Justin Morrison

Justin is the founder and owner of Kid Chess. He started playing chess in high school and has over four decades of experience. He was the 3-time Georgia High School Champion from 1976 through 1978, High School Champion of Southeastern United States in 1976, and Georgia Junior Champion in 1978. He is a current USCF-rated Expert, a certified USCF tournament director beginning in 1977, and has taught chess since 1976.

Kristi Morrison

Kristi received an Elementary Education Certification from Kennesaw State College after graduating from the University of Georgia with a degree in Psychology. Before working for Kid Chess, Kristi taught 1st and 2nd grades for 10 years in Fulton County, Georgia. Kristi first learned how to play chess in a chess class taught at her elementary school in Michigan. Kristi loves being a part of the Kid Chess team because it allows her to continue to teach. Kristi is a co-owner of Kid Chess with her husband, Kid Chess founder Justin Morrison. Kristi and Justin have a son and she has spent the last several years raising him. Kristi enjoys spending time with her family, practicing yoga, exercising, and reading.

Gerald Stafford

Gerald joined Kid Chess in 2006. He majored in elementary education, and has worked with children in different capacities including youth minister, activities director, camp director, physical education teacher, and sports coach. Gerald’s aspiration is to teach children life skills and values through fun and innovative games. A father of three daughters, he encourages all children as if they were his own. Gerald brings an exuberant amount of energy to every class and interacts with the children in a relatable way. He aspires to be a role model and to show caring and a positive character at all times.

Dan Lucas

Dan came to Kid Chess in August 2024 after an 18-year career at the US Chess Federation. There, he had been the Senior Director of Strategic Communication and before that the editor of Chess Life and Chess Life Kids magazines. This is a homecoming of sorts for Dan, as he was working for Kid Chess when he took the US Chess job. His daughter Katie also worked at Kid Chess while she attended Kennesaw State University. He has played tournament chess for 30 years and currently carries a 1577 rating. Earlier in 2024, Dan was inducted into the Georgia Chess Association Hall of Fame for both his national and local chess journalism work.

Ratana Landry

(Shown here on the right) Ratana joined the Kid Chess team as Director of Operations in June of 2004. Ratana has been a casual chess player since her college days, and “hopes some of the chess talent currently surrounding her rubs off”. She is a graduate of the University of Southwestern Louisiana where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. She has an extensive background in Private Investigations having owned her own business in Louisiana. Ratana met our founder Justin Morrison when she first moved to Georgia in 1995 and has had the pleasure to work with him at various times over the last 20 years. When not engaged in the many facets of managing the Kid Chess operations, Ratana is likely out riding her Harley Davidson (fondly known as “Doux”) or enjoying the outdoors camping with family, friends, and her “four-legged” kids Nick, Chloe, and Chee Chee (the infamous Chocolate Chihuahua and his two “feline” sisters).

Ben Vinyard

Ben has been a Kid Chess instructor since 2004. He learned to play as a child when his cousin taught him the basics of the game, and started playing seriously as an adult. He attended Southeast Missouri State University and majored in Communications. His occupational experience involves years working in the film and television industry, including a position as the studio producer for the Kansas City Royals, as well as freelance assignments with ESPN, CNN, FOX, ABC, NBC, CBS and Entertainment Tonight. Ben is a certified tournament director and, since joining Kid Chess, has become an active tournament player, at one point gaining 150 ratings points in the span of a single year. He has coached several Kid Chess teams that have qualified for the State Team Championship.

Joey Weigel

Joey was taught how to play chess by his father when he was very young. He became absorbed in the game and began to independently read chess books in an attempt to better his skills. Joey attended Justin Morrison’s very first chess camp (based out of Justin’s home!) and won the outstanding player trophy. Joey earned a music scholarship to Kennesaw State University and then joined Kid Chess in 2006. In addition to being a Kid Chess coach, he is a musician and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instructor and competitor.

John Austin

John was born in Memphis, but grew up in Atlanta. He learned to play chess at the age of twelve. In 1955 he enlisted in the Army. After his discharge he earned a BBA degree from Georgia State University and became a CPA, working with Price, Waterhouse & Co. He was president of the Atlanta Chess Club between 1961 and 1964. Under his leadership, the club affiliated with the USCF, a move that ended segregated chess tournaments in Georgia. In 1974 he went to work at what is now Bank of America as their chief internal auditor. His roles as president of a commercial bank in suburban Philadelphia, a thrift bank in Virginia, and a mortgage bank in North Carolina culminated his successful career in the banking industry. In 1993, John suffered a heart attack. The doctors gave him six months to live. He decided to devote that time to chess, and in 1995 he turned in his best ever tournament result. He tied for the Georgia State Chess Championship with a performance rating of 2243. Still active in tournament chess, he ranks among the highest rated players in Georgia. He likes Baroque music, studying languages, and most of all, sharing his love of chess with children.

Laura Parker

Laura was raised in Scotland and England before moving to the Atlanta area in 1978. She attended Auburn University where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Education and then graduated with her Masters Degree in Education from Kennesaw State University. She taught fourth and fifth grades in the Cobb County School District for 26 years and enjoys continuing to work with children through Kid Chess. Her earliest chess memory is playing with her grandfather, and she now enjoys playing with her son. Laura enjoys reading, walking, and camping with her family.

Michael Farris

Michael is originally from Park Forest, Illinois. He graduated from Morehouse College with a B.S. Psychology and is a certified English as a Second Language teacher. With over 15 years of teaching experience, Michael enjoys combining his love of teaching with his passion for chess. A casual player, he taught himself how to play at age 9 and continued to play on computers and at the Atlanta Chess Center. Michael believes that playing chess allows the mind a chance to relax, to explore ideas and share camaraderie with another mind, exploring the “truth” of a co-created story. In teaching chess, he enjoys seeing the excitement of building the understanding of the game and re-experiencing those discoveries. When not teaching chess, Michael’s hobbies include photography, poetry, and reading. A world traveler, he has taught students from more than 15 countries and one of his favorite experiences was flying over Cappadocia, Turkey in a hot-air balloon.

Sabia Sahota

Sabia earned a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from the University of Hertfordshire in England. He then qualified as a Chartered Accountant before specializing in insolvency and becoming a Licensed Insolvency Practitioner. He worked in a firm of Chartered Accountants for thirty years, one of four partners. Sabia is married with two children and five grandchildren. His son lives in Slovakia with his family, and his daughter and her family live nearby in Atlanta.  Sabia was born in Coventry, England but lived and worked in London for most of his life. A casual chess player, he was taught to play by a cousin when he was about 9 or 10 years old. After his cousin emigrated to Canada, Sabia didn’t play again until he started to visit Slovakia. His son’s father-in-law doesn’t speak English and Sabia does not speak Slovak, but they put on a pot of coffee and enjoying playing together. In his spare time, Sabia loves reading, watching soccer and football, especially the Falcons. A dog lover, he has always owned dogs and his current companion is a miniature Labradoodle called Dave. Sabia loves walking him and playing fetch; Sabia insists on doing the throwing though!

Wendy Rones

Wendy is originally from New Orleans, Louisiana. She attended Louisiana State University and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education. She taught first grade for twelve years and working with children has always been her passion. She lives in Marietta with her husband and three sons. Wendy enjoys hiking, theater, movies, travel and spending time with her family. She loves teaching chess and seeing her students grow and flourish from all of the wonderful benefits chess provides.

Clem Wellman

Clem Wellman started with Kid Chess in 2007. He graduated from Lake Forest College in Illinois with a B.A. in Business Administration. He began to play chess with his father at age 8, played on his high school chess team, was Lake Forest College champion in the 1960’s, and began US Chess Federation tournament play in 1963. His rating has always been Class A, but his formal play stopped by 1970 when family and business demands increased. After retiring as a Vice-President of Sales for a packaging company, he joined Kid Chess in 2007 to fulfill his love of teaching kids to play the game. Proud to have four grandchildren who were Kid Chess participants, Clem is overjoyed with his second career as a chess instructor.

Joyce Doering

Joyce has been with Kid Chess since 2007. She attended Kennesaw State University in early childhood education. Joyce utilizes her many years of management experience by working with the staff and motivating them to reach goals. Joyce is a casual chess player and realizes chess can teach children the importance of good sportsmanship and achievement. She loves the interaction with children and helping them succeed. In Joyce’s spare time, she loves fitness including running 5K’s, 10K’s, and marathons. She especially enjoys spending time with her husband, two sons, family, and friends.

Aaron Pratt

A native Georgian, Aaron is a graduate of Creekview High School and earned his associate degree in psychology from the University of North Georgia. He is currently pursuing a BBA in Finance. Aaron’s prior work experience has involved philanthropic projects through his church and the restaurant business. Aaron’s grandfather taught him to play chess at a very young age. He still enjoys the challenge of the game and likes to see the look on someone’s face after overcoming an obstacle.  In his spare time, Aaron enjoys hiking and he is a self-confessed huge Star Wars fan.

Akila Nagarajan

Akila (pictured here on the right) is originally from India. She earned two masters degrees and a doctorate in archaeology from Madras University. After moving to the United States, she worked as an accountant and office manager before becoming a recruiter for a consulting company. She lives in Duluth with her husband and two beautiful girls. She first learned chess from her older siblings, however they would always allow her to win. Therefore, Akila taught and challenged herself by watching them play with each other. She continues to enjoy to play chess, especially with her husband. Akila’s hobbies include oil and glass painting. She also volunteers in her children’s schools and was the team mom for their soccer and swim teams. She loves teaching chess to children as it is a game they can play all their lives.

Akiva Blaut

Following graduation from The Weber School, Akiva earned an associate degree in psychology from Georgia Perimeter College. He is now pursuing a bachelor’s degree in psychology at Georgia State University. His prior work experience includes being a teacher’s assistant, teaching a Microsoft Excel class, and tutoring students in math and science. Akiva’s family lives in Atlanta, Seattle, and he has two sisters who live in Israel. As a child, he was taught to play chess by his mother and plays weekly with the chess club at Georgia State. Akiva finds the game is not only a great mental exercise but also a terrific way to meet people and get to know them. Chess is only one of the many games he enjoys. Akiva also plays video games and many board other games, especially those that make you think. He also likes to draw and write.

Al Horton

Chess came into Al’s life at a fairly young age; however, he did not take the game seriously until his science teacher asked him to play on the school chess team at Boys High School (now Boys and Girls High School) in Brooklyn, New York.  With his guidance and coaching, Al eventually lead the team as captain for two years.  Al joined the Kingsmen Chess Club and rose to junior champion in local tournaments.  He participated at both local and national levels including three World Open tournaments, and, as a member of the Armed Services Chess Team, he represented the Marine Corps during the Sea Services Chess Tournament. Al is currently rated as an “A”player and a member of the United States Chess Federation.   He has been a chess teacher for several years and enjoys sharing his experience with children of all ages.

Grandmaster Alonso Zapata

Alonso is a Grand Master and FIDE Senior Trainer (currently one of only 52 people with that designation). He is a published chess author with extensive expertise as a presenter at conferences, lectures, and FIDE seminars. Alonso has trained many top players and was both the trainer and captain of several teams at Chess Olympiads. He obtained second place in the World Junior Chess Championship in Innsbruck, Austria in 1977 and has been ranked as one of the 50 best players worldwide numerous times since. He competed in several cycles for the World Chess Championship and competed 12 times at the World Chess Olympiad. He has been the Colombian National Champion 8 times.

Anthony Morse

Anthony has a BA in Linguistics from GSU, and a BS in Software Development from GGC. He has worked as a private tutor for over 10 years, including time as an English teacher in South Korea. Anthony has a passion for teaching and finds it rewarding and fulfilling to work with kids.

He has an equal passion for chess and has been playing since he was only 5 years old. Anthony’s USCF rating is 1750, and his online ratings are all above 2000. His other interests include learning languages, travel, music and music theory, teaching, and video games.

Antonio Zegarra

Antonio graduated from the University of Maryland with a BA in economics and philosophy. He has a passion for chess and studies chess independently. Anthony also has taken lessons from a Fide Master and participates in chess tournaments. He has a provisional UCSF rating of 1279. He believes that chess is a fun and rewarding game that can be part of a child’s intellectual growth. Besides chess, Anthony enjoys reading, philosophy and cooking.

Agif Mammadov

At the age of 16, Agif Mammadov became a candidate for a master of sports in chess. He was a member of the Azerbaijan youth chess team and is a repeated champion of republican and all-union chess competitions in the former USSR. For over 15 years, he worked as a chess coach at the Dynamo Sports club. His love of chess is expressed through his teaching and skillfully instills this love of chess to his students.

Bella Belegradek

Bella has been playing chess for almost thirty years. She was a seasoned tournament player in Russia, where she acquired the title of Woman Chess Master’s Candidate at age 16. She earned Master’s degrees in Math and Computer Science, the latter from the University of Maryland. She was the university’s chess champion in 1994-95 and was a member of their chess team when they won two Pan-American Intercollegiate Championships. Bella started teaching chess while in elementary school and joined Kid Chess in 2005. In her spare time she enjoys photography, traveling, hiking, knitting and knitwear design.

Art Davis

Art is originally from Albion, Michigan. He holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Accounting from Tuskegee University and is working on his MBA with a specialization in Organizational Behavior. His work experience is in the field of accounting and finance. He enjoys coaching children in a variety of sports including football, basketball, and girls fast pitch softball. Art’s hobbies include golf, weight lifting, singing, mentoring others, spending time with his family, and playing lots of chess. At age 8 his father taught the game to him, and he has enjoyed playing casually ever since. His passion is coaching chess strategies to young minds and emphasizing how those strategies can be applied to life.

Barbara Cramer

Barbara was born to a U.S. Foreign Service Officer family, and experienced various cultures during her childhood. After nine years living in Madrid, Spain, she completed high school and joined her parents in Alexandria, VA. She studied at the Peabody Conservatory in Maryland and then enrolled at Georgetown University, receiving a B.S. in International Affairs. After getting married, she moved to Georgia, where she had a daughter. Homemaking and homeschooling kept Barbara busy until her daughter turned fifteen. At that point, Barbara enrolled at Kennesaw State University and earned a B.A. in English, with a minor in Music, and an M.A. in Professional Writing. Chess intersected her life at various points. She was taught the basics by a friend, and after her daughter learned the game, she began to play consistently. She played chess on her laptop and also read books to improve her skills. At KSU she played with classmates. She is excited to have found a company that not only promotes chess, but introduces and teaches it to youngsters. She enjoys working with children; teaching them to think and have fun at the same time.

Bennett Marquis

Originally from Wisconsin, Bennett completed the American Council of Exercise(ACE) personal training program at KSU and is now studying Human Resources Management. Bennett’s work experience includes being a DJ, a personal training consultant, an actor, and a sales representative. He enjoys working with children as he finds it inspiring to watch them develop critical and consequential thinking while providing the opportunity to be a positive influence. Bennett learned the basics of chess as a child and his interest in playing increased as a teenager and plays with family and friends. Bennett’s hobbies include weight-lifting, Aikido, and traveling.

Bill Dickman

Bill has been married to his wife for over 50 years and has two adult children. He is originally from Fremont, Ohio and earned at BS in Commerce & Finance from Tiffin University. He started playing chess in high school and plays on line. In his spare time he enjoys music, writing, reading, sports, and politics. He believes that chess is a lifetime challenge that provides growth in the mind and relationships. As a retiree from Owens-Illinois, Inc. after 28 years in sales and marketing, Bill strives to be mildly outrageous each day!

Bill Grossman

Bill has been playing chess for over 50 years. He grew up in Chattanooga, Tennessee and learned to play chess in the fourth grade. He was very active with the chess clubs in junior high and high school. After graduation, he volunteered for the U.S. Army and was an instructor at the U.S. Army Infantry School in Ft. Benning, GA before serving as an infantry squad leader with the First Calvary Division in Vietnam. After three combat decorations and an honorable discharge, Bill entered the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga. During college he took a part time job teaching chess at a local community center where he could instill his love of the game to elementary age children. After graduating with a B. S. in Psychology, he married his college sweetheart and moved to Dunwoody in 1978. Later that year, Bill started a company which provided services to the Theatrical Film distribution industry. In 2006 he sold his business and became more active in the Dunwoody community, where he serves as a Planning Commissioner and sits on other city boards and committees. Bill loves teaching chess to children and firmly believes that the skills taught in chess contribute to the concentration and analytical skills the kids will need to be successful in school.

Bill Noyes

Bill Noyes has been playing chess since 1972 and started working with Kid Chess in 1998, when he created the company’s first web site. Originally a MVS and OS/390 mainframe systems programmer, Bill is the Information Technology specialist for Kid Chess, and brings over two decades worth of professional data processing experience, standards, and procedures to his work with us. He is a former newsletter editor and Vice-President of the Georgia Chess Association, as well as former Secretary and President of the Decatur Chess Club. Bill was webmaster to the Georgia Chess Association’s Website GeorgiaChess.org, which under his administration was named Best State Chess Website in 2004, 2005, and 2006 by the Chess Journalists of America. Bill is also a classical pianist, playing the works of composers such as Beethoven, J.S. Bach, Mozart, Chopin, Liszt, Grieg, Brahms, Rachmaninoff, Debussy, and Franck.

Branden Thorne

Branden has many talents and interests, including chess. He is certified in Brazilian Martial Arts in the style of Capoeira, and a certification in Massage Therapy has provided him with the opportunity to work with many professional athletes. His family includes his wife, son, and dog, Lola. He first saw chess at the barbershop he went to as a child and has played ever since. Branden’s chess game became more serious when he was in college and he challenged his professor to a game. Friendly rivals, they played each day in person and online. Chess allows Branden to center, focus, and channel his creativity. He approaches life as he does chess; with an open ended plan. In his spare time, Branden enjoys learning wilderness survival skills, practicing martial arts, playing guitar, and anything that promotes physical fitness. He likes working with children as he enjoys being able to have a positive impact on their lives and he finds great joy in helping children reach their full potential.

Blake Zimbardi

Originally from Grayson, Georgia, Blake began playing chess in elementary school. He enjoys the game as it utilizes strategic and critical thinking; skills he believes to be important to teach to children. Blake enjoys playing chess with friends.  A graduate of Mill Creek High School, Blake is a civil engineering major.  His work experience includes the restaurant field and his hobbies include weight lifting and hiking.

Bradley Brown

An Atlanta native, Brad earned an A.A. Degree in Liberal Arts from Young Harris College and a B.A. Degree in Journalism from The University of Georgia. He is a Certified Paralegal and a Certified Level 1 Bowling instructor. His prior work experience includes sales, public relations for a children’s theatre, retail and operation management. He is married and has both dogs and a cat. Brad is an avid supporter of Atlanta’s sports teams, loves cooking and spending with his wife and their canine and feline family. He enjoys working with children as they are enthusiastic and open to new ideas. Brad first learned chess from his father and has played on and off over the years, both with friends, relatives, and against computers. He plays at least a couple of games every day, mainly against various computer programs. He enjoys sharing a passion for the game, especially with those who are just beginning to learn chess. He is also constantly amazed at how much more he learns while teaching others.

Brian Meyer

Brian is a graduate of Milton High School currently enrolled at Georgia Perimeter College. His work experience includes retail sales, singing professionally, and working with children at Fulton County Schools and Gymboree Play and Music. Brian likes teaching chess because children’s personalities and natural exuberance make it fun and rewarding. Brian plays chess online but prefers a face to face opponent. He also enjoys the challenge of daily chess tactics problems. In his spare time, Brian enjoys spending time with his family, especially his nephews, and is pursuing his next belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

Cameron Wiggins

Cameron has lived in Georgia most of his life. He has a bachelor’s degree in business administration specializing in information systems. He presently works in a supervisory I.T. position for a finance company and is coming back to Kid Chess after a brief hiatus. Cameron has been playing chess since he was a child, and still loves it, playing whenever he can. He even keeps a board at work, so he can play with coworkers when time allows. Since Cameron likes to solve puzzles and problems, chess is a natural for him. Playing and practicing chess creates new challenges that are unique to each game and/or opponent, which Cameron loves. He likes working with children because they are a joy to be around and as he works to enrich their lives through chess, the children enrich his. When not playing chess, he enjoys reading, building or working with computers, working out and gaming.

Cheri Drake

Cheri first learned to play chess in an after-school 5th Grade program while living in Michigan. “It was fun”, she says, “I loved it!” She then moved with her family to Roswell, GA and after high school, attended the University of Georgia where the second person she met was her future brother-in-law and Kid Chess Founder, Justin Morrison. After graduating with a degree in Speech Communication, Cheri worked as an on-air radio announcer and was the Assistant Production Director for Cox Media Group in Athens, GA. Cheri’s chess experience largely comes from playing with her son while he was growing up. For Cheri, the fun in chess comes from teaching the game and watching others grow as chess players.

Charles Curry

Chase Nixon

Chase started playing chess in elementary school. He was taught by his father and learned more about the game by participating in the Kid Chess program while in elementary school. Chase graduated from Kennesaw State University with a BS in Communications: Journalism, a film minor, and a music and entertainment business certificate. He is an active musician and taught music to kids of all ages both privately and at Camp Jam. Chase’s creativity is demonstrated through his music, writing, and filmmaking. He is always working on a project, learning new material, and striving to be the best person he can be. Chase loves helping kids learn new things and giving them the courage to succeed at what they want in life. Chase continues to play chess and reads books to better his game. He also enjoys spending time with his family and friends.

Cheryl Jackson

Cheryl graduated with a B.A. from Villanova. She then earned her M.Ed. in Special Education at Antioch and taught high school and middle school in both Philadelphia and Las Vegas. She relocated to Atlanta in 2014 and began playing chess several times a week with a group of retirees. Cheryl loves sharing her passion for chess and seeing young people happy and engaged in their games. She also enjoys baking cheesecakes, cookies, and pies. A keen gardener, Cheryl likes to shop for pretty flowerpots to use for begonias, peace lilies, roses, and clippings.

Chevis Reed

Chevis is originally from Columbus, Ohio. He is pursuing a degree in spiritual studies and hypnotherapy from Southwest Institute of Healing Arts. His prior work experience includes being a teacher’s assistant, a summer camp and after school program counselor, and a youth and young adult life coach. Chevis’s dad taught him to play chess when he was 8, and he continues to play both online and with friends. He is an avid reader particularly about the topic of human psychology and sociology. Chevis enjoys chess as it allows him to learn about himself and provides opportunities to think and plan. His goal is to help build schools around the world that will inspire and instruct the next generation on healthy and prosperous living. He is married with one daughter.

Clay Johnson

Clay received a BS in Telecommunications and Theatre from Lee University and possesses a background in customer service, processing, and theater. He is originally from Greenbrier, Arkansas and his family still lives there. Clay started playing chess when he was eight and enjoys its puzzle and mental challenge. He enjoys teaching children how to play as he finds them imaginative and excited to learn. Clay is an actor and previously traveled the country doing sketch theatre for five years. In fact, he has been to every state except Alaska! Clay is also interested in directing, voice acting, and podcasting.

Clinton Hasan

Clinton is originally from California. He attended the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and worked in the insurance and banking fields. Clinton has one daughter, Clintel. He has played chess for over 20 years, predominantly online with players all around the world. He finds chess calming and likes that it requires a player to be patient and problem solve. Clinton also enjoys cooking, jazz, hiking, and fishing.

Connor Clifton

Connor first learned chess in the first grade as a part of the Kid Chess program. He taught his sister to play chess and has always enjoyed teaching the game to others. He is pursuing a degree from Kennesaw State University in Theatre and Performance Studies and is an aspiring film director and comic book writer.

Dan Woodard

Dan joined Kid Chess in 2009 after working as an attorney and IT professional. Dan is currently the president of Quantum Leap Solutions, a management and leadership consulting firm. He has experience working with young adults in the mentoring program, Rising Star. Dan learned chess from his grandfather at the age of seven and played chess competitively for his high school and college chess clubs. He believes that learning chess is one of the best ways to teach young people how to think internally and to plan ahead, both essential skills in today’s world. He has a B.S. from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. and a J.D. from Cumberland School of Law in Birmingham, Alabama.

Daniel Ledoux

Daniel attended Florida Atlantic University, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science and Health Promotion. He attained his education certificate and taught kindergarten through 6th grade, specializing in science. He is a tournament chess player. When not teaching or playing chess, Daniel enjoys spending time with his family, writes lyrics for music, and plays sports.

David Barfield

David work ethic originated when he opened his own newspaper delivery service at the age of 14. Later, he worked for AT&T (Southern Bell, BellSouth) and also trained in art and drafting at DeKalb College. While working for AT&T, he opened a part-time photography business. This became a full time endeavor after retiring in 2006. He enjoys working with children as a professional photographer, Sunday school teacher, and chess instructor.

David Mbonu

David first learned to play chess when he was 6 years old. He quickly developed a love for the game and in 2nd grade won his first school tournament 12-0. He rose to be the top ranked chess player in his elementary school, began competing in numerous tournaments, and playing online. He placed top 5 every year in the Middle School Grade Level Championships. Upon entering high school David was invited to the Georgia Junior Invitational/High School Championship multiple times, placing 2nd in 2012. David enjoys working with children, and in his senior year was invited to give a lecture to 8th graders about STEM education. David is expert strength with a USCF rating of 1981 and actively competing while attending Georgia Tech for Electrical Engineering. David is the brother of Matthew Mbonu, fellow Kid Chess employee.

Dave Swanston

Dave was taught chess in 5th grade by his mother. He attended high school in Sandy Springs, GA, then moved to Oregon and lived there for twenty years, before returning to Georgia. He has a Masters of Education and a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature, both from the University of Oregon. He taught high school English and math for ten years, and was the chess coach at the high school for eight of those years. He was also the sports announcer for the basketball, football and volleyball teams. In his spare time he enjoys playing guitar and ukulele for his aging parents.

Dean Bowler

Dean was born in Roswell, Georgia. He completed an associate’s degree in computer science and is currently working on his bachelor’s degree at Georgia State University. Before he joined Kid Chess, Dean researched at the Rochester Institute of Technology for the National Technical Institute for the Deaf.

Dean studies chess seriously and it shows! His ratings are 1865 USCF classical, 2180 and 2300 rapid chess.com and lichess.org, respectively. His goal is to achieve Expert (2000 USCF rating). Dean is a head coach at several schools. It puts a smile on his face to make a difference in kid’s lives and to see how they are improving. He loves playing and teaching chess because of the virtues and skills it teaches us, such as patience, humility, humbleness, community, and how to achieve our goals.

Deepak Aaron

Deepak is a student at Georgia Institute of Technology studying chemical engineering. He interned as a sales representative for Around Campus and has worked in various campus departments including legal, civil engineering, and chemistry. Deepak was raised in upstate New York and began playing chess at the age of 4. As a tournament player, he has competed not only in Georgia but around the country and world. Among Deepak’s achievements are a win against a player with a rating of 2700 and a draw in a tournament against Gata Kamsky. He likes fast, attacking, exciting chess. Other than chess, Deepak’s hobbies include, basketball, FIFA, and TV shows. Deepak has a younger brother and sister and credits his sister for teaching him lots of patience! For Deepak, chess is like art; he strives to make each of his games a masterpiece.

Deborah Ifill

Deborah is originally from New York. She graduated from Queens College with a degree in psychology and went on to earn her Masters in Social Work from Rutgers University. She was a psychotherapist/counselor and then transitioned into wellness training management. Upon retirement, she and her husband moved from New Jersey to Alpharetta and are enjoying the change in climate! They have one daughter who lives New York. Deborah enjoys playing chess with her husband, family, and friends. The challenge provided by her husband, Kid Chess coach Ken Ifill, strengthened her game. Deborah worked with children during her master’s program and enjoys volunteering in an elementary school after school program. She also volunteers at her church providing hot lunches for the homeless and other needy people in the community. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking, entertaining, watching old movies, and playing competitive games with friends. She and Ken love to travel. They have ventured all over the world including China and especially love cruising with family and friends.

Dionne Eargle

Dionne received her undergraduate degree from Kean University in NJ and her Masters Degree in Management from Southern Polytechnic University in Marietta. After 14 years at AT&T, she received her Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential in the field of early childhood learning. She became the director of an early learning center and while there she taught two classes: American Sign Language and “Confident Kids, a life skills curriculum. Dionne also worked for Georgia Public Broadcasting and as a teacher for Primrose Schools in Dunwoody. Dionne is a certified Laughter Yoga Leader – a health movement in which anyone can learn to laugh for no reason without the use of humor. Dionne insisted her sons learn to play chess but thought it was too complicated for her to learn as an adult. However, she did become a skilled player, becoming an example of the saying “life is for learning”. She considers herself as a casual player. Dionne donates to the Red Cross up to 6 times a year. In her spare time, she plays chess with her husband. Her favorite quote is: If the student hasn’t learned, the teacher hasn’t taught.

Donna Phillips

Donna is a native of Atlanta, Georgia. Her professional background is with IBM in a marketing and sales capacity. She enjoys playing classical piano, volunteering for community projects, caring for the elderly, and playing chess with friends and family. She believes in Kid Chess because of the leadership, analytical skills, and friendships that develop as the children learn to play.

Duvonte Webster

Duvonte is fluent in Tagalog, a language spoken primarily in the Philippines and also understands Spanish. He attended Georgia Perimeter and Kennesaw State Colleges. Duvonte loves working with children thus making him a perfect fit for a Kid Chess coach! He is a casual chess player and looks forward to learning more about chess while working with children.

Doug Cox

Doug is a Georgia native; he moved to Atlanta in 1992 for college. He has a B.A. from Georgia State University, majoring in computer information systems. He has worked as a consultant as a lead developer, data architect and analyst for over twenty years, most recently with Microsoft. Doug started playing chess in earnest in 2003; he plays four to six USCF tournaments a year and has also played FIDE-rated tournaments in other countries, most recently in Bangkok and Medellin. He is currently rated 1892 by USCF. Doug enjoys teaching and playing chess because he feels it is one of the few subjects where different ideas and approaches can be applied with unbiased feedback. After all, checkmate is not subjective! Chess assists in the development of critical thinking, intellectual and emotional
intelligence, and rewards rationality and patience. He loves that kids act like enthusiastic sponges when learning chess and especially enjoys seeing their improvement and watching their development. Doug enjoys many things besides chess: playing piano, sports and sports analytics, gardening, spending time with his wife and two dogs, reading philosophy and science fiction and travel. Doug has been a vegetarian since 2011.

Ed Felts

Ed is a class A USCF rated player who was introduced at a very early age to the game of chess. His older brother explained how the pieces moved and he won the first game he ever played. He then went on to play his first tournament in Mississippi Junior Championship and won as well. Ed is a retired engineer who is enjoying his grandchildren along with his wife. Ed continued to pursue his love of the game when he joined the Kid Chess team in 2009. He now shares his passion for chess with many young students, encouraging them to develop their own skills and grow.

Eugene Motz

Eugene was born in Arad, Romania in 1957. He immigrated to the United States in 1978 where he attended Los Angeles City College and UCLA. He began to play chess when he was 13 and is a Class A chess player. Eugene is also an artist who works in many mediums, including paint, collage, printmaking, and glass. His pieces are mainly in an abstract style.

Francis Lisasi

Francis is originally from Congo Kinshasa and has lived in South Africa, Belgium and Sweden. He is married, with four adult children, two of whom live in South Africa and the other two live in the US. Francis holds degrees in law and criminology and a degree in business administration/marketing. He is fluent in both French and English.

Francis started playing chess at 8. In 2006, he took part in the national championships in the Congo, where he placed sixth! He continues to play online daily, from two to five games per day. He loves teaching chess, especially to kids because they have plenty of room for learning. He likens it to turning lead into gold

When not playing chess, Francis can be found teaching French to all levels, from beginner to advanced. He also translates professional documents from English to French. He enjoys reading detective novels and watching good movies.

Fred Judson

Fred began playing at chess in Milford, Connecticut. He initiated his chess career by reading Capablanca’s “A Primer of Chess” and Reuben Fine’s “Chess the Easy Way” and was recognized as “All Campus Champion” at the University of Connecticut. He graduated with a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Bridgeport Engineering Institute, now part of Fairfield University. His accomplishments include two time Club “Blitz Champion”, holding Grandmaster Pal Benko to a draw in a simul, defeating a Master at the Connecticut Blitz Championship, and sharing 1st place with a blind player at the 1990 Hartford Open. Fred has over thirty years of experience as a chess instructor and is a registered Chess Coach with the United States Chess Federation. Fred started working for Kid Chess in 2002.

Greg White

Originally from Iowa, Greg earned a B.S. Fisheries and Wildlife Biology from Iowa State University. He became a fisheries biologist and then transitioned to careers that involved helping others. From a hospice bereavement coordinator to the activities director at an assisted living facility, to stay at home dad for his three children, to chess coach, he enjoys working with others. Greg is a casual chess player and finds it fulfilling to see a child’s eyes light up when they understand a concept for the first time.  His hobbies include board and card games, walking, running, hiking, and spending time with family. If Greg is teaching at your school, make sure you ask him why his nickname is Swampdoctor!!

Greg Barnum

Greg has been playing chess since he was 11 years old. He has played in several chess clubs in both Florida and Georgia. He is a Vietnam veteran and a graduate of the University of Florida with graduate hours in Humanities from Penn State University. Greg has had several vocations; he has been a community college instructor, a sales rep and a realtor. He has played the French horn in several orchestras as well as refereeing soccer and instructing junior golf players. Greg is a security guard for the Masters Golf Tournament in Augusta and also finds time to volunteer for child advocacy. He has recently taken up oil and acrylic painting. He enjoys cooking and wine and playing chess.

Herman Jones

Herman Jones is a Sprayberry High School graduate with work experience in the fields of customer service, music production, and childcare. He began playing chess when he was 8 years old and likes to play with friends and online. Teaching children to play chess allows Herman to help them take each concept to the next level where there is always something new to discover. His hobbies include playing basketball, soccer, piano, trombone, singing, and songwriting. Herman has perfect pitch and auditioned twice for NBC’s The Voice.

Hunter Young

Hunter has lived in the local area all his life. He has been working with children for over 10 years, both in  inner city outreach programs and coaching in athletic programs. He is currently enrolled at KSU working on Cisco certifications. Hunter began playing chess with his father at an early age and played in the chess club at his school for a few years. He enjoys both working with children and playing chess, especially the opportunities for deeper thinking that playing chess creates and the chance to share that. When not playing chess, Hunter’s hobbies include kayaking, playing video games and climbing. His parents’ last names were Knight and Bishop!

Ingrid Payton

Ingrid was born and raised in Battle Creek, Michigan where she and her husband raised their two sons. She earned a Bachelor Degree in Management and Organizational Development from Spring Arbor University in Michigan and a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from Cornerstone University, Michigan. An educator with more than 20 years of experience, Ingrid started as an Arts Coordinator where one of her duties was to schedule enrichment classes, including chess. Ingrid, herself, first started playing chess with her siblings. In their household, playing chess was as popular as video games! She likes to play on the computer or against family members and can’t wait for her grandchildren to learn to play. In her spare time, Ingrid enjoys researching history and traveling. Children inspire her to continue in the field of education, and she finds it exciting to collaborate with them on a game that teaches strategies for Iearning life lessons.

Ivan Nikitin

Ivan was born in Obninsk, Russia and moved to the USA as a child. His father and brother taught him to play chess, and he continues to improve his game on the computer. Ivan is a graduate of Lassiter High School and attended The Atlanta Institute of Music specializing in the guitar. His work experience is in the service industry, specializing in customer relations. Ivan’s hobbies include boxing/martial arts, music production, music education as a guitar teacher, and performing. He loves to play both video and card games. Ivan believes teaching chess is important as it helps children find solutions to problems using logic and reasoning.

Jacob Mbonu

Jacob is a senior at Mill Creek High School. He started playing chess with his family as a child and is one of three brothers who have worked as part of the Kid Chess team. Jacob is a USCF member and has participated in chess tournaments both as an individual and as a member of a team. When not in school or playing chess, Jacob enjoys playing soccer and guitar, skateboarding, photography, and collecting antiques. He loves teaching chess to children as it is so much fun!

Jaimie Dee McGowan

Jaimie became a chess coach at a young age. After learning how to play from her father, she would take a chess set to school and teach her friends how to play during recess! Following high school, Jaimie attended Kennesaw State University and graduated magna cum laude in performance.  Her prior work experience includes teaching ballet, gymnastics, and physical education to pre-school aged children and being the primary care provider for elementary school children at the Atlanta Yacht Club. Even when not playing chess, Jaimie has a strong love of learning & education. In her free time, you can find her attending business seminars and entrepreneurship workshops.

Jamie Kazmierczak

Jamie is enrolled in Full Sail University. He has prior work experience as a substitute teacher and is originally from Knoxville, TN. He has played chess for over 10 years and plays each day against a chess app. Jamie enjoys strategy games, especially ones without a dominant strategy. In his spare time, he enjoys playing video games and artistic card conjuring, cardistry. He enjoys teaching chess as he likes seeing people make progress in the game.

Jared Radin

Jared has been playing chess for approximately 45 years. In the 70’s he was one of the top players in Georgia and won the State Championship in 1973. Jared is a former President of the Georgia Chess Association, and he has also directed and organized many chess tournaments. Jared is a computer programmer by trade and he created KCEasyChess and the interactive chess puzzles in the “fun house” section of the Kid Chess website.

Jayashree Sekar

Jayashree is originally from India and moved to U.S. in 1998. She first learned chess from a friend and has been playing since middle school. She is an active USCF Rated Class B tournament player, a USCF Certified Tournament Director, and holds a FIDE Trainers Title as a Developmental Instructor. Jayashree loves to teach children to play chess. Jayashree joined Kid chess in 2008.

Jeff Martinez

Originally from Queens, New York, Jeff earned an Associates in Engineering at Queens Borough Community College and a Diploma in Programming from Chattahoochee Technical College. He is also a Georgia certified interpreter; English-Spanish. Jeff’s work experience includes property management, computer technology, and junior web development. He enjoys chess since it is a game of skill and tactical prowess and plays about twice a week with a chess club. In his spare time, he enjoys HTML tutoring, computer technology, and sports forecasting.

Jim Varda

Jim is a native of Chicago. He earned a B.S. from Purdue University and a MBA from Loyola of Chicago. He worked in Operations Management for Oscar Mayer/Kraft Foods for 25 years before retiring. He enjoys golfing, reading, chess, cooking, and working for Kid Chess. He has been playing chess for over 50 years and enjoys teaching kids how to play as it reminds him of coaching his son’s little league teams.

John Papp

John moved to Atlanta from Ohio in 2009 and joined Kid Chess in 2010. John is an American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Certified Personal Trainer with a degree in Middle School Education. He has been a head coach in girls’ volleyball and boys’ basketball. John loves the safe and stimulating environment Kid Chess creates for kids. He believes chess is the best game there is for children’s social and cognitive development.

Johnathan Curley

Johnathan is a native of Georgia but has traveled extensively.  He has been to every state except Hawaii! Born in Kennesaw, Johnathan started playing chess as a child. He is a casual player and plays both on the computer and with friends. Johnathan joined the marines at 17 years old and went on to earn three bachelor of art degrees in early childhood education, sports science psychology, and nutrition.  He has been a teacher, personal trainer, marketing manager, and nutritionist. Johnathan loves to be healthy. He works out every day and enjoys being outside in nature, especially with his four rescue dogs. In his spare time, Johnathan plays the guitar and has taught other people to play. When teaching chess, Johnathan likes to help children figure out different chess strategies and tactics, teaching them to think about every move and the its consequences. He hopes they apply the same skill to everyday life, becoming well rounded and confident.

Jordan Page

Jordan attended Kennesaw State and currently works at Publix as well as coaching for Kid Chess. He is the son of Tory Page, a former Kid Chess trophy coach. Tory taught Jordan how to play at an early age, and he became an avid player. He stopped playing to be involved in sports and other activities, but has begun playing again. He enjoys reading chess books, playing online, and entering tournaments. Jordan has experience working with kids as a camp counselor and a sports coach. In his spare time, Jordan likes to watch sports, go to the gym, and stay up to date in politics. He has also ventured in to realm of amateur standup comedy.

J.T. Henricks

J.T. was born and raised in Kennesaw. He received a Bachelor’s in Business Administration from Toccoa Falls College and a Masters in Accounting from Kennesaw State University. His work experience includes tax preparation and working at a hobby and gaming store. As a child, he attended Kid Chess classes and has been a competitive chess player since 5th grade. In the 10th grade, he tied for 2nd place in the country at Bughouse Chess. He has worked for Kid Chess since high school, beginning as one of the company’s first Junior Coaches. He loves speed chess, playing all manner of board and card games, and enjoys traveling.

Julia Radin

Julia was born in Helena, Montana. She then lived in Utah before eventually moving to Georgia. She worked in banking for thirty-two years, and graduated from Kennesaw State University in 2010. Julia enjoys working with children and she is always amazed as to how quickly they learn the moves and tactics of chess. Her hobbies include scuba diving, reading (when she can find the time), and playing chess and Scrabble. Julia joined Kid Chess in 2008 and is happily married to Coach Jared Radin.

Kartike Button

Kartike was born in India. He graduated from high school with honors as a senior elite. He is now enrolled in Kennesaw State. He was an Eagle Scout, which gave him the opportunity to work with children. Besides playing chess, Kartike enjoys creating art in many different forms, especially music and writing. One of Kartike’s favorite quotes is from Marcus Aurelius, ”The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts.”

Katie Lucas

Katie is a Georgia native, originally from Lawrenceville.  As the daughter of a former Kid Chess coach and editor of Chess Life magazine, she was raised around chess. She plays with her family and online. In addition to inheriting chess skills from her father, she inherited a love of teaching from her mother.  She likes working with children as they have different perspectives and generate creative and clever ways to accomplish things. Currently, Katie attends Kennesaw State University aspiring to be a veterinarian or to work in the area of wildlife rehabilitation. She loves animals and enjoys pet sitting, playing tennis and photography.

Kearstyn Denton

Kearstyn works in the Kid Chess office and as well as coaching chess in schools. She currently attends Kennesaw State University and plans to apply to nursing school. She enjoys working with children through Kid Chess and various volunteer positions, including the Boys and Girls Club. In her spare time, Kearstyn is training for a half marathon, enjoys reading, and spending time with her family and friends.

Ken Ifill

Ken has played chess for over 40 years and plays regularly with friends and family members. He also finds time to challenge the numerous chess programs on his laptop. Ken graduated from St. Mary’s College in Trinidad, and retired after 30 plus years of service as a locomotive engineer at New Jersey Transit Rail. He comes from a musical family and started working at a young age as a professional musician. Ken and his wife, Deborah, are involved in a bi-weekly lunch program to feed the homeless. He also mentors children through teaching chess and has taught the game to his many nieces and nephews. He believes learning chess fosters creative thinking and its positive influence may be the thing that helps a child achieve greatness in life. Ken’s hobbies are photography and riding his bicycle on trails.

Kim Ives

Growing up Kim learned chess from his father. After graduating from Georgia Tech, he lived in Europe for a year. There, Kim found occasions where playing chess introduced him into memorable friendships; a Russian diplomat, a German chess club member, a language school friend, and other Europeans. He worked as an environmental engineer for the Department of Natural Resources and then, after earning his master’s degree in education, Kim taught math to special students in Cobb and Clayton counties. Kim was reintroduced to chess when he taught his daughter how to play the night before a school tournament, a tournament that she won! Kim continues to teach chess as he enjoys helping and seeing his students find their confidence. Kim has practiced yoga for 25 years and uses that focus to be present with his students.

Kevin Holmes

Kevin began taking lessons with Kid Chess when he was five years old and was his class champion numerous times. He enjoys playing chess with his brothers, former Kid Chess instructors, and also plays chess against opponents from all over the world via the Internet. He is pursuing a degree in math. Kevin also enjoys various outdoor activities with his venturing crew such as caving, skiing, and whitewater rafting, is a black belt in Tae Kwon Do, and plays the ukulele and piano.

Kirby Jones

Kirby grew up in Charlotte, NC. He graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 1972 with a BA in Business Education. While there, he was a member of varsity basketball team. He worked for the Campbell Soup Company in sales, marketing, and logistics until his retirement in 2008. He is a member of Campbell’s Sales Hall of Fame. He coached baseball and basketball teams through Roswell Recreation Department and founded and coached a travel basketball team. He served as head coach and program director for Roswell High School Junior Hornets Basketball and is building a business selling sports collectibles on the internet. He was taught chess at a young age and really enjoyed it. His children participated in the Kid Chess program during their elementary school years.

Kyley Smith

Kyley is originally from Boone, NC.  She is a classically trained pianist and composer with a B.A. in Piano Performance from University of Tennessee Knoxville. She continued her education with pedagogical and performance training at the North Carolina School of the Arts, Salem College, and Wake Forest University. Kyley also studied piano at the St. Petersburg Conservatory in, Russia. In addition to teaching chess, Kyley teaches piano and arranges classic rock tunes, pop music, and video game soundtracks for solo piano. As an educator, Kyley has experience with all levels of instruction including students with special needs.  She began playing chess as a hobby and plays on the computer, in a chess club, and is a member of the USCF. When not playing chess or teaching piano, her hobbies include golf, learning other languages including Albanian/Shqip, and taking her dachshund, Xander, to the park for play dates.

Lakshmi Thirunavukkarasu

Lakshmi is originally from India and moved to the U.S. in 1998. She has been playing chess since elementary school and primarily played against friends and siblings as a child. Lakshmi also enjoys the intricate strategy that chess offers, as well as its focus on adaptation for both players. She has a bachelor‘s degree in Computer Science and worked as an assistant teacher in a Montessori school. She loves working with children – teaching them and creating an environment for children to share their passions. Lakshmi loves traveling, drawing, and crocheting.

Lawrence Matthews

Lawrence is originally from Michigan and moved to the Atlanta area in 2005. He studied business administration at Charter Oak State College. Lawrence first learned chess from his uncle when he was 9 years old, and he still enjoys playing with his family and friends. In his spare time, Lawrence enjoys traveling and reading books on the topics of psychology and business. He is also conversant in Haitian Creole, a language he acquired while doing volunteer outreach work. He loves teaching chess to children as he believes their natural inquisitiveness is suited to the game of chess and that the game teaches good habits such as thinking before making decisions.

Laura Mauter

Laura is originally from Addison, Illinois. She attended Southern New Hampshire University and received a BA in Creative Writing. She nannied children of all ages for eight years before transitioning to being a coach for Kid Chess.  While she considers herself a casual player, she loves learning more and more about the game every day. In addition to chess, she loves running, writing, and playing video games.

Kyle Hagen

Kyle graduated from Kennesaw State University with a degree in business management, as well as an MBA. He played chess competitively during middle and high school. In 8th Grade, Kyle won the Georgia State Level Championships. Kyle began his career at Kid Chess as a student; he has now coached with Kid Chess for well over a decade alongside his two brothers. His favorite part of working with kids, is seeing them learn new skills and interact with challenges. Kyle’s other hobbies include exercise, nutrition, photography, and brewing.

Lee Miller

Lee began playing chess as a sophomore in high school. He was founder and president of the chess club at Berry College, where he graduated with a B.A. in English Literature. He has taught chess professionally since then. Lee has achieved the second category (USCF) in his many years of tournament competition. He is married with three children and enjoys reading and walking in his spare time. As for his thoughts about chess in education, and the tremendous benefits of chess for children (and adults!) they are nicely summed up in this original quote: “Chess is a chimera, a fabulous mystery, ever medieval yet eminently modern, a moving myth. While all at once a sport that edifies, a science that engages, and an art that enlightens, chess is a game that anyone can play, an ennobling quest for all who venture it.”

Leslie Nicodemus

Leslie hails from Baltimore, Maryland, though she spent most of her adult life in Florida and California before settling in Cobb County in early 2014. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Maryland in Elementary Education. Leslie taught third grade for more than 20 years and then switched gears and became an Instructional Technology Specialist for fourth through eighth grade. She has presented at more than a dozen conferences on such subjects as how to engage students in learning and how children can learn to think and ask questions, rather than memorizing facts. Kid Chess is a natural extension to these skills, as chess playing has been scientifically proven to help build cognitive skills. 

 
Leslie has two grown children and lives in Marietta with her Lhasa Apso, Harpo. She considers herself a casual chess player and enjoys reading, traveling, movies and developing her chess skills on line and with family and friends. Working with kids is entertaining and satisfying. There is nothing quite like the “Eureka” moment when a child makes a discovery or learns something new. She enjoys the challenge of chess. 

LeVar Bell

LeVar earned a B.S. in Health Education from Alabama State University and an MPA in Education from Jacksonville State University. His prior work experience includes health education and coaching football and basketball. LeVar’s hobbies include traveling with his wife, chess, hiking, and physical fitness. He began playing chess while in college and plays with family and friends. He enjoys teaching chess to children because it allows him to be part of their learning experience and to encourage their critical thinking skills.

Lia Walker

Lia first learned chess in her elementary school gifted program and enjoys playing casually with friends. Lia’s work experience is in the business management and healthcare fields. She currently attends Georgia State University and is seeking a degree in nursing. Following her passion for assisting people, she has tutored high school students in math, her favorite subject. She also learned Hindi to assist people with their religious education and installs drywall for building and disaster relief work.

Lisa Hong

Lisa was born in Taiwan, moved to the United States, and attended high school and college in St. Louis, Missouri. In 1990 her family moved from Houston, Texas to Marietta. She has worked at Mt. Bethel Elementary School as the Cafeteria Manager since 1999. Lisa first learned how to play chess as a parent helper for Kid Chess and then joined the company as a coach in 2007.

Louis Alderman IV

Louis works in our office as well as being a chess coach. He was a member of the Milton High School Chess Club and president of the club from 2003 to 2005. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Southern Polytechnic State University. In his spare time, he also works with students of all ages at a martial arts school having earned his black belt in 2019. He also volunteered with Georgia BEST robotics in 2008 and 2009.

Maha Sikkander

Maha is originally from India and it was there, when she was twelve years old, that her cousin taught her to play chess.  Initially a casual player, Maha played a game that changed her perspective. Her queen was captured and Maha made the assumption that she would also lose the game.  However, she won that game with two rooks!  This experience increased Maha’s passion for chess. She now considers chess to be an art as it stimulates both concentration and imagination.  Maha plays frequently with friends and family, including her husband and daughter, as well as online. Maha has a Master’s degree in English Literature and a software testing certificate.  Her work experience is in this field, including database analysis, development, and testing. In her spare time, Maha enjoys learning new languages (she speaks three different Indian languages), cooking, and volunteering for the Girl Scouts.

Matthew Mbonu

Matthew originally learned chess from his mother and through his kindergarten gifted program. He developed a passion for the game, becoming one of the founding members of a successful chess club in which he was ranked in the top 3 for his entire tenure; playing in many rated scholastic and individual tournaments. While attending Mill Creek High school, he tutored elementary students in reading and math which sparked a love of teaching. He earned a certification in fitness training and continued teaching in a children’s fitness boot camp. Matthew enjoys working for Kid Chess as it allows him to combine his passion for chess with his talent for teaching.

Matthew Kinnemore

Matthew, a Georgia native, graduated from Georgia Tech with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He is currently working as a Pastoral Fellow at Trinity Anglican Church. He began playing chess against his dad and is now a casual chess player who enjoys playing against friends. Matthew enjoys working with kids. His background as a tutor for elementary students allowed him to realize that he loves taking ideas and concepts that seem hard and explaining them in a fun and simple way. He has always been analytically minded which works well with the game of chess. He enjoys the strategy and logic of chess; chess lets him use that mindset in a fun and engaging game. When not playing chess, Matthew has played the drums for 21 years and is also an amateur filmmaker.

Matthew Siano

Matt is currently studying Theatre and Performance Studies at Kennesaw State University.  His prior work experience includes a variety of roles including a mover, a barista, and a veterinarian assistant.  Although originally from Atlanta, his family now live in central coast California and Philadelphia. Chess is part of Matt’s genealogy.  He first learned to play from his grandmother who had learned from her father, a tournament player. Once Matt possessed the skills to beat his grandmother, he elevated his chess game by reading his great-grandfather’s old notated games.  Matt now holds the title of the family chess champion and frequently plays with friends. He believes chess is a special place you can take your brain, an itch that no other game can really scratch. Players win and lose on their own merit and decision making skills. In his spare time, Matt enjoys running, camping, and playing music.

Melissa Rivera

Melissa is originally from Pennsylvania and originally moved to Atlanta in 2000. Since then she has moved away from Atlanta twice, but always returns and is now here to stay. She has an Associate Degree in Travel & Tourism and is also holds a Georgia Real Estate License. Her previous work experience is as a legal docket clerk & paralegal, a commercial property manager, and a safety and compliance director. She lives with her husband, and her children; a son and a daughter who are both competitive dancers. She is a casual chess player who learned to play from her son who is a Kid Chess kid!   In her spare time, Melissa enjoys weightlifting with her husband and daughter, hiking, camping, reading, and being a chauffeur for her children’s activities.

Mercedes Wilson

Mercedes began to play chess at the age of five. She has many fond memories of watching her parents play the game. These memories inspired her to learn to play and to also teach her siblings. She received her Bachelor of Business Administration from Georgia State University and then worked in customer-service for both a major bank and a health care company. Her passion is helping others, especially children. She is very excited about teaching children to love chess as much as she does. In her spare time she enjoys reading, playing chess, and learning about new cultures. She is also learning how to speak Hindi/Urdu.

Meredith Smiles

Meredith attended the University of Alabama and the University of South Carolina where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Management. She went on to receive her MBA from Kennesaw State University and then worked in the management field for several companies, most recently as a human resources/business consultant. She and her husband have two children. In her spare time, she loves to play tennis and read. She learned to play chess in elementary school and considers herself a casual chess player. She enjoys sharing the strategy of chess and seeing the children have fun while learning the game.

Michael Burns

Michael earned a Bachelor of Science in Film Studies from Full Sail University in Winter Park, Florida.  His work experience is in retail management and camera and television equipment rental. Born and raised in Atlanta, he learned to play chess in 5th grade when his school started a chess club. He enjoys playing with friends and enjoys the critical thinking and logic of the game. He is excited to share his love of the game with others and being a positive role model to children. Michael has one daughter and his favorite thing to do is to spend time with her. Along with playing chess, Michael is a tournament foosball player. He thinks of it as a high speed chess game.

Michael Hyde

Michael began playing chess in grade school. He went on to become the chess club champion his senior year. Since then Michael has been playing many different strategic and tactical board games including historical military games. After a long absence from chess, he began playing chess again at the local chess club meeting at Borders a few years ago. He enjoys music, reading and spending time with his wife and three children. Michael holds a BS in Education and is a partner in his computer company.

Michael Rose

Michael is a rarity in Atlanta – he was born and raised here! A graduate of Georgia Tech with a BS in Mechanical Engineering, he now develops and tests web applications. Michael’s mother taught him to play chess when he was about 6 years old and he plays almost exclusively online. In addition to chess, he likes watching and playing almost any sport. Michael also likes to work out and travel as much as he can. In fact, he has visited 12 countries in the last 5 years! Michael finds chess an exciting game and a great mental exercise, where both sides start as equals and all possibilities are there to be seen on the board. He believes the game provides opportunities for players to be creative and resourceful and that teaching children these skills is an important and rewarding responsibility.

Mikhail Morozov

Mikhail is a graduate of Sprayberry High School and currently attends Kennesaw State University. Originally from Moscow, Russia, he first learned to play chess at the age of four and likes its focus on strategy. His consistent victories against his family members reduced his field of competitors, so he now predominantly plays online. His prior work experience includes working for a civil engineering firm and his he spare time he enjoys rollerblading, mountain skiing, reading, and dancing.

Mike Ericson

Mike graduated from Georgia State University with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting & Finance. He has worked as both an accountant and a software & network engineer. Mike started playing chess with his high school physics teacher and plays games, reads about chess, or works chess puzzles every day. He believes chess teaches people to stop and think before acting; a skill that carries over to all aspects of life, therefore helping people to make better life choices. As a logical thinker, chess appeals to Mike as it is all about logic and planning. He loves the challenge and the way it makes him work his brain. When not playing chess, Mike enjoys spending time with his wife and son, who is also a chess player. His hobbies include mountain climbing, rock and ice climbing, scuba diving, and hiking. His hobbies have provided Mike with the opportunity to ride on the back of a giant sea turtle while he was diving off the coast of Borneo and he has also climbed the Grand Teton in Wyoming!

Mike Gordon

Mike Gordon has played tournament chess for almost 40 years and in more than 30 states. He has achieved USCF expert ratings in both over the board and correspondence play. He also has served as editor of the Georgia Chess Magazine. Mike holds a BS in Economics from the University of Florida and an MBA in Finance from Florida State. He recently retired from a 32 year career as Logistics Manager at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and is enjoying teaching and playing chess. Mike likes working with kids and was also a volunteer with Big Brothers of Atlanta.

Myron Morgan

Myron was raised in a family of eight and is now married and the proud father of three young children. He attended Ball State University in early childhood education and has worked with children in a variety of areas, including Little League soccer and as a Sunday School teacher. He began to play chess at an early age and is excited to share his love of the game through Kid Chess.

Neil Schattin

Neil is originally from New Jersey. A graduate of Rutgers University with a BS in Engineering, he went on to earn an MBA from Temple University. He applied these degrees to his career as a vice president and technical director of large industrial manufacturing companies. Neil originally learned how to play chess when he was 10 years old. He regularly plays with a group of retirees and loves sharing his enjoyment of the game with children as they make everyone feel young again! Neil enjoys seeing children learn the wonder of chess, the “Royal Game”. He is married with three grown children and three grandchildren. In his spare time, he makes ceramics and travels internationally.

Norman Stokes

Norman has been with Kid Chess since 2005. He learned to play chess s an elementary school student, improved throughout high school, and played in his first tournament in 1977. Norman has been interpreting for the deaf for more than 40 years and has taught many deaf people how to play chess. In 1984, Norman graduated from University of Alabama in Birmingham with a MA degree in Special Education. Norman taught in Cobb County Schools and used chess as a teaching tool with some of his students.

Patrick Davenport

Patrick was born in Virginia and learned how to play chess at the age of 5. He is primarily self-taught and enjoys playing chess on the computer. Patrick received “Top Unrated” the first time he participated in a USCF rated tournament. He has achieved a 2097 Blitz Rating and a 2100 Standard rating on Chess.com. Patrick attended Tidewater Community College for Automotive Electronics. In his spare time, he plays video games, chess, and the guitar. Patrick also records gaming videos for his YouTube channel in an effort to raise money for The American Heart Association.

Paul Orehosky

Paul hails from Johns Creek Georgia and graduated from the University of North Georgia with a major in history and a minor in Appalachian Studies. Paul is not done with his schooling though. He plans to return to school in the spring to earn a teaching certificate and work on a Master’s Degree in history. In the summer of 2016, Paul moved to Korea where he spent 9 months teaching ESL. Paul was a youngster when he learned chess – so young that he cannot recall when he learned! He now enjoys playing online chess with his father and a few friends. He enjoys the challenge and the social aspect of chess. Working with kids is fun and exciting for Paul. He loves to impart knowledge and see the children improve. When not playing chess, Paul likes to travel, hike, sail and row, as well as volunteering for local history-based programs doing interpretive history. His lifelong dream is to hike the Appalachian trail!

Paul Taylor

Paul is currently enrolled at Emory University Goizueta Business School and a graduate of Chamblee Charter High School and Emory University at Oxford College. He began playing chess at 5 years old and loves to play both chess and other games with his family. He also enjoys staying fit by playing tennis. He is a published author and has written articles for Georgia Chess Magazine. Paul was president of his college chess club and has won 4 national and 13 state chess championships.

Peter Esaltare

Peter was born in Sacramento but has spent most of his life right here in Georgia. He
graduated Toccoa Falls College with a B.S. in communications studies. He has taught and coached various sports to all age kids and considers himself a “Jock-Nerd” due his passion for entertainment outlets and sports. His wife is a youth soccer coach and an elite adult soccer player.

Peter has been playing chess for a long time. He started when he was in second grade and has continue to play ever since. He loves both playing and teaching chess because he feels the game allows you to as strong as you want to be. The game is not based on luck; practicing more allows you to become more proficient, like a sport. Training + Preparation = Results. Peter really enjoys helping kids learn chess. He loves their energy and honesty; the way they breath life into a room. He works hard to build trust, but once he does Peter thinks it is the most rewarding engagement you can have with another human! Seeing their growth and success is amazing.

Aside from being engrossed in sports and games, he has a special heart for strange foods. His favorite food is sushi! He has enjoyed escargot, and other odd delicacies in his life so far.

Peggy Casstevens

Peggy was born in Dallas, Texas and learned to play chess while in elementary school from her older brother. She attended the University of North Texas, married, and moved to Georgia in 1991. Her main focuses were raising her three children as a stay-at-home mom, volunteering as an elementary school tutor, Sunday school teacher, and working as a caregiver for the elderly. She taught her three children how to play chess in elementary school, two of which attended Kid Chess in one of the first classes taught by the founder, Justin Morrison. She loves working with young children while they are learning the game of chess and developing chess skills.

Rachel Wellman

Rachel started with Kid Chess as a fourth grade student at Murdock Elementary, where she was class co-champion for two years. Growing up with three brothers, a father, and a grandfather who are all avid chess players, Rachel learned the game quite young. Chess games meant cherished time spent with family including lots of bughouse, one-on-one, or even Grandpa Chess (a form of chess that requires four siblings to work together to beat Grandpa, and if they were successful he would take them to see a movie). Rachel currently attends Lassiter High School. She is also a Georgia State Soccer Referee and coached a team of kindergarteners for a season. As well as playing chess, Rachel loves to knit, run, and read.

Ramadevi Muppiri

Ramadevi is originally from Hyderabad, India. Her cousins taught her to play chess when she was nine years old. She attended Osmania University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science and later a Bachelor of Library and Information Sciences. She moved to America in 2000 with her husband and son. She has worked with children as a volunteer in schools and with the Girl Scouts. Ramadevi started with Kid Chess as a parent helper for Cogburn Woods Elementary School before becoming a coach and loves to help the children learn to play chess.

Reece Thompson

Reece was born in Texas and moved to Georgia as a young child. He started playing chess during the 5th grade as a student in the Kid Chess program! By the end of his second semester with Kid Chess, he was the class and school champion. Reece is a Pope High School graduate and was the Georgia High School State Chess Champion in 2013 and 2014. He is a tournament chess player with a USCF chess rating of 2150. He tied for first place at the Susan Polgar World Open and was awarded a scholarship to Webster University where the chess team is taught by Grandmaster Susan Polger. In his spare time, Reece enjoys playing in chess tournaments, video games, video-making, and card games.

Render Cutts

Render is originally from New Jersey and attended Seton Hall University. For the past 30 years, she has been involved in chess, volunteering as an instructor at libraries, recreation centers, and schools. Render’s passion for chess was first instilled by her mother who taught her the game. She continued this tradition with her own children. Volunteering at her children’s schools, she had the opportunity to work with many children, including gifted, learning disabled, and special needs. It was during this time she realized that within the broad scope of learning, children from all backgrounds could benefit from chess. After living in Atlanta for a number of years, Render returned to New Jersey in 2007 where she renewed her commitment to working with children. In 2009, she obtained her CDA Certification. Beginning in 2010, she taught chess at a counseling center for children. Render returned to Atlanta and continues to dedicate herself to engaging children in activities like chess that can raise a child’s expectation of what they can achieve.

Rennie Phillips

Rennie has been playing chess for over forty years, starting in high school while living in Jamaica. At 16, he placed second in the national high school championships and had a FIDE rating of 1683. Since then, he has played in tournaments and simultaneous exhibitions with FIDE Masters. Rennie has a BS degree in Mathematics from St. Augustine’s College and a MS degree in Management Studies from Carleton University. Rennie enjoys teaching children: he has taught math to students at all levels and is also a certified tennis and soccer coach.

Renee Joyner-Garrett

Renee’ is a native of Queens, New York, who moved to Georgia with her family in 1994. While in New York she acquired a B.S. in Human Service from Metropolitan College of New York formerly known as Audrey Cohen College. Renee’ earned the standard for achievement of Summa Cum Laude and was listed in the 1993 Honor Society. In 2008, Renee’ completed her graduate studies at Argosy University, Atlanta in Community Counseling. She has worked extensively with children and adults for over sixteen years who were deemed “at-risk”. Her work has involved program development, implementation, and teaching within non-profit entities such as prisons, homeless shelters, and schools. She is currently employed as a substitute teacher within the Fulton County School system primarily in classes involving students with behavioral disorders or special education needs. Renee’ was taught to play chess by her husband and enjoys the game because it teaches the necessary components for life’s skills involving discipline and concentration. She believes that Kid Chess is integrating these components into the lives of young players. Her hobbies include writing poetry, singing, painting, and drawing.

Rick Callahan

Rick has lived around the Georgia area before moving to Nebraska is 2001, where he received his bachelor’s degree in science education and a master’s degree in biology. Rick has a teaching certificate for biology and health education for grades 7-12. He is married, with one son. Rick has been a chess player since his father taught him when he was four years old. By the time he was twelve, his father could no longer beat him. He still loves playing chess and considers it the greatest game ever conceived, calling it the ultimate equalizer because it is purely brain vs brain, with no luck involved. Teaching chess is a pleasure to Rick because it teaches learners to think critically and understand cause and effect, not only in chess but in every aspect of life, which is a gift that can make the world better. He enjoys working with kids, especially that moment when a skill or lesson clicks. In his spare time, besides tending to his three dogs, two cats, veiled chameleon, python and Savannah Monitor, Rick enjoys woodworking, fantasy baseball and classic rock music, as well as taking macro photos of insects and plants.

Rich Staples

Rich’s work experience is in the area of retail, title, and pawn business management. He received a Bachelor of Science in Management from the University of West Florida and a Masters in Information Systems Management from Devry University/Keller Graduate School of Management. Rich is a tournament chess player and was the 2004 and 2010 U-1600 Georgia State Champion.

Roy Harris

Roy was born in Gary, Indiana. He has a BA in public administration and has worked for 20 years in technology and real estate. He is married, with one son. He started playing chess at a local Starbucks and continues to do so almost every day. He enjoys the board battle in chess as well as the way it challenges growth. He especially likes helping kids learn chess because it challenges them to grow and builds character.

Rufus Natawidjaja

Rufus was born in Indonesia. He has an associate of art degree in business administration as well as certificates in automotive technology. He began playing chess in elementary school and now plays occasionally with friends. He likes playing because it is a challenging game, helping with decision making and problem solving. Rufus finds working with kids rewarding, and he enjoys sharing his knowledge with them to help the kids become better chess players.

Ryan Darling

Ryan has a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. He co-owned a family landscaping business with his dad for ten years in Chattanooga before moving to Atlanta in the winter of 2023. He worked in marketing and online outreach for 8 years with the lawn business and with independent comedy show production. His hobbies include writing music, playing in a band, telling jokes, playing chess, and running.

Ryan’s grandpa taught him to play chess at the age of 6. He likes playing chess because there’s always something to learn. Ryan is a lifelong student and no matter how often he plays chess, he always feels like he’s learning something new each time he plays. He is currently an unrated player but plans to change that as an adult improver.

Ryan likes working with kids because they are hilarious and give you real reactions. “They can’t really hide how they are feeling, so you know exactly where you stand with them,” he says. “They make him laugh a lot and it’s exciting to see their eyes light up when they finally understand what you have been trying to teach them.”

Roopa Tak

Roopa relocated to Atlanta from India in 2012. She is the mother of two and her favorite game has always been chess. She was the captain of her college chess team and taught chess to her children, nieces, and nephews. Her work experience is in the area of accounting and office management. She earned a Bachelor’s in Commerce from Osmania University, India and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from California State University.

Sanjay Sen

Sanjay was born in India and grew up in Kenya. He moved to the United States for college, and completed an MBA in Bioinformatics. He learned chess at 7 years old from his grandfather. He has a USCF rating of 868. Sanjay loves to play chess because it helps his focus and stretches his brain to calculate a good move.

Sanjay enjoys working with kids because it helps with his leadership skills. It gives him a different perspective on what it means to be the leader of a team with different personalities, even under the toughest circumstances and environments. He believes kids can teach us a lot; we just have to be patient, listen and learn. In his spare time, Sanjay is a car enthusiast, painter, musician (drummer), and enjoys outdoor grilling / cooking, camping, and traveling. He has hiked Mt. Longonot in Kenya and camped on its crater for 3 nights!

Sinclair Gray

Sinclair was raised in Maryland and New Jersey, moving to the Atlanta area in 2004. He earned a Business Certificate from the Essex College of Business, Newark, NJ. His work experience includes the fields of research & development, product/technical support, and sales for Benjamin Moore & Co. He is married with three children. Sinclair started playing chess when he was 19 years old and is a tournament chess player who achieved USCF master level. His other hobbies include football, basketball, and sailing. He also enjoys animation, comics especially Calvin and Hobbes, as well as collecting many types of action and sports figures. He believes that chess encourages children to exhibit patience and sportsmanship, to utilize critical thinking skills, strategize, and have fun!

Shea Kaste

Shea is originally from Alabama. She attended Kennesaw State University and earned a Bachelor of Science degree. Previously, she taught science to elementary age students and worked in the project management field. She is our Kid Chess office manager and also teaches chess in schools. In her spare time, she enjoys playing chess with her family, especially her son and daughter. Shea joined the Kid Chess team in 2010.

Siva Sathishkumar

Siva comes to Georgia from Chennai, India. She is married and has a young son. Siva holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering. specializing in electronics and communication. Her prior work experience includes the field of IT. Siva began playing chess at nine and has played in Asian and world events; she has represented India in Asian category events. Siva plays chess with her sister, who is a Woman FIDE Master. She is no slouch herself with a 2165 USCF rating! Playing chess helps Siva focus and build her strong character. When she loses a game, she tries to learn from her mistakes. Siva loves working with kids because it is so much fun! She likes that playing chess helps the kids think strategically and analyze situations. The children teach her to be more creative and she thinks working with them is a beautiful adventure. When not playing chess, Siva enjoys shopping.

Sonia Carter

Sonia is originally from St. Louis, Missouri. She is married and majoring in graphic design at Liberty University after previously studied theology at St. Louis Christian College. Currently a real estate agent, her prior work experience includes airline gate agent, and being a youth mentor and advisor. She first started to play chess at age 12 and is a casual player. She enjoys playing with her family and believes chess sharpens reasoning skills and creativity; both applicable to everyday situations. In her spare time, she is a writer and artist, both drawing and digital.

TJ Bergquist

T.J. majored in Modern Language and Culture at Kennesaw State University and enjoys all things that deal with philosophy, wellbeing, and aesthetics. Though he enjoys pursuing artistic paths, whether digital art, music composition, or script writing, his guilty pleasure is playing video games and watching movies with his buddies. When T.J. is not coaching chess, he does academic as well as Spanish and English coaching.

Tom Chow

Tom was born in Taiwan and went to high school and college near Philadelphia, PA. He has a B.S. in math and has been playing chess since 7th grade. In 1979, Tom became the Delaware State Champion and had a rating of 2025. Tom joined Kid Chess in 2007 as a coach and has also worked on the Kid Chess video lessons.

Tom Kayma

Tom has been playing competitive chess for 47 years. He learned the game after Bobby Fischer won the World Championship in 1972. He is ranked as a National Master with the US Chess Federation and was also featured in the March 2022 Chess Life Magazine monthly feature article “My Best Move”. He is currently rated in the Top 20 chess players in Georgia.

He is an M&A advisor representing middle market companies in the sale of their business.  His chess experience has definitely helped his business career in negotiations, as anticipating your counterpart’s next move and being prepared for it is a critical business skill.

Tom firmly believes that chess provides critical thinking skills for children and also prepares them for the challenges of life by learning how to lose and bounce back from setbacks  and to never give up even when things look bleak. Chess also teaches children the consequences of their decisions and to think before making choices.

Tom Metcalf

Tom has played chess since he was a young child –first with family members, then Postal Chess and schoolmates. He played in tournaments during high school and college. His playing lapsed until one of his two sons took an online class with an International Grandmaster – talk about an awesome learning experience! Since then, Tom has kept his chess interest flourishing with internet chess. He finds it is exciting to see children gain skills and confidence with the game. Tom grew up in Boston but has lived in Georgia for the past forty years. With a love of dogs and helpless animals, Tom and his wife rescue dogs from area Animal Control facilities and send them north where they are adopted.

Travis Caskey

Travis is originally from Fort Mill, South Carolina.  He possesses a Bachelor of Music with a major in jazz guitar and went on to receive a Master of Arts in Teaching with a major in Secondary Education/Social Studies; both from Winthrop University.  After serving four years in the infantry of the US Marine Corps, Travis went on to teach high school social studies.  He began playing chess in high school and plays regularly with friends. He loves teaching chess because the lessons from the game are applicable to one’s own life experience.  As well as chess, Travis’s hobbies include reading and listening to music.  His favorite TV shows are oldies but goodies: All in the Family, The Jeffersons, and The Carol Burnett Show.

Trina Jackson

As a child, Trina was inspired to learn chess after years of watching her dad play with his military friends. She was a quick study and began to play in tournaments. Trina played scholastically in grades 6-12 and then collegiately. She received a Bachelor of Science in Psychology/English from Florida A&M University and went on to earn a BS in Hospitality Management/Travel & Tourism from Johnson & Wales University Miami and an MBA in Entrepreneurship from Nova Southeastern. She is currently studying computer science in the pursuit of her Ph.D. In her spare time, she enjoys playing chess online with friends, reading a good book, watching superhero movies, or just relaxing. Her favorite things are NFL football, Mickey Mouse, and all things Disney. Sharing her love of chess with others is one of her greatest passions!

Uma Karunakaran

Uma is originally from India. She has an engineering degree in electronics and communication and prior work experience as a software engineer. Uma’s dad introduced her to chess as a young child and was a big influence on her. In India, she won many tournaments including a district championship. She enjoys playing on chess.com during her spare time. She also enjoys arts, crafts and gardening. Uma started teaching chess to her older daughter and couple of her friends, and found it was a great way to get to know the children and have fun along the way. She is delighted to share this newfound love of teaching at Kid Chess.

Yvonne Chavez

Yvonne comes to Kid Chess with extensive experience in the gaming industry, focusing on community management and game production. Before Kid Chess, she taught people online how to play video games, a skill she easily transferred to teaching children chess. Yvonne is a casual chess player, starting to play regularly in 2021, though she initially learned in elementary school. Besides chess, Yvonne enjoys cooking, dancing, gaming, and poetry.

Zac Bolton

Zac first learned to play chess as a teenager. He pursued his love of the game by volunteering at Kid Chess camps, and his game progressed from not knowing how to play to reaching a peak rating of 1836 in four years. He was ranked in the upper half of the top 100 scholastic players in the nation and an assistant instructor at Emory Castle Chess Camp. He loves regular, bullet, and bughouse chess. Zac graduated from The American School of Correspondence while dual enrolled at Chattahoochee Technical College. He then attended Furman University and worked in the area of food service management. In his spare time, Zac likes to paint, play guitar, and read, especially Ray Bradbury’s books.