MEET THE TEAM!
Camp Director
Steve Song
Steve Song, a proud Chicago native, has built a rewarding career as an educator, coach, and passionate chess enthusiast—proving you can love chess and still be cool (at least a little). Armed with a BA and MA in Teaching from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, and a Doctor of Education degree from Harvard, Steve brings some serious street cred to both the classroom and the chessboard!
Steve's interest with chess started in college and grew into a full-blown obsession during graduate school—the kind where you daydream about endgames and wish you could "castle" out of awkward conversations. This passion led him to establish chess clubs in schools across the US and abroad, spreading the joy of checkmates one campus at a time, as a middle and high school teacher.
After moving to Libertyville with his lovely wife Cari, a dedicated teacher in Waukegan for nearly 30 years, Steve quickly realized something was missing—a local chess community. With their combined teaching superpowers and camp counseling know-how, the dynamic duo decided to fill the void by launching a summer chess camp in their neighborhood.
Are you all ready for this? The Songs are about to make chess the hottest game in town!
Camp Coordinator
Suzanne Sheridan
Suzanne Sheridan is a proud chess mom, a lifelong learner, and certified US Chess Federation Tournament Director who has clocked more miles for chess than most people do for vacations. Her chess journey has taken her from small-town gyms in Illinois to big tournaments across the country, where she’s directed games, organized events, and collected enough chess friends to form her own league.
In the chess world, Suzanne’s worn just about every hat—camp counselor, tournament director, event organizer, and even staff advisor for the Harold Washington College Chess Club in Chicago. She’s also helped keep the gears turning at Illinois High School Association (IHSA) team chess tournaments, proving that she’s as good at wrangling rookies as she is at rooks.
Suzanne thrives on the wild adventures of the "chessiverse," whether it’s late-night puzzle solving or swapping stories with her chess family and friends. This summer, she’s ready to dive into even more checkmating chaos and create unforgettable memories with all the campers!
COACH Chris Christmas
Coach Chris Christmas is on a mission to teach chess to youth worldwide, turning pawns into problem-solvers and knights into resilient thinkers. Having guided and mentored thousands of students, he’s mastered the art of blending fun with competition, building chess clubs where kids thrive—and teams that know how to dominate a tournament without breaking a sweat.
His goal? To inspire a lifelong love for chess while sneaking in critical life lessons like teamwork, resilience, and how to handle a devastating blunder like a pro. And yes, that is his real name!
COACH EDWIN Walker
Coach Edwin Walker has been inspiring young chess players since 2017, turning rookies into rising stars with his mix of patience, precision, and just the right amount of humor. Known for his ability to make even the most complex strategies feel approachable, Coach Walker ensures students master the fundamentals before unlocking the secrets of advanced play (like how not to panic during a queen exchange).
But his lessons go far beyond the board. Coach Walker teaches critical thinking, problem-solving, and how to bounce back from even the most brutal blunders—all while fostering a genuine love for the game. In his world, chess isn’t just about winning; it’s about thinking big, staying cool, and always looking for your next move.
COACH Keith Holzmueller
Keith Holzmueller has been the head coach of the Evanston Township High School Chess Team since 2017. Under his leadership, the team has finished among the top five high schools in Illinois four times in the past five years—clearly, Coach Keith knows his pawns from his rooks!
As a player, Coach Keith hit a peak USCF rating of 2181 in over-the-board play, proving he’s no stranger to high-stakes chess battles. He also holds the title of Senior International Master for global correspondence play, which basically means he’s crushed opponents from around the world—slowly, one email or post mail at a time. These days, Coach Keith focuses his chess superpowers on helping young players fall in love with the game, improve their skills, and occasionally remember to say "checkmate" when it matters.
COACH NATHAN Holzmueller
Nathan Holzmueller has been coaching the DePaul College Prep Chess Team since Fall 2023, where he’s been mentoring young chess enthusiasts and teaching them how to unleash their inner grandmasters. A USCF Candidate Master since 2019, Nathan reached a peak rating of 2176, which means he’s pretty good at this whole chess thing.
While he still dabbles in tournaments, he’s now dedicated to grooming the next generation of chess warriors. Oh, and as his last name might suggest, yes—he’s that Coach Keith Holzmueller’s son. Talk about a family chess dynasty!