About Us

Name: Stacia Melinda Pugh
Nickname: “Miss Stacia”
Age: 44
Location: Parma Heights, OH
Schools Teaching In: Menlo Park, Sunday Class West at Rocky River Recreation Center
Email: staciamelinda@gmail.com

Stacia is an avid chess player who discovered chess in college and then joined the tournament circuit late in life in her 30’s, quickly rising up the ranks from 1100 USCF hitting 1790 USCF in just three years. She worked in real estate development for a non-profit for 20 years, and in August of 2018 retired from that career to pursue her passions. Stacia has a passion for chess and for teaching chess to kids and coaching at tournaments.

CHESS EXPERIENCE:

Peak Rating and Title: 1800 USCF “Class A Player”
Best Chess accomplishments: Gaining 600 USCF rating points in 3 years as an adult
Years in chess: 8
Teaching experience: 8 years teaching chess to kids and adults up to 1200 USCF, worked as a trainer at Allstate insurance company, student teaching at KSU, training interns on Housing Development at Slavic Village Development

Other Roles:  Local USCF Tournament Director, Organizer, Content Creator on YouTube, Non-Profit and Marketing Background, OCA Board Member, Ohio delegate for USCF, Active tournament player and adult improver

PERSONAL BIO:

Interests & Hobbies: all things chess!
Family: Although Stacia is a single woman she is very close with her immediately family, and especially her mother Sally, her sister Jill and niece (age 7) and nephew (age 10)
Occupation: Full time chess professional,
Education: Masters in Urban Planning, Design & Development from CSU, Minor in Computer Science