Our All Volunteer Team is dedicated to providing students with access to high quality education and prestigious chess events. 

President - Dean Dewain Barber

Dewain Barber is a retired school teacher who has been involved in chess, especially scholastic chess, for over 50 years. He has served in the local and national chess community by being involved as a Life-Member Delegate of US Chess, a member of the Scholastic Committee, Scholastic Council and Chairman of the GM Denker National Tournament of High School State Champions that he helped GM Denker create in 1984. The US Chess Delegates voted to name the Barber National Tournament of Middle School State Champions after him and awarded him the title, Dean of Scholastic Chess. He has received 11 National and Local awards for his activities: Meritorious Service, Distinguished Service for Lifetime of Dedication to Chess and both the GM Koltanowski Gold and Silver Medals among others. You can locate his website at: https://new.uschess.org/barber/.

Executive Director - Chess Expert Dylan Quercia

Dylan Quercia also known as Coach Q is a chess expert, educator, journalist and film-maker dedicated to promoting chess throughout the world. He has been a chess educator for over 20 years with various non-profit and for-profit educational companies. He is the Southern California Chess Federation President plus he has served as Secretary and Vice-President of the all volunteer board for multiple terms. He is also a documentarian having produced and hosted in the film King Chess. Founding and Directing Chess Prodigies is a great joy for him and he gladly serves every day of the year to help young chess students reach their goals!

Secretary - Dr. Steve Morford

Dr. Morford trained as an educational psychologist and retired after a long career in educational administration. He currently serves as President of both a scholastic chess organization and the affiliate for US Chess, the Southern California Chess Federation. He has had a lifetime dedication to chess and is passionate about all aspects of the game. He serves on the board of Chess Prodigies because he wants to support another generation in their chess journey.

Treasurer - Abhishek Kylasa

Abhishek Kylasa is the current Vice-President of Southern California Chess Federation as well as Chair of the College Chess Committee. Formerly President of UCLA Chess, he is a statewide collegiate coordinator with California Intercollegiate Chess League that spearheads chess involvement throughout California by collaborating with the over two dozen affiliated schools, organizations, and alumni. Outside chess, he is finishing his Masters in Astronomy at San Diego State. 

Board Member - Judit Stztaray

Being born and raised in Hungary during communism taught her resilience, appreciation, resourcefulness and of course chess. Growing up, her passion was in chemistry, and after graduating with an MS in Chemistry from Eotvos Lorand University she moved to California in 2008 where she finished her PhD while raising three young girls. Chess eventually became a full time job in 2014. She has worked in a wide range of chess positions from customer service, mentoring and training, networking with colleagues around the US and the world, to organizing chess events and directing tournaments. In 2017, she was honored to have received the Organizer of the Year award from the US Chess Federation. Her motto in life is that you should find your enthusiasm in what you do, become excellent in it so you can shine and be successful and happy.