As you'll see from the bios below, some OSCO board members have technical expertise in chess, but not all of us do! Here are two things  we all have in common: gratitude for how OSCO has benefitted our kids, and the desire to say "thanks" in a meaningful way that will keep this organization going for the next crop of newcomers. 

 

The OSCO membership elects board members to serve two-year terms. Elections are held annually at our state championship. Families have one vote per scholastic member. For members under the age of 16, a parent or guardian may vote. (Membership is granted to any player who has participated in an OSCO event during the current academic year.)

Once elected, the policy board meets to select officers. This year, the board met on June 30 in Oklahoma City. 

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OSCO policy board 2024-25​

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Josie Braddy 

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Josie exemplifies that old saying about how if you want something done right, give it to a busy person. When OSCO found itself without a chief tournament director, she volunteered to step in—even though she was already serving as OSCO's treasurer, homeschooling her daughter Elizabeth, and teaching algebra at their homeschool collective. She learned the pairings program, got some experience directing small events, then passed the test to earn her local director's certification. From there she went on to become Oklahoma's only senior-level TD and FIDE (International Chess Federation) arbiter.​

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Josie handles tournament registration, works with host schools and venue sponsors, fields questions from parents and players, and makes site visits in advance of every event to make sure no detail is overlooked. At any given moment on tournament day, she’ll be busy entering results, pairing rounds, figuring tiebreaks, or carrying out any of the innumerable tasks a TD has to handle in order to ensure a smooth event for the rest of us. So you might not even see her. But if you do, say thanks!

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Mike Langston 

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Mike is a business owner and event organizer from Norman. He led the volunteer effort when the Norman Scholastic Chess Club hosted the 2023 Grade Championships. His son, Parker, is an experienced tournament player who volunteers for OSCO as a floor TD. 

 

"Over the years Parker has played in OSCO events, he has blossomed into a more confident chess player and person," Mike said. "Chess teaches many valuable lessons through friendly competition and strong relationships. It is a worthwhile endeavor to use our time and assets to support organizations like this one. It's an honor to serve on the OSCO board of directors."

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Guy Holland

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Guy is the chess coach at Lawton Academy of Arts and Sciences. He earned his Bachelors of Science in Anthropology (with honors) from the College of Charleston in 2002, and his Juris Doctorate from the University of South Carolina in 2005. After working for the Supreme Court of South Carolina, he joined the ERISA litigation group at O’Melveny & Meyers in Washington D.C. Mr. Holland is an active member of the District of Columbia Bar. Upon the birth of his second child, he became a stay-at-home father and home educator.

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He has lived in South Carolina, Maryland, Virginia, Hawaii, and Oklahoma. He enjoys traveling and learning about different cultures. He adores Norway. His academic interests include mathematical theory, space law, admiralty law, and human adaptation. He enjoys video games, kayaking, hiking, and stargazing.

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Feng Li 

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Feng "Fiby" Li  represents Casady School on the OSCO board. Her son, high school junior Raymond Jiang, has been playing tournament chess for seven years. Fiby credits the hard work of OSCO volunteers for making Raymond's introduction to tournament chess such a positive one. 

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"I decided to volunteer to pay back this chess community that has served my son and I so well," she said. "This position allows me to utilize what I know to help chess kids in Oklahoma while continuing to improve myself alongside my son." ​

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Debasish Roy Choudhury 

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Debasish works for IBM as an IT professional. Along with his wife, Sanghamita, he runs the Edmond Chess Club and helps out at the Moore Chess Club. His sons are active players at both clubs and participate regularly at scholastic and open tournaments.

 

Along with his family, Debasish is an enthusiastic advocate for youth chess, looking for any opportunity to encourage other families to give it a try.  Unlike video games, he said, chess is a brain game that requires complex analysis and sustained focus and concentration—skills that also help players in academics. “Every parent should  encourage their children to spend some time on chess,” he said.

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He said volunteering for OSCO is important so more kids can have the opportunity to enjoy the benefits of chess, he said, noting that Oklahoma’s scholastic chess community is among the fastest-growing in the nation.  “Many exceptional rising players are representing OSCO at the national level and in many out-of-state tournaments,” he said.

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Mike Waters 

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Mike Waters has a Master’s degree in electrical engineering from Oklahoma State University and is currently works in a management role for engineering  and product at ZAYO Telecommunications . He is an advocate for teaching chess to scholastic age kids and currently runs the Jenks Chess Club with help from his family. Mike earned his Local tournament director certification in 2024.

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