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About the AGA

The American Go Association (AGA) is the official national organization of go players in the United States of America, cooperating with similar national organizations around the world. The AGA is a 501(c)4 non-profit organization.
 

As a volunteer run organization, the AGA works to build a sustainable community of go players in the United States.

A list of past Presidents can be found here: American Go Association Presidents 1935-2023

Board of Directors

The Board of Directors are elected by AGA chapters and members and serve 2-year terms. Elections are annual with one member from each region up for election by the chapters in that region. In alternate years, an at-large director is elected by the entire membership.

Trevor Morris

Eastern Region

Trevor played his first tournament game at the first US Go Congress in 1985, and has been an avid Go player ever since. He's spent much of his career as a programmer and manager on software projects.

Juelz Kwan

Eastern Region

 


Jerry Jaffe

Central Region



Daniel Lambert

Daniel Lambert

Chair & Central Region

Since 2016 Daniel has organized the West Michigan Go Club. He was a top 5 most watched go streamer on Twitch from 2017 thru 2023. Daniel's professional background is in litigation support, health insurance document control and marketing web development. He studied music at Indiana Wesleyan University and currently sings tenor in the Opera Grand Rapids chorus. He has represented the central district since 2024.


Byron Russell

Western Region

Byron Russell is an artist and filmmaker who teaches film at California State University Fresno.  Byron is the president of the Fresno Go Club and has been playing Go since 1987.

Ted Terpstra

Western Region

Ted retired from the Princeton University Plasma Physics Laboratory, is the Chapter Representative of the San Diego Go Club, was AGA Teacher of the Year, and Co-directed a US Go Congress. He has degrees in Meteorology, Mathematics, and Computer Science.
ted.terpstra@gmail.com


Michael Yixian Zhou

At Large

more info coming soon...

Executive Officers

The AGA Board elects the President to a 2-year term and appoints the other Corporate Officers (Executive Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer) and Vice Presidents.

 

Jonas Acres

President

Jonas is a lifelong community organizer from Portland, Oregon. A software engineer and cybersecurity professional, his experience includes executive leadership of a motorcycle advocacy organization and board service with a technical microgrants foundation. He has long loved traditional arts, and holds the rank of Nidan in Matsubayashi Shorin-ryu Karate. A kyu player, Jonas fell in love with Go as an adult by sharing it with his daughter Lyra, who joins him at tournaments.


Justin Teng
TOURNAMENTS Vice President

Justin has represented the US in multiple international tournaments and also enjoys organizing youth events and teaching. He has a Masters degree in I/O Psychology and works at the University of Maryland.


Enrique Garcia

Secretary

Enrique is President of the San Diego Go Club. It is one of the largest AGA chapters in the US regularly sponsoring events in Southern California.


Garrett Smith

Garrett Smith

Treasurer

Gary is a retired engineer and learned accounting 10 years ago to help his church. He’s been an AGA member since 2000. He has been a key contributor for two Congresses in the DC area and is involved with running two clubs: NOVA Go Club and National Go Center.



Chris Garlock

Communications Vice President

Longtime VP of Communication for the AGA and Managing Editor of the American Go E-Journal, Chris co-hosted the English commentary for the historic  Lee Sedol- AlphaGo match in 2016 with Michael Redmond 9P. 

Stephanie Yin

Development Vice President

Stephanie Yin (殷明明) is the founder and president of New York Institute of Go (NYIG). Stephanie is a professional 1p Go player. Stephanie is an experienced Go teacher fluent in English and Chinese.


 


Josh Larson

Executive Vice President

Josh is a digital product manager in Saint Paul, MN and an organizer of the Twin Cities Go Club. He directed the 2015 US Go Congress. 



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