Mark Johnson

I'm knowledgeable and patient. I believe it is important to build on the student's confidence as well as their skills, because panic hurts performance almost as bad as being unprepared. I have a Masters and a degree in Economics from Southern Illinois University. I am a professional economist with a heavy background in math and statistics. I've been active in this discipline for over 30 years in a wide variety of industries. I was also in the Air Force. I have been playing chess competitively since the mid-70's. I'm a certified Local Chess Coach, certified Local Tournament Director, and have run chess clubs in many different locations. My current chess rating puts me in the top 5% of competitive players in Texas and the top 10% nationally. I love the game of Chess and am a lifelong player. I'm passionate about sharing skills I've learned over a lifetime, and have had great success working with young players as well as adults to play better and enjoy the game.