About Us
The JET Alumni Association is a world-wide organization aimed at keeping JET Alumni connected to their communities both domestic and abroad. We aim to keep the Southern California and Arizona communities engaged in social, educational, and philanthropic activities throughout the year. Our dedicated volunteer officers and coordinators work together with our Board of Advisors to continue pushing our group into new and exciting avenues.
Officers
Becca Guttentag
Co-President
Michael Coleman
Treasurer
Becca Guttentag is a former JET from Beppu City, Oita Prefecture where she worked as an ALT in ES & JHS between 2014 and 2018. When not enjoying the local onsen and teaching, she also dabbled in translation & interpretation for Beppu City Hall, including helping with the initial preparations for the 2019 Rugby World Cup. On top of this, she was also a member of the local Oita Prefectural AJET chapter for 3 of her 4 years on JET, and spent her last year as the head of the committee, helping to promote cross-cultural engagement across the prefecture.
After leaving JET, she decided to pivot from teaching and go back to school through the Middlebury Institute's Translation & Localization Management MA degree program in Monterey, CA. From there, she transitioned into a career in Game Localization, and she now works as a Localization Producer with Riot Games in Santa Monica. She's thrilled to get the chance to coordinate with the larger JET community again as the Co-President for the JETAASC team alongside her amazing co-volunteers, and can't wait to meet everyone at events. Feel free to reach out to her if you have any questions, or if you just want to pick her brain!
Adrian Teng-Amnuay
Co-President
Hailing from the East Coast, Michael served on JET from 1997-2000 in Ibaraki Prefecture, home of Natto and Aikido. While there, he was Social Coordinator for AJET, climbed Fuji three times (and twice more after leaving), and mastered cooking okonomiyaki. Since returning to the states, he has interviewed JET candidates every year, joined JET recruitment panels at conventions, and forced his children to go to a Japanese Immersion school. He currently lives in Los Angeles working as an actor and was recently elected to the local Neighborhood Council, where he previously served as Treasurer.
Misty Ahmadi
Secretary
Born and raised in LA, Adrian was an ALT for JET in Ishikawa Prefecture from 2015-16. During his time in Japan he taught at nine different elementary schools (is that a record?!) and enjoyed scenic drives along the Oku-Noto peninsula.
After leaving JET, Adrian returned to his original line of work in Software Engineering. He now works in the cybersecurity space.
Outside of work, Adrian is passionate about personal finance and studying the Japanese language. He also enjoys exploring new places to eat and hang out with his wife, Vicki and Bichon-poo, Katsu.
Misty Valdriz served as a ALT in Kobe city from 2010-2012. During her time on JET, Misty taught primarily elementary school students and loved dancing, singing, and being creative with her students every day. One of her most memorable experiences is when her mother came to visit Japan and one of her schools hosted a “Misty Mama Day” where the students shared stories in English and showered her mother with lots of drawings and origami!
Post JET, Misty traveled throughout Europe for a while before getting her Masters in Marketing from Texas A&M University. After living in Texas for several years, Misty returned back to the California Bay Area and lived in San Francisco and Oakland as she worked for various tech and publishing companies. She loves college football - Go Bears! - so getting to be a season ticket holder for Cal Football was a dream come true.
Misty has returned to her SoCal roots and has moved to San Diego county with her husband and young son where she continues to work in marketing for a tech company. Her family loves going to the beach and hitting up new spots to eat.