Our Team

Coach Chijo Takeda

Head Coach / CEO

Hey! I'm Coach Chijo. I first learned how to play volleyball in 1984 in Tokyo, Japan. I've been coaching volleyball for 33 years, and I'm the CEO of Coach Chijo LLC. I've coached high school and club volleyball since 1993. Throughout my coaching career, I've provided quality technical skill instruction to 3rd through 12th-grade plus collegiate athletes while teaching one important thing... Volleyball is FUN!

Monica Valdes

Director of Volleyball

Hi! I’m the Director of Volleyball for Coach Chijo. I’ve been passionate about volleyball since age 10 and played through college at the University of Portland. With seven years of coaching experience—five alongside Coach Chijo—I love helping athletes grow both on and off the court. I’m excited to share my knowledge and passion with the next generation of players.

Dina Snook

Operations Manager

Hi! I’m Dina Snook, the Operating Manager for Coach Chijo. I played Division I volleyball back in the day and now love cheering on my two daughters at the collegiate level. Joining a company centered on volleyball training lets me combine my passion for the game with over 20 years of business and operations experience. I’m detail-oriented, organized, and thrive in fast-paced environments. Excited to be part of the team!

Alyssa Bautista

Project Manager / Executive Assistant

I'm Alyssa, the project manager who keeps everything moving, on time, on task, and with just the right dose of caffeine. I turn big ideas into clear plans, keep teams aligned, and make sure no detail slips through the cracks.

Mark Garganera

Web Designer

I have been a website developer/designer for 9+ years. I am a motorcycle enthusiast and love to ride my bike, especially at weekends, to destress myself. I have a lot of dogs so I have a lot of mouths to feed LOL!

Ellie Snook

Marketing Specialist

Hi my name is Ellie Snook! I started my volleyball career on Chijo’s 12U club team and went on to play at the D1 collegiate level for five years, at Portland State and then the University of Southern California, where I obtained my master’s in marketing. Always been super passionate about volleyball and constantly looking for ways to stay involved and this opportunity felt very full circle and right. Super excited to be part of the team!!

Gabi Stegemoller

Volleyball Coach

Coach Chijo coached me when I was in 5th grade and continued playing in high school at Jesuit High School winning two State Championships. I then played in college at Seattle Pacific University as a middle blocker. I enjoy helping young athletes develop and grow both as players and people.