2010. “Genealogy can be a fun and rewarding experience,” Virginia says, “but it can also be discouraging. It takes hard work and dedication to find ancestors.” Over the years Virginia has learned how to be more effective uncovering lost family, and she has passed down her wisdom to her children. For over ten years she has been using a genealogy database program written by her daughter Kaylene Thaler. Many people, including her mother encouraged her to market it, but she felt starting a new business would take away too much time from her own three children. “Having had the privilege of being a full-time mother to my own children, I wanted my grandchildren to have the same blessings. Then I realized, now that my seven had all left, I have plenty of time.” Talking with her family, Virginia decided to start the new business to market her eldest daughter's program. Together: Virginia, Kaylene, and Raelyn formed The MagiKey, LLC, a play on the family name. “Kaylene is our chief programmer, and Raelyn contributes her website and marketing skills. My job is to run the business.” Whether it is paying bills, or attending genealogy conferences, The MagiKey’s Operating Manager is still a MOM. “The same principals I learned taking care of my family applies to running a small business.” Virginia feels confident that the business will expand. “We are looking for ways to helps others feel that same joy we feel in doing genealogy. MagiKey Family Tree is an important first step in helping individuals record and organize their family history. Computers reduce the amount of paperwork involved compared to even ten years ago. Our new Census Tracker feature (patent pending) actually helps others to sift through census data. It is a real time saver compared to other methods that require copying that same information over and over again.” Sharing her passion with others, Virginia is unlocking an exciting new future for her and her family. For more information, visit them at www.themagikey.com.