Gopal Bhagavatula

Chesterfield County

I have been associated with chess in Virginia since I took my son to his first VSCA tournament in 2009. I have been the VSCA treasurer since 2011. I served on the Board of Directors of the VSCA previously for two years. I have also served as the teacher sponsor for the MLWGS chess club for the school year 2017-18.

Mike Callaham

Richmond

My name is Michael A. Callaham. For 8 years I've been doing post round analysis, game analysis, visiting schools, and coordinating projects by and for the VSCA as your VSCA Secretary!. What I bring to this position is superior playing strength, ageless coaching skills, customer service skills, a willingness to travel, and a consistent history of getting players of all ages to participate in rated tournaments! My agendas are: 1.) Attract more funding and local support for our chess players, teams, coaches, directors, and organizers. 2.) Educate more parents, players, teachers, and the public about the career, social, and academic explosiveness of people discovering that someone is, or is aspiring to be, "A Total Chess Personality"! (player, coach, director, affiliate, and serving in the community). 3.) Inform more parents, teachers and businesses people of the mutal benefits we receive when there are more chess personalities are in our homes, schools, and businesses!

Virginia, US and European Chess Experience:
Organizer and Analyst for The European Chess District, (Germany). Founder of Dover Chess Club. Founder of Capitol City Chess Club, (Columbia SC). Founder and CEO, The Richmond Chess Initiative, (Richmond) Founder and CEO of Scholarship Chess Business Center.(Central Virginia) Secretary and Board Member Virginia Scholastic Chess Association, Board Member The Virginia Chess Federation, Tournament Director, USCF Certified District Level 2 coach, USCF Rating High 1943.

Jeff Forbes

Virginia Beach

My name is Jeff Forbes, and I am seeking election to the Virginia Scholastic Chess Association Board of Directors. I am a senior tournament director and have worked numerous VSCA and VCF events and tournaments in Richmond, Hampton Roads, Charlottesville, Roanoke, and the Eastern Shore over the last five years. I have worked with the Hampton Roads Chess Association which enjoys over 240 players on our active rolls. I am seeking a position on the VSCA Board of Directors so I can help bring chess to the children of the Commonwealth and grow a greater appreciation for chess in Virginia.

Brian Garbera

Chesterfield County

I would be interested in a Board of Directors position with the VSCA. I feel I have much to contribute: an overall knowledge of chess and of scholastic chess in particular, and a high degree of interest promoting scholastic chess.

Since August of 2012, I have been the full-time Richmond Area Director for Championship Chess. My company teaches chess to elementary students throughout the Richmond area. Many Championship Chess students participate in the VSCA tourneys throughout the year.

I help coordinate the Meadowdale Public Library Scholastic Tournament in Chesterfield County twice per year and volunteer as an assistant tournament director for many of the Richmond area scholastic tournaments.

I am an avid chess player with a rating peaking at 2071. I am married with two children.

Cheryl Havens

Chesapeake

I am the mom of 2 boys, Josh and Justin, who both play chess in many of the local tournaments. I am also the treasurer of the Hampton Roads Chess Association in Virginia Beach. In addition, I am a Local Tournament Director and enjoy working with the various chess players at VSCA and HRCA tournaments. I am running to be on the Board of Directors for the Virginia Scholastic Chess Association because I love what chess and the VSCA has done for my boys, and I would love to see more chess opportunities for our children. The lack of support in the schools is concerning, and I would like to be a part of expanding chess programs both locally, and throughout the state.

Mike Hoffpauir

York County

I have been involved with the VSCA since 2003, first as a "chess Dad" and then as a volunteer, where I learned about tournament directing and organizing from our former President and co-founder, the late Peter Hopkins. I have been President of the VSCA for the last 9 years and have represented The Commonwealth as a Virginia Delegate to the US Chess Federation's annual Delegates' Convention for the past 6 years. In 2016 I became a member of the US Chess Executive Board and served as President of the US Chess Federation from August 2017-August 2018. I also am a National Tournament Director and thoroughly enjoy donating my time to our organization. Tournament directing in VSCA events has given me the privilege to see many of your outstanding young boys and girls mature and move on in their own lives. With your vote, I'd be honored to continue serving.

Bart Mebane

Middlesex County

I have served on the VSCA Board of Directors for the past 19 years. My wife and I began taking our younger son to VSCA tournaments in 1999, and I began volunteering several months later. I handle the pairings and results at tournaments, and I also take care of tournament registration, the website and the newsletter. I enjoy being a part of chess tournaments and the VSCA, and I would like to continue serving on the Board.

Nailya Plaskey

Louisa County

My name is Nailya Plaskey and I am a candidate for the Board of Directors for VSCA. Two of my children and I have been involved with VSCA for nearly three years and I would like to be more involved to see how I can help promote chess to new players.

After moving to Louisa County, I started the Louisa County Chess Club at our local library to help teach chess to beginners and encourage them to learn more and participate in tournaments. I am a big fan of VSCA chess tournaments, I think they are one of the best tools to improve chess skills and to connect with other chess players and their parents. I look forward to helping our group grow and improve and I would appreciate your vote. Thank you!

Christina Schweiss

Virginia Beach

My name is Christina "Tina" Schweiss. I've been on the VSCA Board of Directors for five years. I'm a retired US Army officer with a background in strategic planning. I have been involved in chess since 2007 when my son, 2015 Virginia State Amateur Champion and now in college, started playing. I founded and direct Hampton Roads Scholastic Chess Club and am the President of the Hampton Roads Chess Association (HRCA), a 501(c)(3) and USCF Affiliate, with a mission of expanding chess opportunities for people of all ages and abilities in our region. Through active recruitment, I have more than quadrupled the number of scholastic chess coaches in Hampton Roads and gotten them all qualified as USCF certified chess coaches (self included). I'm an active USCF Senior Tournament Director and have directed in events up to the national level. I continue to recruit, train, and mentor tournament directors in Hampton Roads. I will continue to grow chess in our region, working through our clubs and with local school officials. HRCA is now running several school chess clubs in the region with more in the works. I personally coach at a few schools myself. As the Virginia state coordinator for women and girls in chess, I will also work closely with US Chess to empower girls through chess. For the past year, I have also served on the US Chess Scholastic Committee and the US Chess Ethics Committee.

Julie Wells

Virginia Beach

My name is Julie Wells. I have been involved with chess for the last seven years. It started with me acting as a room parent and progressed from there. Presently, I am a senior level tournament director and vice-president of the Hampton Roads Chess Association. I look forward to continuing to increase the presence of chess through the area and exposing more kids to the things they can accomplish with chess.