By MARTY JAMES martyjames.sports@gmail.com
Each day, on his way to work as the Social Media Manager for the Oakland Roots Sports Club, Mario Cendejas takes time to think about his journey in life – including his years at Napa Valley College and also Napa Valley 1839 FC, a men's semi-pro soccer team.
For Cendejas, there is a lot to reflect on – which goes back to getting his start as a photo intern with Napa Valley 1839 FC and then taking on more and more duties, such as sports marketing and videography.
"Despite having to leave home and working in my backyard, had it not been for 1839 FC, I don't think I would be where I'm at now," Cendejas said, recently. "And that's why, on my way to Oakland, my commute during the week, it's a time of reflection for me. I get to reflect and realize how much I've accomplished. I had no idea where I was going with this. But now, I've gotten somewhere."
Cendejas, a Napa resident, left his position in November as a marketing assistant with Napa Valley College District Auxiliary Services, where he was with the Athletic Department as a marketing assistant, and also Napa Valley 1839 FC, where he was in charge of media and marketing. He stepped down from those two jobs to join the Oakland Roots Sports Club.
He works with three soccer teams with the Oakland Roots Sports Club: Oakland Roots SC, Oakland Soul, Project 510. He started his new job on Nov. 20.
"It's a really well known and well-respected organization in the U.S. And it has a really bright future with the many things that we have planned ahead," said Cendejas.
"It's been a journey, to make a career out of something that started off as a hobby, that turned into a passion project. And then slowly but surely, turned into a career."
Oakland Roots SC is a men's soccer team that plays in the USL Championship, a professional league that is sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation, as a Division II league. Oakland Roots SC was founded in 2018.
Oakland Soul is a women's team that plays in the USL W League – "a leader in pre-professional soccer in North America, developing the next generation of women's talent both on and off the field," according to the league's website, www.uslwleague.com. Project 510 is a men's development team that plays in the United Premier Soccer League and USL League Two.
Oakland Roots Sports Club has its training facilities in Alameda, where the Oakland Raiders had their headquarters at one time.
"You get to really embrace the culture in Oakland, the urban feel that you come across, when you're at a home game, when they see well over 2,000-3,000 fans a game," said Cendejas, 29.
He is having the time of his life – putting in the work and being involved in soccer.
"It's amazing to be part of an organization like this. On my way to work, I always have to give thanks, for the opportunity that's presented itself," he said.
"If there's something I always share – sometimes, the journey is more important than the destination, because along that journey, you're going to learn so much about yourself, so much about life and what life has to offer. And I think when you get to the destination, you get to really reflect and look back and realize how important the journey is. If you cut corners, you may miss a valuable lesson. At the end of the day, when you get to do what you love to do for a living, it doesn't feel like work."
Oakland Roots SC plays its home games at Cal State East Bay's Pioneer Stadium, in Hayward.
Oakland Soul plays its home games at Merritt College, in Oakland.
Project 510 uses the organization's training facility in Alameda for its home games.
As the organization's Social Media Manager, Cendejas is responsible for creating a content calendar, overseeing content that is being published for the day, scheduling content ahead of time, and making sure it's on brand, and staying connected with partnerships and investors.
"Essentially, what this position is, is being the voice of the organization, which is really important. It's a really big role," said Cendejas. "It's to make sure we're staying in sync with the brand image."
Working at Napa Valley College
Cendejas assisted the Athletic Department at Napa Valley College – a member of the Bay Valley Conference and Big 8 Conference – with photo coverage of Storm teams during the fall, winter and spring. His photos have appeared on the department's website, nvcstorm.com.
As a marketing assistant with Napa Valley College District Auxiliary Services, he worked Media Day for the Napa Valley College men's and women's basketball teams in the fall, getting team and individual photos, in advance of the season.
Cendejas' background
Mario Cendejas is a Napa native and graduated from Vintage High School in 2012.
He played two years of soccer here with the Napa Youth Soccer League.
He has attended Napa Valley College, both as a full-time and part-time student.
He worked at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Napa Valley with program staff and became a program coordinator/program director.
Cendejas started with Napa Valley 1839 FC, a men's team that plays in the West Region-Golden Gate Conference of the National Premier Soccer League, in 2018 as a photo intern. Napa Valley 1839 FC also plays in the United Premier Soccer League.
Cendejas was with Napa Valley 1839 FC for five years. The Napa Valley 1839 FC women's team plays in the Women's Premier Soccer League.
"I learned everything through a lot of trial and error, a lot of hours behind the computer, a lot of hands-on in the field," said Cendejas. "It then turned into videography, which then led to graphic design, marketing, building that brand awareness in the community.
"When the pandemic hit, I got more involved," he said.
He was named as the head of media and marketing in 2021.
"I led some big campaigns over the last couple of years, with hosting former professional players and some reserve teams," he said.
"1839 FC, as an organization, is growing at a good pace. I helped grow the brand. I loved doing it. It will be amazing to watch them grow and develop over the next couple of years. I think, above all, I'm excited to sit back and be a fan of 1839 FC."
He started out by taking a camera with him, as he was getting photos when his younger brother, Alejandro Cendejas, was playing rec soccer. Alejandro played on the men's soccer team at Napa Valley College for two years and also played for Napa Valley 1839 FC.
Mario Cendejas started an internship program for high school students with Napa Valley 1839 FC, as they can learn about social media, taking photos, doing video work or reporting on games.
"If there's one thing that I've been pretty firm about, is all it takes is an honest effort, and you will get somewhere. It's one step forward at a time, day by day. But making an honest effort, it will get you something in the long run."
Cendejas said he always looks back and gives thanks to his grandfathers: Roberto Maravilla on his mother's side, Jesus Cendejas on his father's side.
"My grandfather from my mother's side, played soccer during his time that he lived in Mexico. And then my grandfather from my dad's side, he had his own business. He would make shoes.
"As I look back, I was able to get the best out of both, my mother's side and my father's side. The craftsman and the athlete.
"Now I get to do this for a living. I get to create amazing content with the sport that my grandfather played. I think it's the passion, the discipline that got me to where I'm at.
"It all starts with being passionate about something and giving an honest effort."
* Marty James is a freelance writer who makes his home in Napa. He retired on June 4, 2019 after spending 40 years as a sports writer, sports editor and executive sports editor for the Napa Valley Register, a daily newspaper in Napa County. He is a 1979 graduate of Sacramento State and a member of the California Golf Writers & Broadcasters Association. He was inducted into the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Hall of Fame in 2016, the Vintage High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2019, and the Napa High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2022.