JAY MELAMED
CO-FOUNDER
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Based in Raleigh, North Carolina, Jay is father to a set of g/g/b triplets and a younger son who rounds out the bunch.
Jay has a history of successful business leadership and entrepreneurship.
In 2015, Jay successfully sold his seven-year-old start-up which he grew to be listed on the Inc 500 list in both 2014 and 2015. His most recent role as Regional Vice President with a publicly traded consolidator had him oversee the acquisition of multiple companies and run a team of over 350 employees.
In 2010, Jay received his MBA from UNC's Kenan-Flagler Business School, and was awarded the Triangle Business Top Entrepreneur Award in 2013.
Jay is an avid wakesurfer and skateboarder, an awful golfer, and a dedicated husband to a wife with whom he has traveled the world. In any spare time you can find him playing COD and snuggling his kids, all who game competitively.
Gamer Tag: El Jenio
ENRIQUE VILLARREAL
CO-FOUNDER
CHIEF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT OFFICER
Monterey, California, entrepreneur Enrique is father to one daughter and two sons. After serving ten years in the US Army and a tour in Iraq, Enrique retired from the US Army and became a 6th grade teacher in Greenfield, California.
In 2019, Enrique opened his first of two Code Ninjas locations and began his entrepreneurial journey alongside his amazing wife.
His passion for video games began in the early 90s with his NES and games like Contra and Camando. Enrique is a dedicated golfer, who hits 3 buckets a day, and enjoys visiting courses all over the US. He also enjoys collecting sports memorabilia and considers himself a die-hard Dodgers fan who attended the 2017 and 2018 World Series.
When time allows you can find him playing COD.
Gamer Tag: MASTERV
JEFF JAMES
CO-FOUNDER
CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER
After a twenty-year run in the entertainment industry, Jeff returned to his home state and settled down in Nashville, Tennessee, where he now lives with his wife and son.
As an entrepreneur, Jeff owns and operates both a Code Ninjas center and a post-production editing company. His work with MTV and on blockbuster movie productions such as Joker, Hunger Games, Solo, Jumanji, and the newest Top Gun, to name a few, gives him a unique perspective and skill set to market on a global scale.
As the more mature partner in the XP team, Jeff remembers when the first ever Pong game was released in 1972, which truly marked the birth of video games. He sees XP League as an avenue for youth to start down the path toward a STEM career.
When not working you can find Jeff playing golf, poker or a mean game of Scrabble, and mowing his 2.5 acre lawn with his son.
Gamer Tag: #OldSchool