About Us

ROCHESTER CHESS MISSION AND OBJECTIVES

Mission Statement

Rochester Chess is a 501(c)(3) educational non-profit organization dedicated to providing a safe and inclusive environment for youth and adults to play chess and to receive chess instruction. In particular, Rochester Chess is committed to improving academic performance and self-esteem of underserved youth in our community.

Vision Statement

A vision of Rochester Chess is to see youth in our community succeed in academics and life by being

Analytic thinkers
Motivated learners
Critical problem solvers

Values Statement

Chess aids in the learning of critical thinking such as planning, cause and effect relationships, pattern recognition, and research. These are key skills for success in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics).

Rochester Chess Organizational Structure

Director: Dennis Mays, PhD, Mayo Clinic

Associate Director and Secretary: Matthew Jensen, Mayo Clinic

Treasurer: Jack Fulsom, Community Chess Coach

Public Relations Director: Yi Guo, PhD, Director of Rochester Math Club, Mayo Clinic

Board of Directors

Dennis Mays, PhD, Mayo Clinic (retired in 2020)

*Matthew Jensen, Mayo Clinic, Lead Instructor

Jack Fulsom, Community Chess Coach

Yi Guo, PhD, Mayo Clinic, Director, Rochester Math Club

George Paulik, PhD, chess coach, IBM

*Jovana Milosevic, Woman FIDE Chess Master and lead instructor

*Rob Newshutz – Chess coach, former STEM Academy math teacher

Paul Kinion – Faculty member in UMTYMP, U Minnesota Rochester: Board member, Rochester Math Club

*Roy Truelson, Intellectual Property Attorney, Community Education Chess Coach.

Jim Huerter – Para-professional and chess coach

Frank Fulsom – Chess coach

Ruth Bello – Community relations and networking, Mayo Clinic

*Grant Jones – Student representative, Lourdes High School Chess Club President, near-peer coach

*Dexter Thompson – Chess Master and lead instructor

Piyush Mukerjee – IT, Mayo Clinic

Matthew Markland – Community Chess Coach

Chuck Handlon – Secretary, Rochester Area Scholastic Chess Association

*Compensated for coaching

MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATIONAL TEAM

Responsibilities of team members:

Dennis Mays as Director serves as the chief executive officer for the creation, organization and operation of Rochester Chess. He is responsible for the overall supervision and control of all functions of the organization.

Matthew Jensen, Vice President and Secretary, serves as the chief operating officer for leading and managing the chess programs, building and maintaining rochesterchess.com web site, recording minutes during meetings, and updating social media platforms.

Jack Fulsom as Treasurer serves as the chief financial officer for planning and managing the budget, and interacting with the sponsoring organization for grant management and financial reporting.

NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY

The Rochester Chess admits individuals of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies.

The Rochester Chess complies with the Internal Revenue Service’s guidelines regarding publication of its non-discrimination policy in its brochures, catalogs, advertisements and otherwise making it known to the general community.

RCC CHAMPIONS

Club Champions

2016 – Maor Leker Locker

2015 – Scott Riester

2014 – Matt Jensen; U1600: Paul Kinion

2013 – Scott Riester | Matt Jensen; Amateur: Roy Knuth

2012 – Kevin Gaustad. Scholastic: Maor Locker

2011 – George Paulik

2010 – Ron Deike

2009 – George Paulik | Roy Knuth

2008 – Piyush Mukherjee

2007 – George Paulik | Dennis Mays

1999 – Roy Knuth | Dennis Mays

1998 – Matt Jensen

1997 – Chris Shomenta

1996 – Kevin Gaustad

1995 – Roy Knuth

1994 – Dennis Mays

Scholastic Champions

1994 – Yuan He

1993 – Steve Horvath

1992 – Steve Horvath

ROCHESTER OPEN WINNERS

2017 RO – Joao Otavio Benevides Demasi

2016 RO – Leonard Johnson

2015 RAO – Maor Leker Locker

2015 RWO – Mauricio Flores

2014 MRSO – Jason Drake

2014 RGWO – John Bartholomew

2013 RGSO – Matt Dahl

2013 RGWO – Erik Santarius

2012 RGSO – Matt Dahl

2012 RGWO – Matt Dahl

2011 RGSO – Sean Nagle

2011 RGWO – Victor Adler

2010 RGSO – Kevin Bu

2010 RGWO – Sean Nagle

2009 RGSO – Frank Johnson & Robert Donahue

2009 RGWO – Victor Adler, Tim Rademacher, Frank Johnson & Medhat Feshir

2008 RGSO – Victor Adler

2008 RGWO – Matt Dahl & Ron Deike

2007 RGSO – Victor Adler & Matt Dahl

2007 RGWO – Todd Miller

2006 RGSO – Alex Betaneli

2006 Winter – Curt Brasket

2005 Summer – Sean Nagle

2005 Winter – Ron Deike

2004 – Ron Deike & John Verzosa

2003 – Chris Shomenta