Chess league welcomes Executive Director; Chess.com and marketing leads

MADISON – Coinciding with its 10-year anniversary, Madison City Chess League or MCCL has hired a new Executive Director, Chess.com Coordinator and Marketing Director.

The MCCL Board of Directors has appointed Todd Guthrie as Executive Director. Guthrie is a U.S.-Chess-certified Senior Tournament Director and National Arbiter. Currently, he serves as Scholastic Vice President for Alabama Chess Federation.

For the last six years, Guthrie has served as Chief Tournament Director for local and state chess tournaments in Alabama. In addition, he has worked as a Floor Tournament Director at the National K-12 and National Elementary championships.

Adam Epling will serve as MCCL’s new Coordinator of Chess.com. The largest chess site in the world, Chess.com is an internet chess server, internet forum and social networking website.

Epling will host tournaments for MCCL on Chess.com and help grow the club online. He also coaches at Midtown Elementary School and is a certified club tournament director.

Nicole Wall is another leader for MCCL in her role as Marketing and Communications Manager. Wall and her growing family live in Madison where they enjoy trying new restaurants, listening to live music and spending time with their two rescue pups.

Wall’s stepson enjoys the challenge of chess and is excited to teach the game to his soon-to-be baby brother when he’s old enough, she said. Wall is excited to explore the sport of chess and determine ways in which she can serve the MCCL community.

The Marketing and Communications Manager slot is a part-time job, focused on social media, newsletters and maintaining interaction of donors and members. The marketing director will report to the Executive Director.

In recent activities, MCCL players, families and supporters met at the Jackson Center on Aug. 20 to celebrate MCCL’s 10th anniversary. MCCL President Ranae Bartlett started MCCL in 2013 after volunteering with the Rainbow Elementary School Chess Club.

Fide Master Mike Klein, also known as Fun Master Mike on ChessKid, was the event’s keynote speaker. Klein interacted with the admiring chess students, signed autographs for MCCL members and sat for photos with students in a photo booth.

MCCL honored two individuals with awards for their mentorship and work with school teams. Beth Bero was named “Educator of the Year” for MCCL. Bero, who recently retired, taught many years at Horizon Elementary School and guided that team to success. Sarah May received the “Coach of the Year” award. May has coached the Horizon Elementary Chess Team for the last three years, along with serving as head coach for Madison girls in the All Girls National Chess Championship.

For more information, visit madisonchess.com.