The 2024-2025 US Chess Executive Board:
Kevin Pryor
President
Kevin Pryor is a recently retired corporate leader who excelled in developing people, improving systems, and managing projects. His leadership in chess began in 2014 on the same day he played in his first tournament when he offered to help revitalize chess in Northeast Florida by reviving the defunct Jacksonville Chess Club. He is a Senior TD, Certified Chess Coach, chess entrepreneur, and chess academy founder. He has served as the President of the Florida Chess Association since 2018. Prior to joining the Executive Board, he served on the Clubs, States & Affiliates, and Senior committees for US Chess. He has also worked very closely with the Women’s committee at national events. Kevin is a native of Mount Vernon, NY, but has lived most of his adult life in Northeast Florida.
John Fernandez
Vice President
John C. Fernandez is a seasoned marketing executive and chess enthusiast with a diverse background in technology and competitive gaming. As the SVP of Demand Generation at Datasite, a leading SaaS platform used by enterprises globally to execute complex, strategic projects, John brings his strategic expertise to the forefront of technology innovation.
With roots in New York City's vibrant chess scene, John achieved an expert rating and has competed at high levels. His passion for chess extended beyond playing, as he took on various roles in the community, including working at the Manhattan Chess Club, organizing prestigious events like the New York Masters, and coordinating three events featuring chess legend Garry Kasparov. John's commitment to chess education led him to teach in prominent New York City schools and serve on the board of governors of the Marshall Chess Club. His experience in the digital realm of chess includes a tenure as director of public relations at the Internet Chess Club.
Currently residing in Hannibal, Missouri, with his wife and three young sons, John continues to blend his marketing acumen with his lifelong passion for chess, embodying a unique combination of analytical thinking and strategic planning in his professional and personal pursuits. John also serves his community as the president of the Hannibal Country Club.
Chuck Unruh
Vice President Of Finance
Chuck Unruh is a chess master and former Armed Forces Chess Champion (1975). A graduate of Miami University, he is owner and operator of various family owned energy companies. He is a Tae Kown Do Master. He sits on the policy boards of The Oklahoma Swing Syndicate and the Oklahoma Chess Association. His son Charles is also a US Chess tournament director.
Mike Hoffpauir
Secretary
Mike Hoffpauir is a National Tournament Director and International Arbiter with experience directing National-level US Chess events in Scholastics, College, and Military chess. Mike is a former President of US Chess and has been the Secretary since August 2023. He also serves as the Executive Board Liaison to the committees for Rules, Tournament Director Certification, Military Chess, and FIDE Events. In support of FIDE, Mike serves as a Councilor on the Rules Commission. Mike is a retired U.S. Army Colonel, with 27 years of military experience and almost 20 years as a Defense Contractor. He is a past-President and the current Executive Secretary and Treasurer of the Virginia Chess Federation and is President of the Virginia Scholastic Chess Association. Mike is a native of south Louisiana and speaks fluent Cajun. He lives in the Norfolk, VA, area where he continues directing many tournaments across the state of Virginia.
Randy Bauer
Member At Large
Randy Bauer is a Director at Public Financial Management, Inc. (PFM), a national public sector consulting firm. A Benefactor Life Member of US Chess, Randy was a nationally ranked junior player while growing up in Minnesota, earned the National Master title in 1989, and has won state titles in both Minnesota and Iowa. Randy has served on the Board of Directors for both the Minnesota and Iowa State Chess Associations and has served on the US Chess Executive Board on four prior occasions. Prior to joining PFM, Randy served as Iowa’s State Budget Director for nearly seven years.
Leila D'Aquin
Member At Large
Leila D’Aquin is an appellate and trial attorney whose involvement in chess began as a chess mom. She became Louisiana’s Delegate to US Chess when her son’s participation in the Barber Tournament took her to her first U.S. Open. She joined the Women’s Committee and soon proposed offering a skittles and social space dedicated to girl participants at scholastic tournaments; in the ten years since, she has regularly volunteered in the Girls Club Room at nationals.
Leila recognizes the educational and social value of chess to both tournament players and casual ones, and has been an officer in the Louisiana Chess Association, serving two terms as its president. As an Executive Board member, she is a board liaison to the Bylaws, Women’s, DEI, and Professional Players Benefit Fund Committees and is a member of the current Governance Task Force.
David Hater
Member At Large
David Hater is a retired Army officer who now devotes his efforts to chess full time. He served in the Ohio National Guard from 1988 to 1990 and then as a personnel officer on active duty from 1990 until he retired in 2015. His last assignment was as the chief personnel officer for U.S. Army Cyber Command. He served numerous overseas and combat tours including multiple deployments. He is a Distinguished Graduate of the United States Air Force War College and his awards and decorations include two Legions of Merit and a Bronze Star among other awards. He presently works full time as a chess professional. He is an employee of Continental Chess Association and does contract work for the Georgia Chess Association, Kasparov Chess Foundation, and Chess Center of New York among others. He is one of the most active tournament directors in the United States and typically directs more than 50 tournaments a year where over 10,000 players play for prize funds totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars. He is certified as an International Arbiter by the International Chess Federation (FIDE) and a National Tournament Director by the United States Chess Federation. Colonel Hater is very active in chess administration and governance. He presently serves as a Vice President of the Georgia Chess Association and is one of Georgia’s three delegates to US Chess. He is currently a member of the US Chess Ethics, Military Chess, and Rules Committees and served as the chair of the US Chess Ethics Committee from 2017-2018 and has served as chair of the Military Chess Committee numerous times. As a player, Colonel Hater is presently or has been an expert (rated over 2000) by FIDE, US Chess, and Canadian Chess Federation. Though he no longer plays as much as he once did, some of his significant playing accomplishments are winning the Armed Forces Open three times, winner of the Under 2000 section of the National Open, winner of the top player aged 35-39 in the U.S. Under 50 Championship, member of the top military team at the U.S. Amateur Team Championship and was a member of the bronze medal USA NATO Chess Team in 2013.
Lakshmana "Vish" Viswanath
Member At Large
Vish is a chess dad who became a board member. Vish is also an NTD and has been in chess governance in Texas as President of Texas Chess Association and in other positions for over 10 years. Earlier he has served as the chair of the State and Affiliates Committee of the US Chess. Currently he is a liaison to Elections, Invitationals, U.S. Open, Seniors, State and Affiliates, and Clubs committees of US Chess.
He is retired and has experiences from academics and small businesses. He is an avid stamp collector.
Ranae Bartlett
Executive Director
Ranae Bartlett started at US Chess in September 2023 as Director of Operations and was named Executive Director in March 2024. Before joining US Chess, Ranae was an Assistant General Counsel for a Fortune 5 company. She served as a local school board member in Madison, Alabama for ten years and advocated for chess education and funding chess initiatives in her school system. Ranae founded a non-profit chess organization where she served as Executive Director for ten years and conducted over eighty chess tournaments. In 2020, she became the first Education Director at ChessKid.com, and in 2022 she co-chaired the Chess In Education Committee for US Chess.