Our clients’ success is the reason we are in this business. When our clients succeed, we succeed. The success of our clients is demonstrated in many areas – family life, travel opportunities, the enjoyment of hobbies, career accomplishments, and more. This page is dedicated to showcase the success of our clients and the unique ways they approach life.

Check back here every few months to meet a new client.  You’ll meet people who, through hard work and creativity, are accomplishing their dreams.
 

Featured Clients - The May Family

For the May Family, Chess Brings New Friends, Travel and Fun

Looking for an activity the whole family can join in, and that has multiple benefits for all? With chess, the May family discovered that activity. In different ways, the entire family became involved in chess.

After moving to Vancouver, WA from the Midwest, Norm and Donna May began their careers in high tech and soon after started a family with the birth of Todd. Two years later Andy joined the family. The family continued to grow with the addition of Joel and Sarah.

Then chess entered into the May family’s life. When Todd was in the fifth grade, he was invited to join Cornerstone Christian School’s chess club. From that point on, the entire family became more and more involved with the chess community. First, Todd really enjoyed the chess club and his chess skills improved quickly. Then he helped Andy learn to play chess. In no time, Joel and Sarah picked it up too. Though chess as a game was not Joel’s cup of tea, he helped out with organizing the tournament and picked up key skills in that area.

Norm became head coach of the chess club in 2001. The Cornerstone Chess Club hosted tournaments drawing over 200 players from all around Oregon and Washington! The May family had many opportunities to make new friends, travel, and have lots of fun. As the club grew in strength and with the support of parents like the Mays, the club hosted the 2007 Washington State Elementary Chess Championships. That championship tournament had over 1300 players, and set the record that year for the largest scholastic tournament in Washington State. The positive comments from families at the tournament really made the Mays’ day!

Chess had become a family event, with May kids playing in chess tournaments around the country. Andy won the Washington State Individual High School Chess Championship, earning the honor of representing Washington State in the Denker Tournament of High School Champions. That same year, Sarah qualified to represent Washington in the Susan Polgar World Chess Championship for Girls. Another highlight was the 2004 United States Chess Federation National Junior High (K-9) Championship in Arizona, where Todd, Andy and Sarah played as a team. Sarah, the youngest of the May team, appeared to be too young to play well yet. The Mays reminisce it was fun to hear comments part way though the game that she really did know how to play well! 

The Mays also think back to the many friends they made through chess, the travel opportunities, and of course the fun. Norm and Donna add that chess is great fun for kids (but don’t tell them it is good for them and really improves all aspects of their scholastic endeavors!).

For the May family, it would be hard to think what their lives would have been without chess.

For the past 19 years, City Financial Group, Inc. has been pleased to provide financial services to the May family and we thank Norm for participating as part of our Client Advisory Council.