60 seconds with yvonne levine: “the nature of humans is to connect through stories.”

During the early days of COVID, I found myself doing what many of us did: opening old boxes and reading family history books. (You didn’t do that?!) One of those books (exactly one, mind you) was written by my great-grandfather documenting my maternal grandmother's family from the 1600s through the early 1900s. What started as a casual skim-read quickly turned into a project when I discovered that one of our relatives, Daniel Decker (1737–1813), had provided patriotic service for the state of New Jersey during the American Revolution. 

From there, I set off on a years-long journey through birth certificates, marriage licenses, death records, and family archives to trace and prove the lineage, a requirement to be admitted to the Daughters of the American Revolution. 

We got there.

After almost two years of work, my sister Maret and I were admitted to the Daughters of the American Revolution. For my sister, it was another layer of significance: her middle name is ‘Decker’, so she has carried on that energy and didn’t even know how far back it went. If nothing else, the process reinforced a belief that courage, hustle, and a tendency to start something meaningful seem to run in the family.

This week, as our country celebrates its 250th anniversary, I'm pleased to introduce someone who shares a similar story. Yvonne Levine is also a Daughter of the American Revolution and has undertaken her own journey to trace her family's path through centuries of records and history. It's meticulous work, but it also reveals something deeper: the very human stories of the people who came before us. I hope you enjoy getting to know Yvonne as much as I have.

Happy 4th of July, 

meg 

toth shop (ts): With July 4, 2026, marking the 250th anniversary of the United States, history is top of mind for many people, especially within the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). What originally sparked your personal quest to trace your American patriot ancestry, and why did it feel important to dive into it now? 

Yvonne Levine (YL): I think everyone wonders where they came from and how and why their family decided to migrate to America. Over the years, I’ve researched various aspects of my ancestry to answer those questions. Much to my surprise, I found not one, but three ancestors who served during the Revolutionary War. One of them fought alongside General George Washington. Amazing! Particularly, in today’s divisive politics, I strongly believe in tracing one’s roots and reflecting on the sacrifices our ancestors made to build a nation and why they left other countries to create new lives. The 250th anniversary added to my resolve to find out more.

ts: Thinking back on your genealogical deep-dive, was there a specific discovery or a particular ancestor's story that completely blew you away or made you see your family history differently?

YL: As I noted above, I have an ancestor, Philip Lorentz Grünenwald, who is my 6th great-grandfather. He held the rank of Colonel in the American Army. This was a complete surprise to me and my mom, as we had never heard about him during family gatherings. It just shows how stories get lost over time, but we are lucky to find them again.

ts: Your approach to B2B marketing is rooted in creating real customer value and human connection. How did tracing your ancestry remind you of the power of raw, human storytelling?

YL: The nature of humans is to connect through stories. We relate, reflect, and learn. When we engage in this shared activity, we form connections. Connections build trust and understanding. That’s what marketing is all about – businesses connecting with customers and building trust. At least, that’s how I view marketing.

ts: In 10 words or less, what does being a member of DAR mean to you?

YL: Commitment to keeping our history alive through research, volunteerism, and connections.

ts: Every person we interview answers this same question last – Mile 18 is generally considered to be one of the hardest miles in a marathon. You’re hitting a wall. You’re forced to dig deep. What’s been a mile 18 in your line of work, or at a point in your career? And what do you tell yourself when you find yourself in the middle of a mile 18?

YL: I’ve run my consulting business for almost 18 years. I recall mid-way, I had a moment of crisis. I wasn’t sure if I still enjoyed what I was doing. It didn’t help that during that time, I had some challenging client engagements. However, my clients trusted me to help them regardless of my personal thoughts. I told myself to seek out trusted advisors to help me talk through my doubts and concerns, while personally reaffirming to myself that I had a job to do. 

Luckily, I worked through this time (Mile 18) and happily continued my course. I’m glad I stayed committed to my business, as I love what I do in helping businesses grow.