Our Team
Coach Chijo Takeda
CEO / Head Coach
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. My favorite thing to teach is that... Volleyball is FUN!
Monica Valdes
Director of Volleyball / Coach
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.
Ellie Snook
Marketing Specialist / Coach
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!!
Allison Reid
Operations Assistant / Coach
Hi, I'm Allison Reid! Volleyball has been a lifelong passion of mine, and I've been involved in the game in many roles — as a collegiate player, a club, middle school, and high school coach, and an enthusiastic supporter of my two daughters as they play. As a teacher, I truly enjoy guiding players through the learning process and watching them grow in their skills and confidence. I'm excited to share my love for the sport and help others develop their game.
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.
Lily Clay
Volleyball Coach
Hi, my name is Lily Clay! I started playing club volleyball in 4th grade and continued through high school. I played one year at Portland State before transferring to Corban University, where I finished my collegiate career and later stepped into an assistant coaching role. I’ve been coaching club for the past four years as well and love helping girls grow their skills and passion for the game!
Michael Loeffler
Web Developer
Hi, I’m Michael. I’ve been building with WordPress, PHP, and JavaScript for over 30 years, creating custom websites and software that actually work for people. I love solving tough problems with clean, reliable code. When I’m not coding, you’ll usually find me hiking, reading, or playing with my dog, Roxie. Learn more about my work at mainstreetwebdeveloper.com.
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!