ThinkMove Chess Academy provides the best education for children, teaching the fundamentals of chess and imbuing a love for the game to children across the nation. In order to do this, we must employ the help of the best instructors we can. Below are our highly qualified and experienced instructors.
David Grimaud
Founder
ThinkMove founder, David Grimaud, learned chess at the age of nine when his father, an air force officer, taught David and his younger brother to play the game as an alternative to cards and checkers. Incensed that his brother began beating him regularly, David bought a Fred Reinfeld chess book at the local mall and studied it from cover to cover. David soon become the family champ, and president of his high school chess club where he also played on the top board for the school.
Despite being an active tournament player during the Bobby Fischer Boom period of U.S. Chess, David would set aside the game for twenty years to go to college, start a career, and raise a family. How did he get back into chess?
“One day my thirteen year old son found my chess set and clock in the file cabinet, and asked me what it was. Excited to find something my son and I could do together that did not involve video games, we set off to attend a chess camp run by the late Dr. IM Danny Kopec. Once again, I was hooked.”
David graduated from Louisiana State University in 1983 with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering. He briefly worked as a design engineer in Dallas, Texas, but left the electronics industry when his father asked him to join the family business. Today, David is CEO of that business which has developed and oversees about one hundred Precision Tune Auto Care centers providing automotive repair and maintenance services in thirteen states.
David has also been an officer for over ten years in the South Carolina Chess Association, has served as the state delegate to the annual U.S. Chess Delegates Meeting, and serves the Scholastic, Senior, and Executive Board Nomination Committees for U.S. Chess.
Susan Key
Program Director
Susan Key comes to Think Move Chess Academy with 40 years experience working with children and youth both in education and youth development. She has a Master's in Education with an Associates in Youth Development and American Sign Language (ASL).
Ms. Key taught grades K-3 for 5 years, and worked in the non-profit sector for 35 years as a VP of Operations for the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Midlands, Training and Staff Development Director, United Way Agency Director and as the Program and Site Director for Communities In Schools of SC.
Chess is a game she learned from her adopted grandfather when she first came to America from S. Korea. During her 40 years in education and youth development, she always incorporated Chess in teaching students the game as well as developing life skills.
"I am so excited about this wonderful opportunity to expose chess to as many students in SC and to work with such a great team that has already started the work! My role is to bring my experiences and knowledge to Think Moves Chess Academy as we plan to grow and serve additional students in SC!" .
National Master - Mike Sailer
Controller
Mike is a National Master with nearly 40 years of playing and coaching experience. He has won 21 state championships during that time and is a three-time Denker High School representative (1988-1990) and a Irwin 50+ representative (2023). Mike was elected to the ND Chess Hall of Fame in 2007. He continues to be a very active OTB and online player to this day. Mike specializes in teaching students how to expand their positional understanding and simplifying the decision-making process of finding strong moves.
Jazmine Waiters
Program Coordinator
How did you get started playing chess?
- I watched my father play chess for hours without end and study the game. I became curious as to why.
What do you enjoy most about working with Think Move Chess Academy?
- The strategy, perseverance and the required respect for myself and my opponents while playing the game of chess is so inspiring to me. Think Move Chess Academy has empowered me with the ability to pass on that confidence. Watching others connect, learn and grow in this way is an amazing gift to my heart.
Fun Fact/What you do outside of Think Move Chess Academy?
- I love gardening and sharing produce and house plants with my friends and family.
- Jazmine
