Our Team

Coach Chijo Takeda

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. Throughout my coaching career, I've provided quality skill instruction to club and high school teams 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.

Gabi Stegemoller

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.

Alyssa Bautista

Project Manager

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.

Anna Pasia

Marketing Specialist

I'm a quiet storm — fun, full of laughs, but get stuff done with fiery precision. I'm the kind of creative thinker who thrives in organized chaos, mixing strategy with style and making it all look easy. One minute I'm deep in data, the next I’m dreaming up your next big idea. Serious results, with a side of fun — that’s the Anna effect.

Mark Garganera

Website Dev/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!